The 15mm Limited controls my mind - club

MSM · 01-10-2010, 08:56 PM

Jay: If it is possible that LBA is contagious, I think you just sneezed in everyone's face!!

Great shots... as usual

Andrew Faires · 01-10-2010, 08:58 PM

Originally posted by davef

Andrew,
Not sure how the Cokins mount but the lens hood retracts to allow use of a normal CPL -- so if the Cokin mount is a 49mm screw on then I suspect you'll be okay.

I can also confirm that one of these little Limiteds on the camera and a couple others in your pockets makes a great light kit for a walkabout. Dave

I agree - which is why the 15mm is such a temptation.

The cokin system uses adapter rings which screw into the filter thread. The rings flange out and the holder is then snapped on over the adapter ring. The 15mm's hood still protrudes past the end of the lens when it's fully retracted, so the adapter ring wouldn't be able to reach the filter threads of the lens. The hood would have to be flush with the end of the lens, like with the 77mm to work.

In spite of that limitation, I'm still very tempted by this lens though.

......and there's still the hack-saw option if I'm desperate

.....

Blue · 01-10-2010, 09:08 PM

Originally posted by MSM

Jay: If it is possible that LBA is contagious, I think you just sneezed in everyone's face!!

Great shots... as usual

There has been a pandemic going on for a while!

jsherman999 · 01-10-2010, 10:29 PM

Originally posted by SPA

Hi jsherman999, can you share more info about focus accuracy of the lens. Did you make any focus correction. I have too 15mm and use on K-7. I have a little trouble to get a correct focus in most cases. Some time I set -5 to focus for close (20-30cm) object and +3 for distant object (10-20m) to obtain correct focus. The most interesting thing is that the LV focus is always correct and is better than the normal focus. I think the K-7 have a little problem when need to use SR on short focal length.

.

I actually have a -5 AF adjustment with this lens - I tested it in close focus, and
my infinity crops suggest that I can leave it at -5 for both near and far subjects.

Originally posted by Andrew Faires

I realize that a lot of this is the photographer and not just the lens. But I'm really starting to think it would compliment my 43mm for a light kit. I think my only reservation now is the lens-hood and how I'd have to figure out a way to mount a cokin P holder to the lens so I could use my GND's and polarizers.....without 'altering' the lens hood with a hack-saw.

Hood issues aside, I think that that sounds like an excellent light kit (43 + 15.)

My light AF prime kit is now: DA 15, DA 35, FA 77.

.

jsherman999 · 01-10-2010, 10:45 PM

Originally posted by hs57

This is a fantastic little lens.
Razor sharp,flare-free,small and light.
Finest optical and mechanical quality.
The Pentax Lens DA 15 / 4 Limited, also has a very good
minimum focusing distance of just 18cm.

...
LG
Hartmut

Those car images helped sway me towards this lens when I saw them before.
Nice job.

Originally posted by emr

If it was that cheap, I would've already got one. No, two!

From B&H incl. shipping, VAT and customs to here it makes a bit more than $800. On the other hand, the local price is around 730€ which is by today's rate about $1040...

Sorry to hear that - definitely would give me pause at that price...

Originally posted by khardur

I'm with you on that...

I've been coveting this lens since it came out, it's a battle between that and the Sigma 70mm macro that are on my "short list" for next lenses to buy.

*grumble*

Now that's a toughie. I think that Sigma might be the sharpest lens I've shot,
but it's pretty big, and doesn't AF as fast as the DA 70 ltd, and is not as fast
as the 77ltd. But it makes your eyes bleed, and does 1:1.

Originally posted by MSM

Jay: If it is possible that LBA is contagious, I think you just sneezed in everyone's face!!

Great shots... as usual

Originally posted by Blue

There has been a pandemic going on for a while!

Yes, but it's better than H1N1 at least.

.

jsherman999 · 01-10-2010, 11:03 PM

.

Some more WASoO!

(Wide Angle Shots of Opportunity)

(I like the detail and lack of CA in the birch branches against the sky)

.

goddo31 · 01-10-2010, 11:16 PM

Lovely shots jsherman!

I had already 'decided' on getting a DA15 next, also to mostly replace my 16-45. This thread pushes me towards jumping on it with a credit card... Exchange rates for me are good too!

I also want a DA15, DA35 and DA70 or FA77 kit!!

Andrew Faires · 01-10-2010, 11:17 PM

Originally posted by jsherman999

Hood issues aside, I think that that sounds like an excellent light kit (43 + 15.)

