| Author: | | Pentaxian Registered: July, 2011 Posts: 2,389
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: December 30, 2017 | Recommended
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Great performance | | Cons: | very large filters only, big, long | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 8
Autofocus: 9
Handling: 8
Value: 9
New or Used: New
Camera Used: K1
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This lens lives up to all the reviews around for Pentax/Tamron design. Wide open you get very sharp images in the center - only extreme corners appear soft. Stopped down you cannot complain at all. The lens turns in oppossite direction compared to Pentax lenses - minor issue. Filter holders are available, but you have to invest in a 150mm system. While great, the lens is rather long and bulky. I cannot blame this lens for a non-available prime in Pentax land, but for me a smaller prime in the 18-20 mm (something recent - not an old FA design) range would be much more useful. If you need 15-30mm, go for it. Price is right for a 2.8 with sealing.
| | | | | | | New Member Registered: December, 2014 Posts: 10
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: August 15, 2017 | Recommended | Price: $1,500.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | well built, a joy to use, wr, sharp!!!, colors, contrast | | Cons: | big, heavy, expensive and big filter solutions, some flare issues in special situations | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 7
Autofocus: 9
Handling: 9
Value: 8
New or Used: New
Camera Used: k1 and k3II
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Superb workhorse lens for landscape photography. It just delivers. Basic pros are the relevant ones: excellent sharpness, contrast and color. Most sharp around f5.6, but over all very good sharpness from f2.8 until f16.
In most situation flares are no issue. Especially wide open there seems to be no issue at all. The lens renders wonderful wide open against the sun. When you go for shots against the sun wide a closed aperture, the more you close ist, the more issues may be visible. But if you know that you can check and correct your settings.
Sunstars: The lens is able to produce nice stars between f13 and f22, but because of the flare issue I use to stay between f13 and f16. The stars are only clear and nice when the sun just appears behind an object or the horizon. When the sun rises higher it seems to be less nice in rendering the star in my view, so do not let the sun be too big for the purpose.
Filters: Big end expensive solutions - but they work quite well. I just tried the Haida system and it is well built and easy to use (but big of course).
Overall a wonderfull lens! I really do enjoy working with it.
For more pictures taken look here:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/143898035@N07/ | | | | | Site Supporter Registered: January, 2011 Location: 5th floor Posts: 1,610
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: August 11, 2017 | Recommended | Price: $999.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Crazy sharpness in center | | Cons: | Size | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 9
Autofocus: 8
Handling: 7
Value: 9
New or Used: Used
Camera Used: K-1
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I am really conflicted about this lens. The sharpness in the center is superb as everybody say. For all practical purpose I imagine most people will use the 15mm end more so than 30. So, is it better to carry 15/2,8 (or faster) or a equivalent, or this? The thing is gigantic, ginormous. The contrast between the sizing of K-1 and this is so vast that it affects handling. The lens tends to aim down if I am not careful and mindful because of the weight of the lens. With a battery grip and this lens will weigh almost as much as 645d + 55/2.8. I guess this is the cost of carrying FF. It was in some ways counterproductive as since I have acquired this lens I found myself going more and more to GR . . . . . The lack of ability to take on filters at ease is not a game changer but it is annoying for sure too.
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: July, 2007 Location: North West UK Posts: 390
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: July 13, 2017 | Recommended | Price: $1,600.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Sharp, rendition, speed, AF | | Cons: | It is a bit big and heavy (and then some), expensive compared to the Tamron but not when compared to CaNikon | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 10
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 7
New or Used: New
Camera Used: K-3 K-1
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I have got this as an insurance replacement to my very worthy Tokina 20-35mm ATX-Pro F2.8 (which is in itself a cracker), with a bit of Guiltiness due to the cost. But then again the insurance is new for old and this lens is the ONLY replacement for the Tokina for Full Frame Pentax.
What do I think? Well first impressions is that it is huge! Physically it is twice the dimensions to my APS-C version, the Sigma 10-20mm F4-5.6. But then again it is F2.8 all the way through and because of this, it is the size it is. Mind you, The Tokina was no featherweight.
Now Image quality. Well it has only been a couple of days and played with APS-C and FF, but this thing is sharp! Contrast is superb too.
AF is snappy as well.
Metering is spot on too, unlike my APS-C version, the Sigma, which seems to underexpose these days.
Downsides?
No ability to take filters!
Heavy!
