| Author: | | Site Supporter Registered: April, 2010 Location: Adelaide, South Australia Posts: 813
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: May 4, 2022 | Recommended | Price: $1,500.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Sharpness, Water Resistance, Functionality | | Cons: | Care needed - front element is exposed | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 9
Value: 9
New or Used: New
Camera Used: Pentax K-1
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After shooting with this lens for several weeks, I can't remember taking a technically bad shot.
I have had the Tamron SP 15-30 f2.8 on my Nikon FF body for 2 years, and it has never let me down.
But the Pentax version is just somehow better, sharper, colours are more vibrant, and contrast is better as well.
Sandy's review and shots with this lens convinced me that I just could not be without this lens on Pentax any longer!
| | | | | | | Senior Member Registered: June, 2016 Location: Paris Posts: 124
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: December 6, 2021 | Recommended | Price: $1,399.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | construction, optical quality, sealed | | Cons: | it ain't pink | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 10
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
New or Used: New
Camera Used: K1ii K1
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Being the lucky owner of 2 copies of this lens i can only recommend it.
Used the first one so much that it ended with some dust inside, but it survived sandstorms on the beaches and the deserts and very agressive storms in the ocean while boating.
Even with all it has endured, the front element only has tiny scratches with no impact on IQ.
I ordered the second lens by fear that the first one will let me down one day since i stressed it so much. But, that's not the case. Yet . I continue to use it in very hard conditions of weather, high or low temperatures. It's still operationg flawlessly.
I am not a landscape photographer and i recommend it for also everything beyond landscape.
It's a solid long lasting and very versatile lens, one of the best a photographer can have.
| | | | | Pentaxian Registered: April, 2013 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 578
6 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: September 29, 2021 | Recommended | Price: $750.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | WR, sharpness, versatility, a much needed FF lens for this range | | Cons: | Having to use expensive external filter adapters, weight | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 8
Autofocus: 9
Handling: 9
Value: 10
New or Used: Used
Camera Used: K-1
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I had dismissed the idea of getting this lens for years due to the inability to use screw-on filters as the main purpose for this lens would be waterfall photography where I frequently use a polarizing filter. I eventually changed my mind when I discovered the Fotodiox/WonderPana filter system and also came across someone selling the lens at a great price. I don't see the need for many words other than that results I've gotten with this lens and filter system completely lived up to my expectations... and I had my expectations set extremely high. All of the below photos were taken with the K-1 while using the WonderPana FreeArc filter system and the Fotodiox Pro 145mm MC-CPL. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions about the lens, filter system, or photos!
 | | | | | New Member Registered: February, 2020 Location: Southern New Hampshire Posts: 4
5 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: March 16, 2020 | Recommended | Price: $850.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Outstanding Sharpness, Contrast & Color, WR, Silent Focus, Manual Focus Ring Close To Camera Body | | Cons: | A Tiny Bit Heavy, (but it's worth the results) | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 9
Autofocus: 9
Handling: 8
Value: 10
New or Used: New
Camera Used: K-1
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First of all, I know this is my first review post and all, but people that dragged this excellent lens' overall rating down under '9' should be slapped with a 2x4.  You all knew this lens was a bit weighty before the purchase, Pentax didn't give them away for cheap, and handling might be challenging.
As far as performance, I found the AF SDM to be exceptionally quiet and without a hunting issue in all four auto-focus modes on my K-1. It focused just a bit long out of the box, but easily resolved with a Focus Pyramid® & the fine-tuning focus adjustment in the K-1, then saved to memory.
The lens paralleled the focus results from the testing from Imatest*, as I found the IQ around the frame tobe pretty decent for a zoom lens from around f/5.6 to f/14. However, you will begin to notice that softness starting to manifest in the far corners the tighter you zoom in, or the more you open it towards f/2.8 from f/5.6, or inversely,the tighter the aperture above f/14 you go towards f/22, at any distance.
Since this lens will primarily be utilized for landscapes, I will be using the K-1's Live View in conjunction with its Peak Focus feature, and at x16 for critical focusing purposes. AF is fine, but for those shots that you only get one attempt at (such as a visit to Alaska's Yukon, Kodiak Bears chasing salmon in a stream, Close-ups of Glaciers, Humpbacks breaching, Denali on a clear day, Native Alaskans in their habitat, The Aurora Borealis with the Milky Way as a backdrop, Astro photography with absolutely NO LIGHT POLLUTION, Puffins, Dall sheep, and Sea Lions along the coast line, and hundreds of other once in a lifetime shots). Everything will be bracketed at +/- .7EV x2 for 5 shots total in RAW and JPEG, and uploaded twice a day to my 2TB Adobe Cloud Server. For shots without motion, since most will be taken on a Benro TMA37AL tripod with a G3 low profile head anyway, I'll probably take several Pixel Shift shots to get the sharpest images I can on my 256GB SanDisk cards.
