[AlexanderS]

Hej y'all,
I wanted to ask the ones, who have the Pentax 15-30:
What do you used it for, and how? Are you actually using it as much, as you should be using such a money investment? Are you happy with it?

I recently went to a shop which had it, was considering it already for a while for my K1, but jeez....With its weight, it is so completely unbalanced on the cam, I started wondering about the intentions of the lens makers...
Didn't buy it, but will now chase a laowa 12 2.8 or 15 macro, and have a 24 and 31 (which I want to sell for a 24-70, which is perfectly balanced imo), maybe someone has other suggestions, also vintage lenses (I really love the macro idea for WA).

Have a safe day!

[MJKoski]

Well I had (still have a broken unit) and used it a lot @ 15mm where it is the absolutely best UWA for K-mount. Adapted Zeiss 15/2.8 is better but it costs more used than a new copy of the 15-30mm. 15-30mm is good up to ~21mm and then it starts to be somewhat mediocre towards 30mm end. You can use Tamron 15-30 filter holders with it (~same lens).

[pschlute]

Very happy with mine. If you want a ultra wide top class lens it is hard to beat. Always use mine on a tripod.

[Sandy Hancock]

I have managed to work around its bulk. Even with a flimsy travel tripod on an overseas trip.

[gatorguy]

I have managed to work around its bulk. Even with a flimsy travel tripod on an overseas trip.

Great series of shots!

[Papa_Joe]

There is the Sigma EX 12-24 / 4.5-5.6.
There is a in depth comparison on APS-C on the forum. The lens is full-frame.

DA 12-24mm vs Sigma and Tamron 10-24mm Comparison Review - Introduction | PentaxForums.com Reviews

Not as good (but good enough I guess), not as heavy and not as expensive as the 15-30. But not new either.

---------- Post added 12-14-20 at 05:52 AM ----------

Great pictures Sandy!
Which is the city with the nice bridge?

[northcoastgreg]

I was initially concerned with the size and weight of the DFA 15-30 (I'm generally not a fan of big, heavy lenses), but in use I haven't found the lens nearly as onerous as I originally expected. In terms of wide angle zoom for the K-1, it's clearly the best solution out there.

Didn't buy it, but will now chase a laowa 12 2.8 or 15 macro, and have a 24 and 31

When I was shooting APS-C, I tried to use primes for ultra-wide work (Rokinon 10mm & DA 15) and ultimately found that it didn't work. I ended up re-buying the DA 12-24 because I found myself swapping lenses too much with the primes. I enjoy ultra-wide focal lengths, but I don't want to stay their for any appreciable time.

Are you actually using it as much, as you should be using such a money investment?

I see a wide angle zoom as more of a specialist lens than an everyday lens, so I don't use my DFA 15-30 a huge amount. My DFA 28-105, FA 31, FA 43, and FA 80-320 get considerably more use. But when I need the DFA 15-30, I really do need it, so I'm glad to have the DFA 15-30, despite the size and weight. It's the best zoom lens I've ever used:

[bdery]

My opinion is that it's a superb lens that I wouldn't want to carry around in places where I'd want to use it.

For the moment I use the FA 20-35mm for wide angle, but if I needed an ultra wide angle I'd select the Laowa 12mm F2.8.

HD Pentax-D FA 15-30mm F2.8 ED SDM WR Review - Introduction | PentaxForums.com Reviews

Venus Optics Laowa 12mm F2.8 Zero-D Review - Introduction | PentaxForums.com Reviews

[AlwaysAl]

I had a Sigma 10-20, which I loved on my APS-C cameras. The "wide" aspect of the lens wasn't so much to capture the width as it was to allow me to decrease my distance from the scene. So, when I moved into FF, I missed that aspect and, unfortunately, the 10-20 doesn't work with the K-1 (mechanical interference).
A couple of things I've learned, perhaps forcibly with the reduced availability of third party options, the Pentax lenses, are expensive but you definitely get what you pay for and with the advancements in technology, these new lenses definitely do bring life to the camera. The downside, as you've alluded is the weight and dimensions of the lens (especially attached to the K-1). As a friend observed, it's like bringing a bazooka to a gun fight. A good laugh but, you just accept it is what it is and it works! BTW, I have got to the age where auto-focus is a nice touch so that factor eliminates the Irix. although I found it somewhat attractive.

[jatrax]

It's big and heavy and produces excellent images. It probably gets 1/3 of my time with the 24-70 and "all others". I use it both hand held and on a tripod and you get used to it. It is a real light weight compared to the DFA 150-450 so it works for me.


My carry bag has the DFA 15-30, DFA 24-70 and the F 70-210. I'm still trying to decide on a new 70-200ish lens but have not made up my mind yet. So the 15-30 goes with me everywhere. I had an FA 20-35 and liked the lens as far as usability and size but the images just do not stand up to the 15-30, IMHO.

[Rondec]

I like it. It is really wide and heavy, but right now there aren't many other solid options for a K-1 that are nearly this wide. I use it for landscape. If you take photos of people, best keep them in the middle of the frame or they will look pretty stretched.

[AlexanderS]

I have managed to work around its bulk. Even with a flimsy travel tripod on an overseas trip.

Nice!!!

[StiffLegged]

Which is the city with the nice bridge?

That's Bath. I stood at the same spot - and made an image - last year. It's disturbing how many of these places I recognise!

[MaineNative]

I rented the DFA 15-30 for a weekend. What I figured out is that it is a very nice lens and it is a very heavy lens!

If you want a sharp, fast, auto-focus ultra-wide full-frame lens, it is great. The price you pay is a big, heavy hunk of glass. It also has low coma, so it is good for astro.

For me, it is too heavy, especially for walk-around. For astro, I already own a Rokinon/Samyang 14/2.8 lens. The 15-30 is just as good, but heavier and I don’t need auto-focus for astro.

For non-astro ultra wide-angle, I got a used FA 20/2.8. It gives me a sharp, fast light lens with auto focus, but no zoom. It was less than half the price of the 15-30.

For walk-around, I use the DFA 28-105. Not as fast or as wide as the 15-30, but lighter and very sharp. If I want a fast, sharp small prime, I take my FA 35/2.

If you don’t mind the cost or weight, the DFA 15-30 is a great lens.

[nitehntr]

Hej y'all,
I wanted to ask the ones, who have the Pentax 15-30:
What do you used it for, and how? Are you actually using it as much, as you should be using such a money investment? Are you happy with it?

I recently went to a shop which had it, was considering it already for a while for my K1, but jeez....With its weight, it is so completely unbalanced on the cam, I started wondering about the intentions of the lens makers...
Didn't buy it, but will now chase a laowa 12 2.8 or 15 macro, and have a 24 and 31 (which I want to sell for a 24-70, which is perfectly balanced imo), maybe someone has other suggestions, also vintage lenses (I really love the macro idea for WA).

Have a safe day!

use mine for astro mostly so far but will be using it more and more especially for waterfalls on a tripod obviously its not a walk around lens in my opinion. its for very specific things and the quality of the build and the photos are great