Is it worth it? Well yes. It maybe a Tamron in a Pentax frock, but that does not mean it is not any good. Shame it is priced 50% more than the Tamron one for CaNikon. On the other hand, it is still a monster performer that is worthy of use with any Pentax Body. It is that instant sharpness out of the box that impresses.
| | | | | | | Senior Member Registered: January, 2016 Location: Tampa Florida Posts: 287 | | Review Date: June 9, 2017 | Recommended | Price: $1,150.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Sharpness. Great focal range. Near silent autofocus. Constant fast f2.8 | | Cons: | Can't take screw on filters requires an expensive filter system made for just this lens. | |
The best option if you are looking for ultra wide angle. Really the only option if you want autofocus. It's big and heavy (very large) but you can tell that it is a high quality pro lens. It's a Tamron rebadge but that's ok because it is a great well regarded lens on other systems. Unfortunately requires a special filter system made just for this lens (can not take screw in filters). It has a built in lens hood which is nice and I like the push on lens cap. It's weather sealed and the front elements has a special coating that makes water just bead right off. It is sharp edge to edge. It is a great landscape lens and I highly recommend it if you are looking for a wide angle lens. It is very convenient having the zoom and since it is such an amazing lens it's image quality is as good as any prime. It isn't cheap but a fantastic lens if you can swing the price.
| | | | | Pentaxian Registered: January, 2009 Location: East Bay Area, CA Posts: 6,622
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: April 25, 2017 | Recommended | Price: $1,450.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | 1)fast aperture zoom 2)decent distortion correction 3)shifting hood | | Cons: | 1)expensive 2)heavy 3)filter use is a hassle | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 8
Autofocus: 8
Handling: 8
Value: 7
New or Used: New
Camera Used: K3II
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I bought this lens for my event/party/concert/walkaround shooting where changing primes might be a hassle. At that time, I was about to switch to the FF K-1, but for now have decided to stay with my K3II for my non-landscape work(I swear by 645Z for landscapes & product photography). The price was hard to swallow but the reviews show the Tamron branded 15-30 outperforming the Nikon 14-24/2.8 and others, an impressive feat.
The second copy I received was a good one - first was unacceptably soft all around.
I use my lens quite often for event work with few complaints. It would be nice to pop on a filter once in awhile, but I am not interested in investigating some big contraption for mounting square filters, so I'll pass.
Sharpness and image separation are very nice - I occasionally see an image with some nice 3D pop that impresses me. Bokeh is good for a zoom. I only rated it an 8 for bokeh because compared to a good prime, the bokeh is nothing special, but for a zoom, somewhat impressive.
I haven't seriously tried this lens for my wide field astrophotography yet, but looking forward to putting it through its paces soon and may amend my review.
I suspect this lens looks sharper on FF than APS-C, because on the K3II, the DFA 15-30 compares well at 15mm to the DA15 (due to the larger available apertures). Stopped down, the DA15 wins. At 21mm and 30mm, my DA21 and FA31 primes somewhat outperform this lens at all apertures. I would not expect a utility zoom to outperform the Limited primes, but be aware it does not(on K3II). I plan on renting the K-1 to compare them on FF soon. If sheer image quality is your need, be sure you have the FA31 in your bag.
I like that this lens is WR rated and has a mount gasket and ring sealing. That is important to support a total ecosystem of WR bodies.
OK, enough blabber and her are some sample pics, fairly processed.
 Laupahoehoe Beach (Explore #55)
K3II & DFA15-30 @18mm
 Big Island Blaze
K3II & DFA15-30 @15mm
K3II & DFA15-30 @18mm
K3II & DFA15-30 @ 30mm
| | | | | Forum Member Registered: September, 2006 Location: Central Plains of North America Posts: 50
4 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: March 15, 2017 | Recommended | Price: $1,246.95
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | It's wide, sharp, low aberrations, relatively low distortion | | Cons: | It's ginormous | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 9
New or Used: New
Camera Used: K-1
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I love this lens and feel like a fanboi, but I'm not alone--just read the bazillions of reviews of this lens with the Tamron badge. Ricoh did well to pluck this best of breed lens and offer it with Pentax labelling, coatings, and seals.
There's not a lot that I can add to all the other reviews (you can grow old reading them, there's so many), but can concur that the lens is super sharp (possibly better than the DFA 24-70), low in chromatic aberration and purple fringing (the only aberrations I easily recognize), and like the other Pentax D FA f/2.8 zoom offerings, enormous. I hate the size, but the performance makes it easy to overlook that.