My light AF prime kit is now: DA 15, DA 35, FA 77.

Now that is a sweet kit.

Your last batch of photos are also excellent.

scorpioh · 01-10-2010, 11:45 PM - **1 Like**

My contribution in spreading the DA15 LBA:

EdMaximus · 01-11-2010, 12:59 PM

I didn't even know this lens exist until I saw this thread. Is this lens that good to make me forget about buying a Sig 10-20 to accompany a FA 31 n FA 77ltd as my primary lenses? I'm not gonna use Jay's pictures to make that conclusion cause he can use a pvc tube as a lens and still create stunning pictures

deadwolfbones · 01-11-2010, 03:49 PM

Got mine recently to, er, complement(?) my 12-24--well, really to complement the rest of my DA Limiteds.

Jay really makes the thing shine.

btw, Jay... can you share your testing methodology for your lenses re: focus correction? After seeing shot after gorgeous shot with absolutely perfect focus from you I think I need to learn from the master.

**dadipentak** · 01-11-2010, 04:01 PM

Originally posted by afroed

I'm not gonna use Jay's pictures to make that conclusion cause he can use a pvc tube as a lens and still create stunning pictures

Oh, one of those! Thanks for the warning--I was starting to jones for that lens.

stevebrot · 01-11-2010, 05:17 PM

Originally posted by jsherman999

Seriously, though, the sticker may say Vietnam, but this lens is (as all Limiteds are,)
forged in the ether...

Huh? I thought they were forged by elves and only yield their full grace to those bearing rings of power...

Steve

brecklundin · 01-11-2010, 05:32 PM

Originally posted by jsherman999

.

Well.....

I'm sure you know how it is. You already have a wonderful lens that covers
an approximate FL you need perfectly. It performs as well or even better
than you hoped it would before you purchased it.

But, it seems, with LBA... once you covet a lens, that desire just lays in wait for a weak moment.

Crop:

.

OK....you are offically and eve-ill human being, if indeed you are only a mere human

...perhaps you work on commission for one who used to acquire inventory via the purchase of souls...perhaps you are yourself a victim and are powerless....but I can say this...you SUCK!! hehehehe....because now I need yet another limited after replacing my 35ltd. I want it, of all things, certain product shots. Given that sort of resolving power this is a no brainer. Here I was going to be perfectly happy getting a Pentax mount copy of my much missed Siggy 10-20/4-5.6 but nooooooo, you had to lead me into temptation!! I have only one thing to say:

jsherman999 · 01-11-2010, 06:06 PM - **1 Like**

.

Thanks everyone for the kind words, but it's really what Allen Hopkins said:
"f/8 and be there."

In other words, lenses like the 15 want to tag along with you everywhere. That
alone is going to guarantee more good shots.

For example, those wall/mural shots - Yesterday I was driving to a storage place
across town at the end of a big errand-run with my little guy and wife snoozing
in the car, and I saw that wall while parked at an intersection. I pulled over, got
out, snapped for about three minutes in the cold, viola. If I didn't have my
camera with me, that would have just been another "Gee, that would have
made a good subject" moment. Same with the frozen water pipe and Acme
shots, just some stuff that was across the parking lot from the storage building I
went to yesterday.

Originally posted by deadwolfbones

btw, Jay... can you share your testing methodology for your lenses re: focus
correction? ...

Very informal, just place the camera on a table and shoot some very small
text from near MFD, and then MFD + about 1 meter, and adjust until it's spot-on.
Sometimes I'll shoot a ruler at a 45-degree angle to give me an indication
which way I should start adjusting. Then, I'll shoot some distant subjects with
the AF adjustment on, then off, and look at 100% crops of each to see if the AF
adjustment is screwing anything up at distance. That's it.

Here's a distance shot and crop, not infinity, but probably cose to hyperfocal
distance if not already there:

Crop:

If you look at the brick around the head, you'll see that AF adjust is doing
just fine at that distance.

Here's some shooting from today's errands, at the MOA and then pulled over
to take some shots on the way back.

First, another technical shot of nothing in particular - look how 'clean' and crisp
the lens is, the tonal gradient in the red part of the roof, and the detail in the
brick below the shadow line down at doorknob level. I like.

Anyway, the real shots...

Yes, it can be a fun kid shooter:

& The pull-over-shoot:

(In Minneapolis, we keep our artists busy by making them paint grain elevators.

)

.

