| Author: | | Junior Member Registered: July, 2016 Location: Alps Posts: 35
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: April 29, 2018 | Recommended | Price: $465.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | limited handling, rendition | | Cons: | corners/borders not sharp, screw cap | | Sharpness: 7
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 8
Autofocus: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 8
New or Used: Used
Camera Used: K-3 II
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Awesome handling and great overall rendition, colors and contrast.
IQ is great in the center, not that much in corners/borders - understandable for a small and lightweight ultra wide.
Screw cap use is not that great - not a major issue.
Good lens that does not control my mind as some others  | | | | | | | Senior Member Registered: February, 2018 Location: Hérouville Saint Clair, Normandy, France Posts: 143
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: February 15, 2018 | Recommended | Price: $549.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Compact, sharp, light, well built | | Cons: | Not WR | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 7
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 9
New or Used: New
Camera Used: KP
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Almost perfect.
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: November, 2014 Location: Newfoundland Posts: 501
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: December 30, 2017 | Recommended | Price: $550.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Size, Weight, Build Quality, Smooth Manual Focus, Rendering, Perspective, Razor Sharp when stopped down. | | Cons: | None | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 7
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
New or Used: New
Camera Used: K-5II
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A beautiful piece of finely crafted glass, the HD DA 15 completed my set of Limited's. It's priced very well compared to the DA 14 which is huge and heavy. I'm still learning to employ this lens for optimum effect but can say it is an absolute joy to shoot with. The HD DA 15 handy for large group photos too!
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: June, 2013 Posts: 1,458
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: March 4, 2015 | Recommended
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Color rendition, build, lack of distortion | | Cons: | could be faster | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 9
Autofocus: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 9
New or Used: New
Camera Used: k-3
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I decided t add this review after being so impressed by a commonly overlooked aspect of this lens...the color rendition....For me, it is far superior to even my fa primes, which was a completely unexpected surprise when I first started shooting with this lens.....Actually this lens has surprised me on many levels. The virtual lack of distortion, the clarity(after reading other reviews), and its ability to focus quickly and accurately at close range for a wide angle....I love this lens and find the wide angle to be surprisingly playful and very useful.....I am enclosing a photo to show the color rendition, with no added vibrancy or saturation in post...I hope the coming Pentax FF will have adaptability to these DA lenses....would love to see how this rolls as a true 15mm on the FF | | | | | | | Forum Member Registered: July, 2011 Location: Texas Posts: 97
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: February 28, 2015 | Recommended | Price: $496.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | IQ, vivid color (polarized skies w/o polarizer), build quality, hood | | Cons: | wide open is F4 | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 7
Autofocus: 9
Handling: 8
Value: 9
New or Used: New
Camera Used: K-30, K-x
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I can't complain at all. Even the F4-wide open is fine for the types of wide-angle shots one will use this lens for. I was most struck by the rich, dark blue skies and color I get with it (vs. my other limiteds which are all SMC-coated). I wouldn't use a CPL polarizer on such a wide-angle lens due to the gradient effect, but with THIS lens, I get dark blue skies WITHOUT one! Only thing I'd be hesitant to do with it is make large, blown up landscape posters with it, since the sharpness in the corners falls to just above "kit-quality", but only if blown up 1-1. This is most likely a tradeoff for such a wide-angle in such a compact lens. If doing that, I'd use the 21mm pancake and step back a bit. Also, hide your beautiful cap away for safekeeping and get yourself a cheap snap-on one and USE it if you plan to carry it around in your pocket (the front element is large and exposed to scratching). The hood slides perfectly, not too tight or loose and remains where you put it, so you don't need to used the included cap with a lip, you just have to REMEMBER to extend the hood! Here's my full, detailed review and images: If you love your other pancake limiteds, you'll love this one too. If forced to choose between this and the 21mm, get this one and crop, except as I explained above!
https://wildstar84.wordpress.com/2015/02/27/hd-pentax-da-15mm-f4-ed-al-limited-lens-review/ | | | | | Forum Member Registered: December, 2009 Posts: 94
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: February 12, 2015 | Recommended | Price: $500.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | IQ, contrast, rendering | | Cons: | small aperture | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 7
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 8
New or Used: New
Camera Used: K-m
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First I would just like to suggest that the negative reviews found here are probably due to front- or back focusing or other issues such as decentering. My copy is flawless and incredibly sharp.