So here's a few things I haven't seen emphasized in other reviews:
- Least important, but still fun--it's the only lens with the possible exception of my A* 600mm that anyone has ever commented to me about in public. The bulbous front element can't be ignored.
- It's the only lens I've ever owned that exhibits significant pincushion distortion--this is at the 30mm end, of course. If you favor brick walls as your creative muse, this might be a problem, but it probably would never be an issue for most other subjects. Mentioned as a point of interest, but not as any practical issue.
- Some have described this lens as being configured with internal zoom. If you count the fixed lens hood as part of the external dimensions, this would be 100% true. However, one would be missing the full story, which is quite interesting (to me, at least), and possibly not mentioned in any other review. At 30 mm, the front element is fully retracted, but zooming to 15 mm moves the front element forward. Although the overall length of the lens does not change due to the fixed lens hood, the effective coverage of that lens hood adapts to the focal length of the lens. When the front element is forward with the short focal length, the lens hood is shallow, and when the the front element is further back with the longer focal length, the lens hood is deeper. Ingenious.
These three items probably won't change anyone's purchase decision, but I mention them as things you might not come across in other reviews. The bottom line, though, as said one way or another by many others, if the price tag of this lens fits within your budget, it will not disappoint.
| | | | | Site Supporter Registered: January, 2014 Location: St Petersburg Posts: 402
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: March 15, 2017 | Recommended | Price: $1,200.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Build Quality, zero flare in test, Lenscal at Zero 0 | | Cons: | Weight (no surprise) | |
Extensively used with LensCal and Yves' calibrators. At both ends of zoom range and using LensCal stand offs and Yves' lengths, all were dead zero +- .2. Incredible. My DA*s were not this good...
Colors, sats, MF in the field also Excellent++
Well Done Pentax! | | | | | Pentaxian Registered: August, 2011 Location: Melbourne Posts: 4,847
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: December 4, 2016 | Recommended | Price: $1,475.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | sharp, great focal range | | Cons: | size, weight, price, lack of filter threads | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 9
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 7
Value: 7
New or Used: New
Camera Used: K-1
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If Pentax had a modern FF 15mm or 20mm f/4 prime, I wouldn't have bothered with this lens. However, I wasn't prepared to wait any longer for something that probably won't come anyway; I needed WIDE now. (The MF 3rd party primes don't appeal, though the Irix got close.)
Having said that, the D FA 15-30 is definitely a very good lens. Very sharp anywhere near frame centre, even at its supposed weak end (30mm). There is certainly nothing to complain about there.
For close-up work the background bokeh is surprisingly "dreamy", very unlike the DA15.
15mm, f/6.3
Generally, IQ across the frame is quite good, though placing a person at the edges at 15mm is asking for trouble; they look distorted, but that's par for the FL.
15mm, f/13
Once again, I find the long end perfectly satisfactory, even wide open.
30mm, f/2.8, iso3200
All in all, this is a very fine lens. It produces a certain look that is very different from the DA 15 on APS-C (my only other UWA lens). It will take me a little while to get used to it, and use this look to best advantage. But I am generally happy.
The elephant in the room though (an apt analogy) is its size, in particular its width. It is a genuine pain to fit in a camera bag, and so it may often be left at home. A lens that you don't have with you is a useless lens. The weight doesn't worry me as much.
Optically, this lens is a 10. However, I have taken off one point for size and cost.
The supplied soft bag is a bit disappointing for a lens in this price range. It's just a floppy soft bag with no attached belt loop or shoulder strap, making it inconvenient to carry.
UPDATE: ... but check out the rainbow (and other) flare on this, despite the sun being well out of shot! Bottom left but also top right, with an octagon in between. I guess the bulbous front element can catch them from anywhere, despite the (necessarily shallow) hood.