I'm using the Benro FH100M2B and FH100M2V4 100x150 Master Filter Frame Holder systems with 10 different Grad ND filters with holder frames. Plus, I'm attempting to design a special 1/2" to 5/8" wide ring that will fit externally over this lens' flower lens shade; as snug as the lens cap does. On that ring I will incorporate a connector to mount a Benro Master Filter Frame Holder. However, I may need to go to the 150x170mm size for this lens. I'm hoping I can utilize the 100mm unit and design it around that.
I'll also be carrying a backup body since I'm leaving nothing to chance for this trip with my wife. She'll be using the K-3.
OK, I've obviously digressed WELL away from a lens review, but this is me... Back to the point....
One statistical anomaly I immediately noticed here was that out of 25 reviews, there were 4 problematic lens'. That's 16%, which is a higher than average shrinkage rate. Tossing an average of 16 out of 100 lenses could mean having an issue with production, assembly, or to a much lesser degree...handling during transportation.
This lens is an admirable performer, and definitely worth the investment. Sure, Tamron makes some very sharp lenses too, especially if you get one where everything was done JUST RIGHT. I have such a lens, an LD Di SP 70-200mm f/2.8 [IF] MACRO A001P.
It's one of the sharpest lenses in my arsenal.  But, I firmly believe this Pentax 15-30mm wide-angle full-frame zoom is highly versatile, and just what the doctor ordered.
*This data was sourced and added to his HD Pentax-D FA F2.8 15-30mm ED SDM WR Review article from May 18, 2016 in ePHOTOzine.
. . Falcon
| | | | | | | Veteran Member Registered: March, 2010 Location: Vermont Posts: 941
5 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: November 30, 2019 | Recommended | Price: $1,300.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Constrast, stellar optics, WR, F/2.8 | | Cons: | Big and heavy | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 9
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 9
Value: 9
New or Used: New
Camera Used: K-1
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This is my K-1 go-to lens for astro, architectural, and landscape. Sharp, excellent contrast, WR, and fast auto focus. The cons are the weight and size, as well the challenge of using ND filters. Other than that a very versatile lens with very pleasing results.
 IMGP5498 by David Carman, on Flickr
 IMGP0562.jpg by David Carman, on Flickr
 _IMG6807 by David Carman, on Flickr
| | | | | Pentaxian Registered: February, 2010 Location: Northern Michigan Posts: 6,173
5 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: August 16, 2019 | Recommended | Price: $1,150.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Optically splendid, sharp, contrasty, superb color | | Cons: | Size, weight, no filter rings | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 7
Autofocus: 9
Handling: 8
Value: 8
New or Used: New
Camera Used: Pentax K-1
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I bought a version of this lens back in early February but had to return as a consequence of bad decentering, particularly noticeable at fast apertures. A few months later I bought another version. This one is, fortunately, free of any major defects.
I had originally planned to avoid acquiring this lens, mainly due to the price and the size. I attempted to make do with the FA 20-35, which is, at least in terms of landscape photography, pretty decent. Indeed, at typical landscape apertures (f11-f16), there's little difference in sharpness between the old FA wide old zoom the DFA monster, excluding the far corners, where the new lens is significantly better. The main advantages of DFA 15-30 over legacy wide-angle zooms like the FA 20-35 involve, primarily, fast aperture performance and contrast and saturation. Landscape images taken with this DFA 15-30 just have more bite and richer color than what I was getting out of the FA 20-35. There is something to be said for the HD coatings, and for all that special glass (4 ED, 4 AL elements). This is the best zoom lens I have ever used. It's better than even the very fine DFA 28-105. Not necessarily sharper, but contrastier, with a richer color signature.
The size and weight of this lens is, of course, the main point of criticism. But as concerned as I was about the weight of the lens, it hasn't turned out to be as big a problem as I originally feared. I've bought a lens case for it, which I carry around my shoulders with a strap. Thus equipped, I hardly notice the weight. I suspect the weight of this lens is mostly a problem for those who have invested in the other f2.8 DFA zooms, along with the massive DFA 150-450. I have sedulously avoided the other DFA monsters, opting instead for the nicely compact DFA 28-105, along with some plasticky, weight-deficient legacy zooms (F 17-28 and FA-J 75-300). The DFA 15-30 is the only monster in my K-1 landscape kit, and that makes the weight manageable. I'll keep the FA 20-35 around for longer hikes and filter use. But for best image quality at the wide end of things, I will always reach for the DFA 15-30.
