Boxed K15/3.5AL

Boxed K15/3.5AL · 05:44 PM

A boxed K15/3.5 and it looks like from the photo the rare aspherical element version. The Pentax lens book that is included is the original 1975 "K" Series, so that would indicate it is indeed the AL version.

K 15/3.5 AL

Rare Find - SMC Pentax 15mm F3.5 Ultra Wide Angle Lens

Phil.

Adam · 02-21-2012, 05:54 PM

A great collector's item, but don't get this if you want good IQ on a DSLR

**gofour3** · 02-21-2012, 06:12 PM

Originally posted by Adam

A great collector's item, but don't get this if you want good IQ on a DSLR

Yep agreed, best left for the Pentax film user or collector. I'd buy it in a second if I did not already have one. The built-in filters also aren’t much use on digital. However this is WIDE on a FF film camera.

Phil.

**monochrome** · 02-21-2012, 06:59 PM

Nice find Phil.

But ya know, for $54 more I got a K-01. There's a limit to lens lust and that's on the other side of my line.

(But for a brief moment I wondered if you would go pick it up for me).

DanielT74 · 02-21-2012, 07:08 PM

Originally posted by Adam

A great collector's item, but don't get this if you want good IQ on a DSLR

I don't know if I agree, Adam. I find it usable at f3.5 (sharp but less contrasty) and very sharp and contrasty stopped down, with nice rendition:
@3.5:

100% crops:

@5.6:

100% crops:

**monochrome** · 02-21-2012, 07:16 PM

Also listed in the Marketplace I believe

**gofour3** · 02-21-2012, 07:57 PM

Originally posted by monochrome

Also listed in the Marketplace I believe

Yep I see it now and yes I would have picked it up for you.

Glad you got the K-01, do you actually have the camera or is it on back order?

Phil.

**gofour3** · 02-21-2012, 07:59 PM

Originally posted by DanielT74

I don't know if I agree, Adam. I find it usable at f3.5 (sharp but less contrasty) and very sharp and contrasty stopped down, with nice rendition:
@3.5:

100% crops:

@5.6:

100% crops:

Nice shots, the results on digital are better than I thought. I only shoot film so have only used the K15/3.5 on K series film bodies.
The wine looks tasty as well!

Phil.

DanielT74 · 02-21-2012, 08:15 PM

Performance may degrade further away I am not sure. I haven't used it much at all, to be honest - the flexibility of DA 12-24 is too tempting, but I suspect that the K 15 has a certain charm that especially for interiors cannot be beat by the new lens:

Of course DA 15 or even DA 12-24 are going to be better with flare but it's not as bad as could be expected. DA15 is also going to be sharper in the centre but sharpness is not everything.

**monochrome** · 02-21-2012, 08:18 PM

Originally posted by gofour3

Yep I see it now and yes I would have picked it up for you.

Glad you got the K-01, do you actually have the camera or is it on back order?

Phil.

Hah hah. I knew you would if I asked so I RAN away from that thread. The 200/2.5 is the most expensive lens I've ever bought, new or used - wasn't even close to that 15/3.5. And I plan to prove I can use it on the K-01, which is Pre-ordered, but in my mind I have it.

Adam · 02-21-2012, 10:08 PM

Haha, I see the lens on the marketplace now

I compared both the K 15 and A 15 with the DA 15 F4. I found that both of the older lenses had a tendency to overexpose: the A lens was an interesting case, as the overexposure problem got worse and worse the newer the camera (in A mode). On the Super Program it was spot-on, with the PZ-1 it was about 0.5 stops over, and with the MZ-S or a DSLR it was a whole stop over. Stop-down metering also had a tendency to screw up. As far as sharpness does, the DA lens was indeed sharper and had fewer aberrations, but that doesn't mean the 15mm is a bad lens, either. I guess it just shows that lens technology has indeed evolved since the 70's

**gofour3** · 02-21-2012, 10:57 PM

Originally posted by Adam

Haha, I see the lens on the marketplace now

I compared both the K 15 and A 15 with the DA 15 F4. I found that both of the older lenses had a tendency to overexpose: the A lens was an interesting case, as the overexposure problem got worse and worse the newer the camera (in A mode). On the Super Program it was spot-on, with the PZ-1 it was about 0.5 stops over, and with the MZ-S or a DSLR it was a whole stop over. Stop-down metering also had a tendency to screw up. As far as sharpness does, the DA lens was indeed sharper and had fewer aberrations, but that doesn't mean the 15mm is a bad lens, either. I guess it just shows that lens technology has indeed evolved since the 70's

And already sold, that was quick!

Phil.

yyyzzz · 02-22-2012, 12:10 AM

I can not justify the purchase of this lens at the moment. I urgently need a K-5. I wish the price of K-5 will get lower soon.

gofour3
	View full profile
	Contact via private message
	Find other posts by gofour3
	Find threads started by gofour3
	Find threads in which gofour3 has posted

02-21-2012, 05:54 PM	#2
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 51,594	A great collector's item, but don't get this if you want good IQ on a DSLR Adam PentaxForums.com Webmaster (Site Usage Guide \| Site Help \| My Photography) PentaxForums.com server and development costs are user-supported. You can help cover these costs by donating or purchasing one of our Pentax eBooks. Or, buy your photo gear from our affiliates, Adorama, B&H Photo, KEH, or Topaz Labs, and get FREE Marketplace access - click here to see how! Trusted Pentax retailers:

02-21-2012, 07:59 PM	#8
gofour3 Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 8,090 Original Poster	Originally posted by DanielT74 I don't know if I agree, Adam. I find it usable at f3.5 (sharp but less contrasty) and very sharp and contrasty stopped down, with nice rendition: @3.5: 100% crops: @5.6: 100% crops: Nice shots, the results on digital are better than I thought. I only shoot film so have only used the K15/3.5 on K series film bodies. The wine looks tasty as well! Phil. Last edited by gofour3; 02-21-2012 at 10:55 PM.