15mm, f/11
 | | | | | New Member Registered: September, 2016 Posts: 20
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: November 15, 2016 | Recommended | Price: $1,200.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | sharpness, F2.8 | | Cons: | size | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 7
Autofocus: 8
Handling: 8
Value: 9
New or Used: New
Camera Used: K-1
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This is a very sharp lens even in low light and at the edges. It is large. When compared to the price, Fstop, speed to others on the market it is a great deal at the price I paid. I shot pictures in a lava tube with only headlamp lighting and got usable pictures in spite of the cold, damp, and dripping water. This speaks as well for the K-1 on which I used it. It is very sharp even wide open and has gotten some "Wows" on pictures I have posted and put on my website.
| | | | | New Member Registered: September, 2007 Location: Yucaipa, CA Posts: 16
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: November 7, 2016 | Recommended | Price: $1,450.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Color, rendering, AF, good flare resistance | | Cons: | Weight, size | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 8
Autofocus: 9
Handling: 9
Value: 10
New or Used: New
Camera Used: Pentax K-1
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I think that this being the wide angle offering Pentax came up with for the K-1 - a Tamron lens with HD coatings that people have not focused enough on how great this really is. I've always loved the Nikon 14-24mm and to have a lens for the first FF Pentax that would even come close would have been, in my mind just awesome. However the Pentax 15-30mm exceeds it! (There are numerous reviews that detail the comparison between the Nikkor and the Tamron - and that is without the excellent HD coatings.)
The price seems high - but not when you compare it with a Nikkor 14-24mm or a Canon 16-35mm, the Pentax really does compare and resulting images are excellent.
It is heavy, but not unruly on the K-1, though most of the time for me it sits on a tripod. Corners could be better wide open, but having said that, they still are superior to the Nikkor or the Canon.
If there was a way to install the 14-24mm Nikkor on the K-1 I would have done it in a heartbeat. For Pentax to supply a lens one step up the ladder is amazing.
| | | | | Moderator
Site Supporter Registered: February, 2012 Location: Adelaide Hills, South Australia Posts: 11,276
3 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: October 29, 2016 | Recommended
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Width, versatility, build quality, weather resistance | | Cons: | Size and weight | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 8
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 9
Value: 8
New or Used: New
Camera Used: K-1
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It's big, heavy, and expensive, but as a one-stop wide shop in all conditions nothing else comes close. It just gets the job done.
Some photos (111 in fact) can be found in my flickr page HERE.
| | | | | Loyal Site Supporter Registered: March, 2009 Location: Gladys, Virginia Posts: 27,666
13 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: July 31, 2016 | Recommended | Price: $1,500.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Center Sharpness, Excellent Build | | Cons: | Large Size, Doesn't Accept Screw On Filters | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 7
Autofocus: 8
Handling: 8
Value: 9
New or Used: New
Camera Used: Pentax K1, Pentax K3
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The Pentax DFA 15-30 f2.8 lens is a Pentax version of a Tamron lens, the same as the DFA 24-70 f2.8. It is hard to say how much these lenses share, as the Tamron versions of this lens have optical image stabilization. In addition, it seems likely that this uses Pentax coatings rather than Tamron's coatings. This also means that the auto focus motor, while labeled as "SDM" is Tamron made and therefore (likely) more dependable.
The lens itself is an internal zoom lens with a very solid build (edit: actually it is not an internal zoom, the zooming action does not move the hood, but the lens itself does increase in length when zooming). The lens is larger than the DFA 24-70 f2.8, both in length and in diameter. It has a (somewhat small) built in lens hood that may help a little bit, but not very much in real world situations. The biggest thing that the hood does is prevent the curved front element from being to easily scratched or bumped, as the front element is recessed inside a little bit. Pretty handy, since you can't put a screw on UV filter on the front of this lens if you are a paranoid sort of person.
Autofocus is silent and quite fast. Others have reported some issues with auto focus, but I have had no issues with it. In general, I have found that ultra-wide angle lenses, like this one, are much more prone to grabbing focus on a little different part of the scene from where the photographer intends. I haven't tried tracking anything with this lens and can't imagine the situation where I would want to do that. The focus throw is pretty short and manual focus is just average for modern auto focus lenses -- pretty similar to the other DA * and DFA lenses I have used, a significant step below the FA limiteds.
Of note, is that the zoom ring is more distant from the camera body while the focus ring is closer to the camera body, the same as the DFA 24-70 and DFA* 70-200, but different from past Pentax zoom lenses.
The lens is very sharp in the center from f2.8 on. Borders sharpen up around f5.6. Honestly, I wouldn't shoot many landscapes at f2.8 anyway, so this is not an issue. The lens does perform better at 15mm than at 30mm.
There is some veiling flare noted -- more at 30mm than at 15mm. This is no DA 15 limited. The lens is more likely to flare if a strong light source is just out of the frame -- more so than if you are shooting right into the sun.