Best is to close it down to f/8 or f/11.
To me this lens shines most with respect to rendering, contrast, microcontrast and an extraordinary ability to reproduce highlights as well as low lights. The example below tries to illustrate this.
 | | | | | Veteran Member Registered: August, 2011 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 328
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: January 28, 2015 | Recommended | Price: $430.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Size, build, image quality, autofocus | | Cons: | a bit soft corners, but not really noticeable in practice | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 9
Autofocus: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 9
New or Used: Used
Camera Used: K-3
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This is my first Limited lens and I am impressed with how well built it is. Every bit the equal of old SMC lenses. The images are quite good so far and I love the size. I sold my Tamron 10-24 because it was just too big and I prefer primes where possible. I already had one of the wonderful Pentax FA 20-35 lenses and wanted something wider. After experiencing my first Limited, I have just ordered a DA 70 . The rest of my Pentax kit is a 50 1.4 SMC-A, 50 Macro SMC-A, and a Tamron AF 28-75. I have never cared for long lenses, having used Leica rangefinders primarily. The 15 fits very well and is so small that you can always have it with you. It makes my K-3 feel so nice in my hand. Reminds me of a Leitz Super-Angulon without the corner vignetting and better color.
Here are two images I made yesterday evening with the 15
 
This second photo could have benefited from having a level camera. Pointed a bit down makes the building tops wider than their base.
| | | | | New Member Registered: June, 2014 Location: Montreal Posts: 16
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: December 5, 2014 | Recommended
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Rectilinear wide angle | | Cons: | a bit soft on the edges | | Sharpness: 7
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 10
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 8
New or Used: New
Camera Used: K-3
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I already have a the 10-17 fish eye and wanted something not as wide and producing less deformation (which isn't difficult). I'm very happy with the DA 15. It's a pleasure to use and the fact that it is so compact means I don't have to compromise and take out another lens from my bag to make room for it.
I find that 15mm is probably as wide as you can get without getting unnaturally wide.
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: February, 2009 Posts: 876
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: October 16, 2014 | Not Recommended
| Rating: 7 |
| Pros: | Great center sharpness, build quality, quick-shift, & the way it feels in your hand | | Cons: | Corner Sharpness | | Sharpness: 6
Autofocus: 9
Handling: 9
Value: 6
New or Used: New
Camera Used: K5 IIs
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It was apparent during the short time I owned my copy of this highly regarded lens that it has many positive attributes, but if you, like I, primarily intend to shoot landscapes, are looking for sharpness across the frame, or intend to make large prints, I would look elsewhere.
I think the pros and cons I've listed above pretty much explains the low ratings I've given this lens (all things considered, I feel I've honestly been pretty generous, considering it has no use to me whatsoever). If its corner sharpness was on par with its center sharpness this would be a must own; maybe even the lens to own. Unfortunately it's nowhere close, not even stopped down, in my experience.
My advice to those considering purchasing one: research it, don't look at tiny pics online and get your hopes up too high. It might fit your needs, it might not.
| | | | | New Member Registered: June, 2013 Posts: 5
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: October 15, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $650.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | build, colour rendition, lowlight capabilities | | Cons: | non so far | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Autofocus: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 9
New or Used: New
Camera Used: K-5 II
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Please beware.....that review is based on testing it for 20 minutes !
It is one little, solid build beauty. By it's weight and the full metal chassis you can tell that this piece will stay with you for quiet a time.
After a view test shots I could see that it controls very well distortion and gives fine colour rendition and contrast. It seems well sharp in my first test-shootings.
CA can be a problem in extreme situation but otherwise it controls it a bit better in general as my other lenses. Certainly better than my Pentax 18-250mm  .
Bokeh is jolie for what I saw until here but this was anyway not the reason why I bought this lens.
It's get soft on the sides at F4 but I don't think that this could be an incredible discovery. You stop it down and it's all fine.
Astonishing is that you can approach an object very closely and that the AF seems to work perfect even in lowlight. The K-5 II and this little baby are therefore a perfect match it seems.
I can not compare it to the 15mm limited without HD and nano-coating but hard to imagine that you should buy this lens to upgrade your old 15mm limited. But other reviewer might have more details here to give.
