[Cerebum]

OK, anyone's head exploded yet? No? OK good, let me explain. I have the 70, 40, 35 & 21mm limiteds. I feel the 40 & 35mm cover the same ground and I have the same feeling about the 21mm and the 15mm. As the 15mm is the dearest of the limited primes I haven't been tempted but one has slipped into my price window and is so tempting. The trouble is I don't want to spend £250 on a lens I will rarely use, so, what does it do that the 21mm doesn't? Why is it so popular and why does it hold its value? And, what do you use it for?

[c.a.m]

I can't say why it's so popular, but plenty of reviews and posts here show why folks love it (and why some don't).

The DA 15mm Limited is my 'foreground lens': I use it mainly to highlight foreground subjects while showing their environment and context. The lens has a short minimum focus distance of 15 cm, which can be very useful for getting close to a subject. I generally don't use it to capture wide landscape vistas as a subject, but it works for this purpose also.

I also have the DA 21mm Limited and the DA 20-40mm. I find that 15mm offers a significantly wider view than the DA 21, so they are distinct.

Here are several examples:










- Craig

[pschlute]

so, what does it do that the 21mm doesn't?

6 mm of view ?

[jatrax]

Just go here: The 15mm Limited controls my mind - club - PentaxForums.com

I sold mine when I moved to FF but still regret it.

[Adam]

I can't say why it's so popular, but plenty of reviews and posts here show why folks love it (and why some don't).

The DA 15mm Limited is my 'foreground lens': I it mainly to highlight foreground subjects while showing their environment and context. The lens has a short minimum focus distance of 15 cm, which can be very useful for getting close to a subject. I generally don't use it to capture wide landscape vistas.

I also have the DA 21mm Limited and the DA 20-40mm. I find that 15mm offers a significantly wider view than the DA 21, so they are distinct.

Here are several examples:










- Craig

Those are some awesome shots!

[Cerebum]

I forgot to mention, I have the 10-17mm fisheye, which is lovely, so I do have the extra 6mm more than covered

---------- Post added 01-11-21 at 12:58 PM ----------

I can't say why it's so popular, but plenty of reviews and posts here show why folks love it (and why some don't).

The DA 15mm Limited is my 'foreground lens': I use it mainly to highlight foreground subjects while showing their environment and context. The lens has a short minimum focus distance of 15 cm, which can be very useful for getting close to a subject. I generally don't use it to capture wide landscape vistas.

I also have the DA 21mm Limited and the DA 20-40mm. I find that 15mm offers a significantly wider view than the DA 21, so they are distinct.

Here are several examples:










- Craig

These are glorious. I also searched flickr. Some of those images were spectacular

---------- Post added 01-11-21 at 12:58 PM ----------

I can't say why it's so popular, but plenty of reviews and posts here show why folks love it (and why some don't).

The DA 15mm Limited is my 'foreground lens': I use it mainly to highlight foreground subjects while showing their environment and context. The lens has a short minimum focus distance of 15 cm, which can be very useful for getting close to a subject. I generally don't use it to capture wide landscape vistas.

I also have the DA 21mm Limited and the DA 20-40mm. I find that 15mm offers a significantly wider view than the DA 21, so they are distinct.

Here are several examples:










- Craig

These are gorgeous

[c.a.m]

I forgot to mention, I have the 10-17mm fisheye, which is lovely, so I do have the extra 6mm more than covered

I don't have that lens, but understand that it's well liked.

For the DA 15, I could add that I appreciate its flare resistance, colour production, and compact size. I'll often add it to my bag when I'm going out with my DA 20-40 and DA 50-135 combo.

Here's an older image showing off the DA 15 goodness. Just a wee bit of flare, but not bad considering the position of the sun. (A brisk morning after a reasonably heavy snowfall -- Welcome to Canada.)




- Craig

---

Last edited by c.a.m; 01-11-2021 at 01:33 PM. Reason: spelling -- I didn't make it past Grade IV it seems

[Madaboutpix]

The smc DA15 Limited? My only wideangle lens, particularly since I passed on my 18-55 kit zoom to my wife. Actually it borders on ultrawide, but then again not so ultrawide that it would give you too pronounced volume deformations in the corners. The barrel distortion is only mild and not of the hard-to-correct and somewhat ugly "mustachio" type. It has a distinctly curved field, which makes it not the easiest lens to use when you want to achieve sharp corners.

Some of my most common usage scenarios for this lens:

• emphasis of interesting foreground matter in its wider context
• tight spaces and interiors
• close landscapes
• close reportage
• "intimate" architecture
• some interior-framing scenarios
• dramatic backlit shots
• images featuring sunbursts (smc version only)

Recent sample shots illustrating some of the above:

[Cerebum]

I don't have that lens, but understand that it's well liked.

For the DA 15, I could add that I appreciate it's flare resistance, colour production, and compact size. I'll often add it to my bag when I'm going out with my DA 20-40 and DA 50-135 combo.

Here's an older image showing off the DA 15 goodness. Just a wee bit of flare, but not bad considering the position of the sun. (A brisk morning after a reasonably heavy snowfall -- Welcome to Canada.)




- Craig

The clarity and crispness in that image is beautiful. I have read where the 15mm renders somewhat magically, also that there are two walkaround trios, 15,35&70 & 21,40&70. This would complete my set. You do know there is a very strong chance I will end up with this lens as for the 10-17, it is lovely and sharp, renders nicely but flares and fringes pretty badly I still love it though

[aslyfox]

this article discusses the DA Limits including the 15mm

and the differences between the HD and SMC versions

it might be of interest

HD vs. SMC Pentax Limited Primes
Introduction

HD vs. SMC Pentax Limited Primes Review - Introduction | PentaxForums.com Reviews

and should the OP want to take the time, more might be found here:

the limiteds do they live up to the reputation and why

the limiteds do they live up to the reputation and why - Page 26 - PentaxForums.com

[Cerebum]

this article discusses the DA Limits including the 15mm

and the differences between the HD and SMC versions

it might be of interest



HD vs. SMC Pentax Limited Primes Review - Introduction | PentaxForums.com Reviews

and should the OP want to take the time, more might be found here:



the limiteds do they live up to the reputation and why - Page 26 - PentaxForums.com

Thanks I am off for a read

[kiwi_jono]

It's good all round lens. When I travel light with my k-01, I take DA15, DA40 and DA70. They take up little room. The 40 is nice but FOV wise I'm tempted to take my FA28 instead. But the 15 is often useful to me.

[luftfluss]

As a comparison of field of view, I just took a couple snaps with my DA 12-24. The first pic is at 21mm, the second at 15mm:

[Bertrand3000]

I forgot to mention, I have the 10-17mm fisheye, which is lovely, so I do have the extra 6mm more than covered

I cannot say for the DA 15 since I don't own it (nor any other Limited), but you cannot compare focal lenghts from the DA 10-17 Fisheye with rectilinear lenses like the DA 15.

The angle of view of the DA 10-17 set at 17mm is 100° (diagonal) - and of course 180° at 10mm as a true fisheye would!
The angle of view of the DA 15 is 88° (diagonal).

As you can see, the DA 10-17 has a larger angle of view at any setting than the DA 15, so, no, you don't have the focal length covered in the sense of "angle of view", which is the usual meaning people are looking for. I know, I'm not helping.

[pepperberry farm]

there's supposed to be a purpose??