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01-10-2010, 08:56 PM	#46
MSM Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Alabama Photos: Gallery Posts: 994	Jay: If it is possible that LBA is contagious, I think you just sneezed in everyone's face!! Great shots... as usual

01-10-2010, 08:58 PM	#47
Andrew Faires Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Ontario Posts: 744	Originally posted by davef Andrew, Not sure how the Cokins mount but the lens hood retracts to allow use of a normal CPL -- so if the Cokin mount is a 49mm screw on then I suspect you'll be okay. I can also confirm that one of these little Limiteds on the camera and a couple others in your pockets makes a great light kit for a walkabout. Dave I agree - which is why the 15mm is such a temptation. The cokin system uses adapter rings which screw into the filter thread. The rings flange out and the holder is then snapped on over the adapter ring. The 15mm's hood still protrudes past the end of the lens when it's fully retracted, so the adapter ring wouldn't be able to reach the filter threads of the lens. The hood would have to be flush with the end of the lens, like with the 77mm to work. In spite of that limitation, I'm still very tempted by this lens though. ......and there's still the hack-saw option if I'm desperate .....

01-10-2010, 09:08 PM	#48
Blue Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Florida Hill Country Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,377	Originally posted by MSM Jay: If it is possible that LBA is contagious, I think you just sneezed in everyone's face!! Great shots... as usual There has been a pandemic going on for a while!

01-10-2010, 10:29 PM	#49
jsherman999 Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,237 Original Poster	Originally posted by SPA Hi jsherman999, can you share more info about focus accuracy of the lens. Did you make any focus correction. I have too 15mm and use on K-7. I have a little trouble to get a correct focus in most cases. Some time I set -5 to focus for close (20-30cm) object and +3 for distant object (10-20m) to obtain correct focus. The most interesting thing is that the LV focus is always correct and is better than the normal focus. I think the K-7 have a little problem when need to use SR on short focal length. . I actually have a -5 AF adjustment with this lens - I tested it in close focus, and my infinity crops suggest that I can leave it at -5 for both near and far subjects. Originally posted by Andrew Faires I realize that a lot of this is the photographer and not just the lens. But I'm really starting to think it would compliment my 43mm for a light kit. I think my only reservation now is the lens-hood and how I'd have to figure out a way to mount a cokin P holder to the lens so I could use my GND's and polarizers.....without 'altering' the lens hood with a hack-saw. Hood issues aside, I think that that sounds like an excellent light kit (43 + 15.) My light AF prime kit is now: DA 15, DA 35, FA 77. .

01-10-2010, 10:45 PM	#50
jsherman999 Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,237 Original Poster	Originally posted by hs57 This is a fantastic little lens. Razor sharp,flare-free,small and light. Finest optical and mechanical quality. The Pentax Lens DA 15 / 4 Limited, also has a very good minimum focusing distance of just 18cm. ... LG Hartmut Those car images helped sway me towards this lens when I saw them before. Nice job. Originally posted by emr If it was that cheap, I would've already got one. No, two! From B&H incl. shipping, VAT and customs to here it makes a bit more than $800. On the other hand, the local price is around 730€ which is by today's rate about $1040... Sorry to hear that - definitely would give me pause at that price... Originally posted by khardur I'm with you on that... I've been coveting this lens since it came out, it's a battle between that and the Sigma 70mm macro that are on my "short list" for next lenses to buy. grumble Now that's a toughie. I think that Sigma might be the sharpest lens I've shot, but it's pretty big, and doesn't AF as fast as the DA 70 ltd, and is not as fast as the 77ltd. But it makes your eyes bleed, and does 1:1. Originally posted by MSM Jay: If it is possible that LBA is contagious, I think you just sneezed in everyone's face!! Great shots... as usual Originally posted by Blue There has been a pandemic going on for a while! Yes, but it's better than H1N1 at least. .

01-10-2010, 11:03 PM	#51
jsherman999 Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,237 Original Poster	. Some more WASoO! (Wide Angle Shots of Opportunity) (I like the detail and lack of CA in the birch branches against the sky) .

01-10-2010, 11:16 PM	#52
goddo31 Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Perth, Western Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,576	Lovely shots jsherman! I had already 'decided' on getting a DA15 next, also to mostly replace my 16-45. This thread pushes me towards jumping on it with a credit card... Exchange rates for me are good too! I also want a DA15, DA35 and DA70 or FA77 kit!!

01-10-2010, 11:17 PM	#53
Andrew Faires Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Ontario Posts: 744	Originally posted by jsherman999 Hood issues aside, I think that that sounds like an excellent light kit (43 + 15.) My light AF prime kit is now: DA 15, DA 35, FA 77. Now that is a sweet kit. Your last batch of photos are also excellent.

