| Latest Review Posted | HD Pentax-D FA 15-30mm F2.8 ED SDM WR
Most who purchase this lens will do so with the intention of using it at the 15mm end more so than the 30mm end. As such, the best direct competitor is the Samyang 14mm to which I will compare it to.
Sharpness in the center of the frame is spectacular. It easily bests my copy of the Samyang at all F stops.
The edges of the frame are a different story to which the prime takes the cakes. The Pentax is blown away in corner sharpness wide opened. Stopped down the difference is still there but less noticeable. It may be my copy is not centered properly but the difference between the center and edge sharpness is definitely more noticeable than with the Samyang.
Minimum focus distance is respectable, flare seems to be well controlled, and aberrations are similar to that of the Samyang.
It may not be fair to compare this to a prime but for at FF K mount there aren't too many other options on the ultra wide end. The lens is seriously great but in all honesty the only reason I would purchase it is if you have the budget to do so and will actually use it throughout the zoom range and/or need AF. On the wide end it does not offer any significant benefit over the Samyang from my initial testing. Further, it is over 3x the price, twice the weight, and MUCH larger. I plan on keeping it only for the the two reasons I mentioned above.
Of note, as with many similar UWA lenses there is no filter ring and specialty adapters must be purchased to use filters. This ca... |
