DA14mm Limited Vs 12-24 f4

Hi all,

After selling my ultra sharp 12-24 Pentax lens for the ultra conpact 15mm DA f4, Im now not so sure as which is best for image quality.

The 12-24 was sharp front to back centre to corner.

15mm??? well not so sure.


Your thoughts.

Any owners of either out there?????????



Graham

The title says 14mm, whilst the post says 15mm. So I'm not entirely sure I'm answering the correct question.

I sold the 12-24mm in favour of the 14mm & never had any regrets. I never had any issues with sharpness from either lens. I wouldn't say the IQ of the 14mm was any better, but it does handle flare better & also focusses a fair bit closer which reaps benefits in composition at a wide angle by enabling a strong foreground.

As for the 15mm, I can't help. But if anyone does give it a resounding thumbs-up, I can see Mikew being pushed over the edge into making a purchase !

They are all great lenses, it depends on your requirements and criteria.

DA14 f2.8, Fastest Pentax ultra wide, very linear distortion, almost ideal 90deg FOV as an ultra wide, excellent close focusing ability, not quite as sharp as the 12-24 until around f8.0.

DA15 f4.0 pancake, Smallest and pocket-able UW makes it highly desirable, excellent flare handling, excellent colour and contrast, very sharp at f8.0, beautiful all metal "Limited" construction.

DA12-24, Sharpest of all the Pentax UW's. Very sharp across the frame even from f4.0, low distortion, being a zoom it's the most flexible, makes a great street, architectural lens, limited close focus (0.3m) but still very usable. Now very expensive compared to it's sibling, the Tokina 12-24. There may be one or two D-Xenon (Samsung branded, virtually identical) versions at better prices still kicking around if you hunt for them.

Both the 12-24 and 14 have huge hoods.

Like all Pentax wides there is a fair amount of CA, but it is pretty much eliminated by straightforward CA correction with software, now automatic CA and distortion correction with the K-7 and K-x in JPEG.

Hi all,

Sorry, i ment the 15mm DA f4 PANCAKE lens, NOT the 14mm f2.8

SORRY!


Graham

I have all 3 lenses, the DA14 f2.8, the DA15 f4 Limited and the DA12-24 f4. What Richard has said sums it all up very well but I will add that I rarely use the DA12-24 f4 due to it's size and now mostly use the DA15 as it is small - doesn't hardly take up any room in the bag and is lightweight - and has the "Limited" look to it's IQ. The beauty of the fixed focal length lenses over the zoom is that they have a closer focusing distance and also have a DOF scale on the barrel, both of which I find indispensible.