The effect of Perfect Sun star in which Pentax Lens? switched Canon User for 10 years

Majeed · 12-31-2016, 11:30 PM

Hi All,

I'm a Landscape Photographer who was shooting using canon for 10 Years, One of My top favorite canon lens is 16-35.

when I switched to Pentax K-1, I decided to go with the top Pentax lens which was HD Pentax-D FA 15-30mm F2.8 ED SDM WR

Read more at: Pentax D FA Zoom Lenses - Reviews and Specifications - SLR and Interchangeable Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database

The lens is great, heavy but very very Sharp lens but I have two issue with this lens that any Landscape photographer will suffer from and I hop I find the solution here

1- When I shoot towards the Sun with F22, The sun star looks not that good, even if have of the sun blocked by an object. The shape of the star is bad compared to Canon lens 16-35 mm which has AMAZING shape of sun star.

I know it is from the lens and I can do nothing about it but is there any Pentax wide lens can do the same?

Samples:
Last Moment II by Abdulmajeed Aljuhani - Photo 94781385 / 500px
Mountains Light by Abdulmajeed Aljuhani - Photo 70101981 / 500px
Desert Light by Abdulmajeed Aljuhani - Photo 57922358 / 500px

2- The ability to install Filters such as Polarizer Filter

and ND filter, is there any why to install filters on this amazing lens?

Appreciate your feedback,
Abdulmajeed

Regards,

**UncleVanya** · 01-01-2017, 12:12 AM

No idea on number 1.

Filter info: https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/10-pentax-slr-lens-discussion/319389-pent...er-system.html

Paul the Sunman · 01-01-2017, 12:38 AM

The stars from the DFA 15-30 don't look too bad to me!

26 mm, f/13

biz-engineer · 01-01-2017, 12:39 AM

Originally posted by Majeed

The effect of Perfect Sun star in which Pentax Lens? switched Canon User for 10 years Hi All, I'm a Landscape Photographer who was shooting using canon for 10 Years, One of My top favorite canon lens is 16-35. when I switched to Pentax K-1, I decided to go with the top Pentax lens which was HD Pentax-D FA 15-30mm F2.8 ED SDM WR Read more at: Pentax D FA Zoom Lenses - Reviews and Specifications - SLR and Interchangeable Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database The lens is great, heavy but very very Sharp lens but I have two issue with this lens that any Landscape photographer will suffer from and I hop I find the solution here 1- When I shoot towards the Sun with F22, The sun star looks not that good, even if have of the sun blocked by an object. The shape of the star is bad compared to Canon lens 16-35 mm which has AMAZING shape of sun star. I know it is from the lens and I can do nothing about it but is there any Pentax wide lens can do the same? Samples: Last Moment II by Abdulmajeed Aljuhani - Photo 94781385 / 500px Mountains Light by Abdulmajeed Aljuhani - Photo 70101981 / 500px Desert Light by Abdulmajeed Aljuhani - Photo 57922358 / 500px 2- The ability to install Filters such as Polarizer Filter and ND filter, is there any why to install filters on this amazing lens? Appreciate your feedback, Abdulmajeed Regards,

All examples you've posted are taken with the 5DIII and 16-35. Can you post you shots taken with the K1 and 15-30?

**seventhdr** · 01-01-2017, 12:53 AM

Originally posted by Majeed

Hi All,

I'm a Landscape Photographer who was shooting using canon for 10 Years, One of My top favorite canon lens is 16-35.

when I switched to Pentax K-1, I decided to go with the top Pentax lens which was HD Pentax-D FA 15-30mm F2.8 ED SDM WR

Read more at: Pentax D FA Zoom Lenses - Reviews and Specifications - SLR and Interchangeable Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database

The lens is great, heavy but very very Sharp lens but I have two issue with this lens that any Landscape photographer will suffer from and I hop I find the solution here

1- When I shoot towards the Sun with F22, The sun star looks not that good, even if have of the sun blocked by an object. The shape of the star is bad compared to Canon lens 16-35 mm which has AMAZING shape of sun star.

I know it is from the lens and I can do nothing about it but is there any Pentax wide lens can do the same?

Samples:
Last Moment II by Abdulmajeed Aljuhani - Photo 94781385 / 500px
Mountains Light by Abdulmajeed Aljuhani - Photo 70101981 / 500px
Desert Light by Abdulmajeed Aljuhani - Photo 57922358 / 500px

2- The ability to install Filters such as Polarizer Filter

and ND filter, is there any why to install filters on this amazing lens?