The lens produces fine starbursts when stopped down. Flare control is pretty good for an f2.8 zoom, but not perfect. The lens is reasonably sharp wide-open, but for best edge to edge sharpness, you do need to stop the lens down to at least f5.6.
Some example images, staring at f16, @16mm:
f10, 15mm:
f11, 30mm:
 | | | | | Loyal Site Supporter Registered: June, 2009 Location: Tumbleweed, Arizona Posts: 5,707
5 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: March 11, 2019 | Recommended | Price: $1,100.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Sharp, excellent contrast, excells in low light | | Cons: | It's ginormous, and costly (even on sale) | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 10
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 8
Value: 10
New or Used: New
Camera Used: Pentax K1
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I have had and shot this lens for a bit over a year. I have used this mainly for AstroLandscapes. The results in essentially total darkness are exceptional.
The lens is large, and when mounted on the K1 - the entire unit is large. There is no getting around that. What was staggering is the exceptional detail and color rendering the K1/15-30 combination provides.
I have also taken the lens on a 2 week trip to Alaska. With it being wide angle, I was even able to capture a breaching whale that should have been a telephoto shot - by cropping.
In reviews, it matches the Nikon 14-24/f2.8 Bottom line - I don't know how much more you can expect from a lens this wide.
_________________________
One additional interesting factor that I stumbled across. I prefocus in the afternoon before going out to shoot at night. I have found that I can focus at either 15mm or 30mm and while shooting, move between 15 and 30mm and still maintain focus. That is a large plus for me.
Also, the "Open Aperture" or the physical aperture area at 30mm is twice the area at 15mm. Essentially, you are doubling your light at 30mm than what you are getting at 15mm. This is another major reason why I acquired this lens. I wanted the freedom of a large view (at 15mm) but also wanted the larger aperture area at 30mm. This lens provided me with that capability. The downside is the constant aperture of f2.8 rather than f2, f1.8 or f1.4 - but you have to compromise. I'm very happy with the amount of light that I can collect at f2.8, so everything else is a bonus.
I have been able to use the AstroTracing on the K1 at 70seconds without really encountering any star trailing in the corners.
| | | | | 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.
| | | | | 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! | | | | | 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.
| | | | | Site Supporter Registered: April, 2017 Location: Bayern Posts: 186
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: January 1, 2021 | Recommended
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | | | Cons: | | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 7
Autofocus: 9
Handling: 7
Value: 6
New or Used: New
Camera Used: K1
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Not a fan of having to get a 150mm filter holder or upgrade my 100mm kit to make better use of the landscape qualities of this monstrosity.
that being said, it's a very capable UWA zoom. great for shooting in confined spaces.
feels robust and not too heavy (for me at least). great to have the fast aperture.
QS focusing is key, as many times for fast moving (read: pets/children) subjects the wide end will cover a lot of your FoV.
massive distortion (somewhat ameliorated in LR through lens corrections) in the corners. you have to expect and try to minimize any deleterious effects on your image.
video suffers from this distortion if you're trying to "shoot from the hip" and follow a scene as it develops.
You're going to pay for this lens. It's worth it if you demand the full sharpness your 36+mp sensor can produce and need the versatility of a zoom.
Character is not dissimilar to the 24-70 IMO. Not sterile, but not distinct.
Overall, if you can afford it, it's worth a chance.
| | | | | Senior Member Registered: February, 2018 Posts: 193
3 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: March 27, 2020 | Recommended
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Only modern UWA lens with WR | | Cons: | Heavy | |
Everybody who has reviewed this lens has commented on the heft of this lens. Allow me to add: coupled with a K1, this lens is an absolute pig. After receiving this in the mail (bought from another forum member), I went out to a park and did some landscape shooting. I carried my K3 with the 60-250 f/4 with me for telephoto work, and that set-up was practically non existent. I handheld my K1 with this lens, and my forearm was getting achy after awhile. I’ve shot this lens before and was blown away with the optics, but I’ll edit my review depending on what I see with what I just shot. My one “gripe” with this lens is the fine focus ring. On my DA* lenses, you can feel when the fine focus is at the apex, this one, I don’t get that subtle tactile feedback.
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