02-21-2012, 10:08 PM	#11
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 51,594	Haha, I see the lens on the marketplace now I compared both the K 15 and A 15 with the DA 15 F4. I found that both of the older lenses had a tendency to overexpose: the A lens was an interesting case, as the overexposure problem got worse and worse the newer the camera (in A mode). On the Super Program it was spot-on, with the PZ-1 it was about 0.5 stops over, and with the MZ-S or a DSLR it was a whole stop over. Stop-down metering also had a tendency to screw up. As far as sharpness does, the DA lens was indeed sharper and had fewer aberrations, but that doesn't mean the 15mm is a bad lens, either. I guess it just shows that lens technology has indeed evolved since the 70's Adam PentaxForums.com Webmaster (Site Usage Guide \| Site Help \| My Photography) PentaxForums.com server and development costs are user-supported. You can help cover these costs by donating or purchasing one of our Pentax eBooks. Or, buy your photo gear from our affiliates, Adorama, B&H Photo, KEH, or Topaz Labs, and get FREE Marketplace access - click here to see how! Trusted Pentax retailers:

02-22-2012, 12:10 AM	#13
yyyzzz Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Salt Lake City, UT Photos: Gallery Posts: 509	Even for a K fanatic like me... I can not justify the purchase of this lens at the moment. I urgently need a K-5. I wish the price of K-5 will get lower soon.

02-21-2012, 06:12 PM	#3
gofour3 Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 8,090 Original Poster	Originally posted by Adam A great collector's item, but don't get this if you want good IQ on a DSLR Yep agreed, best left for the Pentax film user or collector. I'd buy it in a second if I did not already have one. The built-in filters also aren’t much use on digital. However this is WIDE on a FF film camera. Phil.

02-21-2012, 06:59 PM	#4
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	Nice find Phil. But ya know, for $54 more I got a K-01. There's a limit to lens lust and that's on the other side of my line. (But for a brief moment I wondered if you would go pick it up for me).

02-21-2012, 07:08 PM	#5
DanielT74 Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Australia Photos: Albums Posts: 1,377	Originally posted by Adam A great collector's item, but don't get this if you want good IQ on a DSLR I don't know if I agree, Adam. I find it usable at f3.5 (sharp but less contrasty) and very sharp and contrasty stopped down, with nice rendition: @3.5: 100% crops: @5.6: 100% crops:

02-21-2012, 07:16 PM	#6
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	Also listed in the Marketplace I believe

02-21-2012, 07:57 PM	#7
gofour3 Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 8,090 Original Poster	Originally posted by monochrome Also listed in the Marketplace I believe Yep I see it now and yes I would have picked it up for you. Glad you got the K-01, do you actually have the camera or is it on back order? Phil.

02-21-2012, 08:15 PM	#9
DanielT74 Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Australia Photos: Albums Posts: 1,377	Performance may degrade further away I am not sure. I haven't used it much at all, to be honest - the flexibility of DA 12-24 is too tempting, but I suspect that the K 15 has a certain charm that especially for interiors cannot be beat by the new lens: Of course DA 15 or even DA 12-24 are going to be better with flare but it's not as bad as could be expected. DA15 is also going to be sharper in the centre but sharpness is not everything.

02-21-2012, 08:18 PM	#10
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	Originally posted by gofour3 Yep I see it now and yes I would have picked it up for you. Glad you got the K-01, do you actually have the camera or is it on back order? Phil. Hah hah. I knew you would if I asked so I RAN away from that thread. The 200/2.5 is the most expensive lens I've ever bought, new or used - wasn't even close to that 15/3.5. And I plan to prove I can use it on the K-01, which is Pre-ordered, but in my mind I have it.

02-21-2012, 10:57 PM	#12
gofour3 Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 8,090 Original Poster	Originally posted by Adam Haha, I see the lens on the marketplace now I compared both the K 15 and A 15 with the DA 15 F4. I found that both of the older lenses had a tendency to overexpose: the A lens was an interesting case, as the overexposure problem got worse and worse the newer the camera (in A mode). On the Super Program it was spot-on, with the PZ-1 it was about 0.5 stops over, and with the MZ-S or a DSLR it was a whole stop over. Stop-down metering also had a tendency to screw up. As far as sharpness does, the DA lens was indeed sharper and had fewer aberrations, but that doesn't mean the 15mm is a bad lens, either. I guess it just shows that lens technology has indeed evolved since the 70's And already sold, that was quick! Phil.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
For Sale - Sold: Boxed Pentax K-5	nicolas1970i	Sold Items	6	10-09-2011 09:47 AM
What make A15/K15 value > DA15mm Ltd?	yusuf	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	16	06-01-2011 10:57 AM
For Sale - Sold: Pentax DA 50-200mm f4-5.6 ED Boxed (US)	photobizzz	Sold Items	8	09-08-2010 12:08 PM
Sunny shots with K15/3.5	thomascdk	Post Your Photos!	12	06-25-2009 04:05 AM