Appreciate your feedback,
Abdulmajeed

Regards,

Could it be the number of aperture blades. The Canon 16-35 has 7 aperture blades giving 14 point sun stars. The Pentax 15-30 as 9 aperture blades which should give 18 point sun stars.

Maybe 9 blades is too many and things are becoming blurred.

You are also in the diffraction area of the lens. This might be having an affect.

What do things look like at different aperture values?

Regards

Chris

mikeSF · 01-01-2017, 03:14 AM

in that focal range, the best Pentax sunstars IMO come from DA15(original version), DA21, and FA31.
There is a trade off in aperture design as the same characteristic that makes well defined stars (straight blades) also lacks smoothness of out of focus area in shallow depth of field images. As such, some lenses have curved blades and are not as well known for their big bold stars.
good luck.

**UncleVanya** · 01-01-2017, 09:35 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by mikeSF

in that focal range, the best Pentax sunstars IMO come from DA15(original version), DA21, and FA31.
There is a trade off in aperture design as the same characteristic that makes well defined stars (straight blades) also lacks smoothness of out of focus area in shallow depth of field images. As such, some lenses have curved blades and are not as well known for their big bold stars.
good luck.

The two DA Lenses will only work cropped.

I'm not sure how good the starbursts on the A 15 f3.5 are or similar lenses. Many have 5 bladed apertures. The FA 20 has 8 blades.

mikeSF · 01-01-2017, 10:29 AM

Originally posted by UncleVanya

The two DA Lenses will only work cropped.

I'm not sure how good the starbursts on the A 15 f3.5 are or similar lenses. Many have 5 bladed apertures. The FA 20 has 8 blades.

oops, sorry.

Majeed · 01-02-2017, 01:32 AM

appreciate your feedback, Thanks

Originally posted by UncleVanya

No idea on number 1.

Filter info: https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/10-pentax-slr-lens-discussion/319389-pent...er-system.html

**UncleVanya** · 01-02-2017, 07:54 AM

The DA15 (SMC) in square crop mode will do what you need I think but at the expense of the wide perspective.

12-31-2016, 11:30 PM	#1
Majeed New Member Join Date: Dec 2016 Posts: 2	The effect of Perfect Sun star in which Pentax Lens? switched Canon User for 10 years Hi All, I'm a Landscape Photographer who was shooting using canon for 10 Years, One of My top favorite canon lens is 16-35. when I switched to Pentax K-1, I decided to go with the top Pentax lens which was HD Pentax-D FA 15-30mm F2.8 ED SDM WR Read more at: Pentax D FA Zoom Lenses - Reviews and Specifications - SLR and Interchangeable Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database The lens is great, heavy but very very Sharp lens but I have two issue with this lens that any Landscape photographer will suffer from and I hop I find the solution here 1- When I shoot towards the Sun with F22, The sun star looks not that good, even if have of the sun blocked by an object. The shape of the star is bad compared to Canon lens 16-35 mm which has AMAZING shape of sun star. I know it is from the lens and I can do nothing about it but is there any Pentax wide lens can do the same? Samples: Last Moment II by Abdulmajeed Aljuhani - Photo 94781385 / 500px Mountains Light by Abdulmajeed Aljuhani - Photo 70101981 / 500px Desert Light by Abdulmajeed Aljuhani - Photo 57922358 / 500px 2- The ability to install Filters such as Polarizer Filter and ND filter, is there any why to install filters on this amazing lens? Appreciate your feedback, Abdulmajeed Regards,

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01-01-2017, 12:12 AM	#2
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,459	No idea on number 1. Filter info: https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/10-pentax-slr-lens-discussion/319389-pent...er-system.html

01-01-2017, 12:38 AM	#3
Paul the Sunman Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Melbourne Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,847	The stars from the DFA 15-30 don't look too bad to me! 26 mm, f/13