01-10-2010, 11:45 PM - 1 Like	#54
scorpioh Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Singapore Photos: Gallery Posts: 182	My contribution in spreading the DA15 LBA:

01-11-2010, 12:59 PM	#55
EdMaximus Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: New York Posts: 318	I didn't even know this lens exist until I saw this thread. Is this lens that good to make me forget about buying a Sig 10-20 to accompany a FA 31 n FA 77ltd as my primary lenses? I'm not gonna use Jay's pictures to make that conclusion cause he can use a pvc tube as a lens and still create stunning pictures

01-11-2010, 03:49 PM	#56
deadwolfbones Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: La Crescenta, CA Posts: 7,450	Got mine recently to, er, complement(?) my 12-24--well, really to complement the rest of my DA Limiteds. Jay really makes the thing shine. btw, Jay... can you share your testing methodology for your lenses re: focus correction? After seeing shot after gorgeous shot with absolutely perfect focus from you I think I need to learn from the master.

01-11-2010, 04:01 PM	#57
dadipentak Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Baltimore, Maryland Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,590	Originally posted by afroed I'm not gonna use Jay's pictures to make that conclusion cause he can use a pvc tube as a lens and still create stunning pictures Oh, one of those! Thanks for the warning--I was starting to jones for that lens.

01-11-2010, 05:17 PM	#58
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by jsherman999 Seriously, though, the sticker may say Vietnam, but this lens is (as all Limiteds are,) forged in the ether... Huh? I thought they were forged by elves and only yield their full grace to those bearing rings of power... Steve

01-11-2010, 05:32 PM	#59
brecklundin Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Photos: Albums Posts: 1,674	Originally posted by jsherman999 . Well..... I'm sure you know how it is. You already have a wonderful lens that covers an approximate FL you need perfectly. It performs as well or even better than you hoped it would before you purchased it. But, it seems, with LBA... once you covet a lens, that desire just lays in wait for a weak moment. Crop: . OK....you are offically and eve-ill human being, if indeed you are only a mere human ...perhaps you work on commission for one who used to acquire inventory via the purchase of souls...perhaps you are yourself a victim and are powerless....but I can say this...you SUCK!! hehehehe....because now I need yet another limited after replacing my 35ltd. I want it, of all things, certain product shots. Given that sort of resolving power this is a no brainer. Here I was going to be perfectly happy getting a Pentax mount copy of my much missed Siggy 10-20/4-5.6 but nooooooo, you had to lead me into temptation!! I have only one thing to say:

01-11-2010, 06:06 PM - 1 Like	#60
jsherman999 Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,237 Original Poster	. Thanks everyone for the kind words, but it's really what Allen Hopkins said: "f/8 and be there." In other words, lenses like the 15 want to tag along with you everywhere. That alone is going to guarantee more good shots. For example, those wall/mural shots - Yesterday I was driving to a storage place across town at the end of a big errand-run with my little guy and wife snoozing in the car, and I saw that wall while parked at an intersection. I pulled over, got out, snapped for about three minutes in the cold, viola. If I didn't have my camera with me, that would have just been another "Gee, that would have made a good subject" moment. Same with the frozen water pipe and Acme shots, just some stuff that was across the parking lot from the storage building I went to yesterday. Originally posted by deadwolfbones btw, Jay... can you share your testing methodology for your lenses re: focus correction? ... Very informal, just place the camera on a table and shoot some very small text from near MFD, and then MFD + about 1 meter, and adjust until it's spot-on. Sometimes I'll shoot a ruler at a 45-degree angle to give me an indication which way I should start adjusting. Then, I'll shoot some distant subjects with the AF adjustment on, then off, and look at 100% crops of each to see if the AF adjustment is screwing anything up at distance. That's it. Here's a distance shot and crop, not infinity, but probably cose to hyperfocal distance if not already there: Crop: If you look at the brick around the head, you'll see that AF adjust is doing just fine at that distance. Here's some shooting from today's errands, at the MOA and then pulled over to take some shots on the way back. First, another technical shot of nothing in particular - look how 'clean' and crisp the lens is, the tonal gradient in the red part of the roof, and the detail in the brick below the shadow line down at doorknob level. I like. Anyway, the real shots... Yes, it can be a fun kid shooter: & The pull-over-shoot: (In Minneapolis, we keep our artists busy by making them paint grain elevators. ) .