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02-24-2016, 10:51 PM - 3 Likes   #4216
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QuoteOriginally posted by Architecture Quote
Would you be so kind as to expand on this a bit? I'm looking at both for a forthcoming trip to Europe. It seems like the DA 15 gets all the love, but it seems like gaining half a stop and some sharpness in the DA 21 might be a decent tradeoff for the narrower field of view.
The DA 15 is a specialist lens - you need to make an effort to find shots which are suited to that wide a field-of-view. The DA 21 has a far more normal field-of-view and can be used to take photos of any scene really, making it much more flexible. If I go out with the 15mm I often struggle to find a shot which wouldn't have been better at a slightly longer focal length of 18 or 21mm, or even the 17mm of my Tamron zoom.

Add into that, that the 21mm is sharper, and specifically has no major problem with edge-sharpness like the 15, then I think unless you know you're going to need a super-wide lens the 21mm is the better option. In the event you come across a scene which is too wide, stitching shots together is very easy these days - you'd need two shots from the 21 to equal one from the 15.

02-25-2016, 01:12 AM - 1 Like   #4217
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02-25-2016, 03:41 AM - 2 Likes   #4218
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A few more with the DA 70.



02-25-2016, 12:55 PM   #4219
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QuoteOriginally posted by Jonathan Mac Quote
The DA 15 is a specialist lens - you need to make an effort to find shots which are suited to that wide a field-of-view. The DA 21 has a far more normal field-of-view and can be used to take photos of any scene really, making it much more flexible. If I go out with the 15mm I often struggle to find a shot which wouldn't have been better at a slightly longer focal length of 18 or 21mm, or even the 17mm of my Tamron zoom.

Add into that, that the 21mm is sharper, and specifically has no major problem with edge-sharpness like the 15, then I think unless you know you're going to need a super-wide lens the 21mm is the better option. In the event you come across a scene which is too wide, stitching shots together is very easy these days - you'd need two shots from the 21 to equal one from the 15.
Thanks for the input--it's exactly the kind of information I'm looking for.

I'm going to Spain in May, and currently my kit consists of the DA 35 Limited, an SMC A 50mm f1.7 and an SMC M 135mm f3.5. Everyone has said I'm going to want a wider lens for Europe, so I've been eyeing both the DA 21 Ltd. and the DA 15 Ltd. The DA 21 wooed me first, but the DA 15 gets so much love around these parts that I have started seriously considering it.

I've never shot WA anything, so either way it will be a learning experience. I will say that the increased sharpness, wider aperture and significantly lower price makes the DA 21 very attractive. I really wish I could find a good A/B comparison of both lenses in the same setting.

02-25-2016, 01:56 PM - 1 Like   #4220
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QuoteOriginally posted by Architecture Quote
Thanks for the input--it's exactly the kind of information I'm looking for.

I'm going to Spain in May, and currently my kit consists of the DA 35 Limited, an SMC A 50mm f1.7 and an SMC M 135mm f3.5. Everyone has said I'm going to want a wider lens for Europe, so I've been eyeing both the DA 21 Ltd. and the DA 15 Ltd. The DA 21 wooed me first, but the DA 15 gets so much love around these parts that I have started seriously considering it.

I've never shot WA anything, so either way it will be a learning experience. I will say that the increased sharpness, wider aperture and significantly lower price makes the DA 21 very attractive. I really wish I could find a good A/B comparison of both lenses in the same setting.
I love my DA21mm but I mostly do street photography and for my style it's just right. However, I sometimes use my DA15mm for the same purpose and it works too but it's a little trickier. However, if you don't do street and mostly want to capture architecture and scenery when in Spain I'd say go for the DA15mm. It would complement your DA35 better methinks. Good luck in your lens decision activity!

Cheers,
Fred
02-25-2016, 02:04 PM - 7 Likes   #4221
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I agree about the DA15 for Spain. If I was going to be visiting cathedrals and stuff like that I'd go with the 15 for sure. Maybe bring a mini tripod like a Ultrapod II for longer indoor exposures without worrying so much about bulk.

---------- Post added 02-25-16 at 02:05 PM ----------

DA 40 this morning. Luna didn't anticipate breaking through the crust here. (x-post)
02-25-2016, 04:01 PM - 1 Like   #4222
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QuoteOriginally posted by Architecture Quote
I've never shot WA anything, so either way it will be a learning experience. I will say that the increased sharpness, wider aperture and significantly lower price makes the DA 21 very attractive. I really wish I could find a good A/B comparison of both lenses in the same setting.
I too would recommend the DA21 over the DA15, for very much the same reasons as others gave. The DA21 is very reliable performer. With the DA15 you have to be more careful.

Another inexpensive option to consider, if you are after a WA, is the DA16-45 zoom. It is a fair bit bigger and heavier than either of the two limiteds though. It's been discontinued but there is still stock around.

