Originally posted by Hattifnatt Interesting. I am still debating to go 24-70 or 15-30 for some astrophoto shots. I need a lens for hiking/landscapes/astrophoto, and it seems to me 24-70 should fit the bill a bit better than 15-30.
Originally posted by K-amps I used a Tamron 24-70 on a Canon (on which the DFA 24-70 is supposedly based on), and now own a DFA-15-30 (which is a much newer Tamron design), and I can say if sharpness is important to you, the 15-30 is very sharp, much so than the copy of the Tammy 24-70 I used to own.
I've got the 15-30 and 24-70. They both outresolve the k-1 sensor when applied properly, and have very accurate AF with my body. I didn't try either for Astro yet (sadly).
There's arguments in favour of each and your final choice may depend on which other lenses you have available. I think that the 15-30 launch prices are finally softening (UK has recently seen 10% codes for this lens for the first time), so I'd be tempted to go for 24-70 first, on the basis that it's more flexible, and 15-30 will hopefully soon be a little cheaper.
Big exception would be if you are doing the northern lights - in that case get the 15-30 and the Samyang 14mm as well! For hiking the combination of 24-70 and Samyang 14mm would be my choice (assuming size and weight is an issue). The weight and diameter of the 15-30 are a minus.
Just my 2p. I dithered for a while as to which one to buy first too. But they are both 'sharp' without a doubt.
John