01-01-2017, 12:39 AM	#4
biz-engineer Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2015 Photos: Gallery Posts: 12,247	Originally posted by Majeed The effect of Perfect Sun star in which Pentax Lens? switched Canon User for 10 years Hi All, I'm a Landscape Photographer who was shooting using canon for 10 Years, One of My top favorite canon lens is 16-35. when I switched to Pentax K-1, I decided to go with the top Pentax lens which was HD Pentax-D FA 15-30mm F2.8 ED SDM WR Read more at: Pentax D FA Zoom Lenses - Reviews and Specifications - SLR and Interchangeable Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database The lens is great, heavy but very very Sharp lens but I have two issue with this lens that any Landscape photographer will suffer from and I hop I find the solution here 1- When I shoot towards the Sun with F22, The sun star looks not that good, even if have of the sun blocked by an object. The shape of the star is bad compared to Canon lens 16-35 mm which has AMAZING shape of sun star. I know it is from the lens and I can do nothing about it but is there any Pentax wide lens can do the same? Samples: Last Moment II by Abdulmajeed Aljuhani - Photo 94781385 / 500px Mountains Light by Abdulmajeed Aljuhani - Photo 70101981 / 500px Desert Light by Abdulmajeed Aljuhani - Photo 57922358 / 500px 2- The ability to install Filters such as Polarizer Filter and ND filter, is there any why to install filters on this amazing lens? Appreciate your feedback, Abdulmajeed Regards, All examples you've posted are taken with the 5DIII and 16-35. Can you post you shots taken with the K1 and 15-30?

01-01-2017, 12:53 AM	#5
seventhdr Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Christchurch, New Zealand Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,452	Originally posted by Majeed Hi All, I'm a Landscape Photographer who was shooting using canon for 10 Years, One of My top favorite canon lens is 16-35. when I switched to Pentax K-1, I decided to go with the top Pentax lens which was HD Pentax-D FA 15-30mm F2.8 ED SDM WR Read more at: Pentax D FA Zoom Lenses - Reviews and Specifications - SLR and Interchangeable Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database The lens is great, heavy but very very Sharp lens but I have two issue with this lens that any Landscape photographer will suffer from and I hop I find the solution here 1- When I shoot towards the Sun with F22, The sun star looks not that good, even if have of the sun blocked by an object. The shape of the star is bad compared to Canon lens 16-35 mm which has AMAZING shape of sun star. I know it is from the lens and I can do nothing about it but is there any Pentax wide lens can do the same? Samples: Last Moment II by Abdulmajeed Aljuhani - Photo 94781385 / 500px Mountains Light by Abdulmajeed Aljuhani - Photo 70101981 / 500px Desert Light by Abdulmajeed Aljuhani - Photo 57922358 / 500px 2- The ability to install Filters such as Polarizer Filter and ND filter, is there any why to install filters on this amazing lens? Appreciate your feedback, Abdulmajeed Regards, Could it be the number of aperture blades. The Canon 16-35 has 7 aperture blades giving 14 point sun stars. The Pentax 15-30 as 9 aperture blades which should give 18 point sun stars. Maybe 9 blades is too many and things are becoming blurred. You are also in the diffraction area of the lens. This might be having an affect. What do things look like at different aperture values? Regards Chris

01-01-2017, 03:14 AM	#6
mikeSF Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: East Bay Area, CA Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,622	in that focal range, the best Pentax sunstars IMO come from DA15(original version), DA21, and FA31. There is a trade off in aperture design as the same characteristic that makes well defined stars (straight blades) also lacks smoothness of out of focus area in shallow depth of field images. As such, some lenses have curved blades and are not as well known for their big bold stars. good luck.

01-01-2017, 09:35 AM - 1 Like	#7
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,459	Originally posted by mikeSF in that focal range, the best Pentax sunstars IMO come from DA15(original version), DA21, and FA31. There is a trade off in aperture design as the same characteristic that makes well defined stars (straight blades) also lacks smoothness of out of focus area in shallow depth of field images. As such, some lenses have curved blades and are not as well known for their big bold stars. good luck. The two DA Lenses will only work cropped. I'm not sure how good the starbursts on the A 15 f3.5 are or similar lenses. Many have 5 bladed apertures. The FA 20 has 8 blades.

01-01-2017, 10:29 AM	#8
mikeSF Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: East Bay Area, CA Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,622	Originally posted by UncleVanya The two DA Lenses will only work cropped. I'm not sure how good the starbursts on the A 15 f3.5 are or similar lenses. Many have 5 bladed apertures. The FA 20 has 8 blades. oops, sorry.

01-02-2017, 01:32 AM	#9
Majeed New Member Join Date: Dec 2016 Posts: 2 Original Poster	appreciate your feedback, Thanks Originally posted by UncleVanya No idea on number 1. Filter info: https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/10-pentax-slr-lens-discussion/319389-pent...er-system.html

01-02-2017, 07:54 AM	#10
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,459	The DA15 (SMC) in square crop mode will do what you need I think but at the expense of the wide perspective.