Flickriver: kh1234567890's photos tagged with da15
Flickriver: kh1234567890's photos tagged with da21
Flickriver: kh1234567890's photos tagged with smcpda1645mmf40edal


Last edited by kh1234567890; 02-25-2016 at 04:06 PM.
02-25-2016, 05:46 PM   #4223
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I keep playing with 35mm macro. Very interesting lens, compare to 90mm, or 50mm at 1:1 macro this lens a bit a pain to use it so close, but fun. Also, I found it's easy to shot my favorite spiders with 35mm. I just don't like this lens wide open, I have better options for it.
The mayfly on glass door is 1:1 macro. No flash, only natural light, hand held.
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02-25-2016, 06:59 PM - 2 Likes   #4224
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02-25-2016, 11:19 PM   #4225
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QuoteOriginally posted by mattb123 Quote
I agree about the DA15 for Spain. If I was going to be visiting cathedrals and stuff like that I'd go with the 15 for sure. Maybe bring a mini tripod like a Ultrapod II for longer indoor exposures without worrying so much about bulk.

---------- Post added 02-25-16 at 02:05 PM ----------

DA 40 this morning. Luna didn't anticipate breaking through the crust here. (x-post)
That is bloody funny. An undignified pose if ever there was one.
02-28-2016, 11:29 PM   #4226
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While I make up my mind on the 15 v. 21 debate, I'll continue to shoot the 35mm Limited.













02-29-2016, 12:25 AM   #4227
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QuoteOriginally posted by mattb123 Quote


DA 40 this morning. Luna didn't anticipate breaking through the crust here. (x-post)
Love it, great timing!
02-29-2016, 12:38 PM - 8 Likes   #4228
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QuoteOriginally posted by Frekeman Quote
I love my DA21mm but I mostly do street photography and for my style it's just right. However, I sometimes use my DA15mm for the same purpose and it works too but it's a little trickier. However, if you don't do street and mostly want to capture architecture and scenery when in Spain I'd say go for the DA15mm. It would complement your DA35 better methinks. Good luck in your lens decision activity!

Cheers,
Fred
I have DA15, DA21, DA35 ltd, FA77, F135.

I have been to spain recently, Madrid, Toledo, Granada, Sevilla, Cordoba, Ronda and I used the DA15 the most. I agree that DA21 without context can get more jobs and is also easier to use, but really what lens to use depends both on your style and the type of subject you encounter.

DA15 is an UWA so the perspective are exagerated. Scenes do not look natural. What it provide through is you have the impression to be inside the scene and if you match that with careful composition you can get fantastic landscapes and architectural shots.

On the opposite, a tele does perspective compression, giving the impression the subject is far away. Depth almost disapear and this is used to benefit to hide/reduce features on people portraits.

A DA15 is usefull in spain and cities in general to capture big scene with high buildings and reproduce the sensation that you actually are in the city, surrounded by quite noticable monuments.

And there the DA15 specificities. The lens is extremely resistant to flare and very contrasty. It capture more dynamic range and while another lenses would give you burned highlights from lack of contrast control, DA15 will give you the true colors. On some scene you see the difference directly on the view finder. But the DA15 while quite sharp need to be stopped down for borders and field curvature can be anoying at time.

Anyway, this is a style some like it, some don't. If you buy a WA or UWA for the first time I would strongly advise to do 1 or 2 walk with it in a city before and maybe churches and so on to train a bit and accustom yourself to the different way to see the world they provide.

Here a few shots with DA15 from spain, I let you juge if you like the kind of picture it does or not or how you could have managed the shoot with a 35mm instead (hint: divide the picture size by 2 for both height and width and you get 30mm framing). By the way, you can click on the picture to get the full size version.





























02-29-2016, 10:38 PM   #4229
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Fantastic post, thank you.

It's very difficult to decide, though I'm currently leaning toward the DA 15. It might be more expensive, less sharp and slower, but it differentiates itself from the 35 Macro more than the 21 does. The 21 does look like a fantastic semi-wide walkabout, however.

Decisions, decisions...
03-01-2016, 12:41 AM   #4230
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QuoteOriginally posted by Architecture Quote
Fantastic post, thank you.

It's very difficult to decide, though I'm currently leaning toward the DA 15. It might be more expensive, less sharp and slower, but it differentiates itself from the 35 Macro more than the 21 does. The 21 does look like a fantastic semi-wide walkabout, however.

Decisions, decisions...
Some would say it is a pity to do such things, but you can use the DA15 to shoot DA21 field of view, you just need to crop and you keep only the center of the picture where the 21 is the sharpest. This means thar if you start from 24MP K3, that only 12MP will remain so to keep high quality picture I would not crop much more than that.

The DA21 would crop up to 30mm without issue, the same...

Sure, that should not be the primary usages of the lenses, but on the occasion, it can be done with great success.

And yes, decisions, decisions
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