I can do an update on this review in a couple of days or few weeks to confirm my first impressions.
EDIT :
So, I ran a bit through town to play around with my new toy. Not sure if the pics are going to help you for your decision but I think I like this little lens. Very convenient for it's size and the possibilities 15mm are putting into your hands. I do underline my first impressions. Build, colour rendition, contrast and sharpness are very good ! AF struggled a little bit but still very impressive and accurate especially for it's low-light capabilities. Distortion is fine (which was important for me) and for "into the sun" shots I might still have to learn how to do it. Remember, theses pics are among the the very first I took now.
Pictures 1 to 4 are showing a non treated jpeg out of the camera and shot at F13, 1/125. The rest is a mix of shots I did in 3 days, all treated in PS and therefore not really a reliable source for you.
colours, contrast and sharpness..... works for me
soft corners, at this croprate ok for me but F13 is maybe not the best example
CA. No incredible news here. It is existent in the pics but mostly easy to fix in PS
still sharp enough when cropped a bit
nice DOF
15mm, wide enough for me
| | | | | Site Supporter Registered: April, 2021 Location: Arlon, Belgium Posts: 100 | | Review Date: May 16, 2021 | Recommended | Price: $300.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | very sharp | | Cons: | auto-focus bug | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 6
Autofocus: 6
Handling: 9
Value: 6
New or Used: Used
Camera Used: K3II
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I love this lens, but i bought it too late because i didn't have it yet when i was in New Zealand , and i really needed it for those fabulous landscapes and montains , i regret it so much !!!
| | | | | Senior Member Registered: March, 2010 Location: Svealand Posts: 172 | | Review Date: May 18, 2019 | Recommended | Price: $417.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | rendering, small, build quality, built in hood, short focussing distance, quick-shift, | | Cons: | No starbursts | | Sharpness: 9
Bokeh: 7
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
New or Used: New
Camera Used: Pentax K-5
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I earlier owned a DA 15mm Limited but I sold it. Missed it a lot but could not find one to by so I went for the HD Pentax-DA 15mm instead. It's a great lens that I strongly recommend but I do miss the starburst that the old 15mm had.
| | | | | Site Supporter Registered: August, 2012 Location: Queensland Posts: 4,293 | | Review Date: October 30, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $660.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Beautiful build | | Cons: | Limited lenses are expensive. | | Sharpness: 9
Autofocus: 9
Handling: 9
Value: 8
New or Used: New
Camera Used: K5
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There are enough comments on the photographic aspects of this lens, and I haven't enough experience to add anything useful in that regard, especially since it had had a full review on this Forum. I have the silver HD version.
I will say one thing, where I disagree with many others; that is in regards to the lens cap and the lens hood. I love the lens cap and the way it fits. The quality just oozes from the construction and fit. The lens hood is very convenient, one just has to pull it out if one needs it. This lens, like the other Limiteds is a pleasure to own, and so far has worked well for me. For those who find fault, mostly pertaining to edge sharpness, perhaps a little context is in order. After all, this is a wide angle lens, and certain allowances for flatness of field should be considered. Otherwise stick with the normal macro 35mm/f2.8 (perhaps my favourite Limited)
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: July, 2014 Location: Paris Posts: 1,939 | | Review Date: October 23, 2014 | Recommended
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | IQ, small, wide, lack of distortion | | Cons: | not full frame ? | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Autofocus: 9
Handling: 9
Value: 9
New or Used: New
Camera Used: K5 IIs
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Detail review will be updated with photos soon !
| | | | | Loyal Site Supporter Registered: November, 2010 Location: San Rafael, CA Posts: 806 | | Review Date: September 29, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $566.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Sharp, compact | | Cons: | None | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 9
Autofocus: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 10
New or Used: New
Camera Used: K-5 IIs
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This is my first HD lens, and I have to say I am extremely pleased. And it's a Limited, so the build quality is excellent. I'd researched the heck out of this lens, so I had pretty high expectations, and this lens easily exceeded them. Just a joy to use. And sharp. The autofocus is very good, though I do use manual focus more often, just my habit. I bought this lens to be my new daily driver, replaces my DA16-50mm which I love. But I think I love this lens more. My only wish is that it was weather resistant.
Still getting used to this lens but I already know it's going to be on my camera for long long time.
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