Contrast is good and colors seem pretty consistent with other DA * lenses that I have used. Distortion at 15mm is present, but seems decent. There is almost no purple fringing with this lens and chromatic aberration in general is well controlled.
Overall, I am very pleased with this lens. The biggest negative for my style of shooting (mostly landscapes) is that the lens is really large and doesn't easily take filters. That said, there aren't many other options -- particularly not full frame from a Pentax perspective. On APS-C, there is the Sigma 8-16mm and Pentax DA 12-24, both of which are slower lenses. On full frame, there is the Samyang 14mm and soon to come out Irix 15mm f2.4. Sharpness is adequate stopped down and flare resistance is quite good, considering the size of the lens.
Here are some different shots with the DFA 15-30 on the K-1. Down the road, I will try to add some comparison shots with it and the DFA 24-70 and DFA * 70-200 to see size comparisons.
 Salt Fork Lake by Vincent1825, on Flickr
 Sunrise and Lily Pads by Vincent1825, on Flickr
 Gazebo at Sunrise by Vincent1825, on Flickr
 Sunrise by Vincent1825, on Flickr
 Sunrise Salt Fork Lake by Vincent1825, on Flickr
 Cabin Window by Vincent1825, on Flickr
 Sunset by Vincent1825, on Flickr
30mm and f6.3
 Gatlinburg Before Dawn by Vincent1825, on Flickr
As promised, here are a few shots comparing this lens to other lenses (for size comparison)
Against the FA 31 and DA 15 limited.
 Pentax 15-30 by Vincent1825, on Flickr
Versus the other DFA zooms (15-30 is on the left).
 Holy Trinity? by Vincent1825, on Flickr
 Holy Trinity? by Vincent1825, on Flickr
Of note, the multiple exposure feature is pretty useful creating long exposure effects on Pentax cameras, even though it doesn't take filters. This was one created with 25 different photos and the DFA 15-30.
 Patoka Lake by Vincent1825, on Flickr
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: September, 2006 Location: North Idaho Posts: 696
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: July 15, 2016 | Recommended | Price: $1,450.00
| Rating: N/A |
| Pros: | one of the very few full-frame wide angle zooms available | | Cons: | heavy, unbalanced, inability to easily use filters | | Sharpness: 8
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 4
Value: 7
New or Used: New
Camera Used: K-1
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This is just a stub to give my immediate impressions as I have only had this less less than 24-hours. A more detailed personal review to follow as soon as I have had a chance to use it in the situations for which I purchased it.
My immediate impressions: This thing is HUGE! And HEAVY! Those of you familiar with the Tokina 28-80/2.8 . . . this thing is physically larger and heavier. The weight reminds me of my SIgma 70-200 and Sigma 100-300 lenses, but those are well balanced on the camera and are long enough to provide a 'hand hold' underneath to support them. This lens is so short, physically, that it does not feel natural to hold. It is also of a weight that it really should have a tripod mount. I can't imagine the tripod mount of any camera supporting the weight of this lens.
The distance scale and manual focus are 'backward' from what I am used to. Normally, on Pentax glass, the infinity stop is on the left. Not so this lens. That will take some getting used to.
Here is one quick shot I took a few minutes ago. The museum/room was pretty dim with only indirect lighting. Even though I shoot DNG and JPEG at the same time, this is the JPEG right out of the box. Absolutely nothing was done to the image other than sizing down from full resolution for web display. Shot mounted on a K-1 with lens set at 22mm focal length, Av, f/2.8, +1/2 EV. 1/10 of a second, hand held, center weighted average metering, and at ISO 3200. In the full resolution image, there is a very minor amount of noise, which could be easily cleaned up in post.
I'm happy with the initial results of this lens.
 | | | | | New Member Registered: May, 2016 Location: Saffron Walden, UK Posts: 12
4 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: June 5, 2016 | Recommended
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | | | Cons: | | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 8
Autofocus: 8
Handling: 9
Value: 9
New or Used: New
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Be careful with this lens. I thought my copy was soft at the edges until I realised it needed fine focus adjustment (C4, number 25 in the firmware menu of the K1), or alternatively use live view or manual focus. Once adjusted, it gives a fine account of itself, but if other copies of this lens are the same as this, it may account for reports of corner or edge softness.
Given this is a Tokina lens with the VR removed, the price for a Pentax brand stamp and weather resistant sealing is steep. Nonetheless, a good lens, worth buying - but beware those focus issues.
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