About half a year ago I contemplated acquiring the DA15mm or the DA12-24mm for landscape and northern lights photography. I eventually ended up with buying the zoom. In the process I read many reviews of both lenses. Here is a review of the DA15mm by landscape photographer Greg Nyquist, who migrated from the DA12-24mm to the 15mm prime:

http://www.northcoastphotographer.net/blog/files/4cfb050deed06e35eb0dca56dc7442e...

Another interesting review is the one at photozone:

http://www.photozone.de/pentax/463-pentax_15_4

I guess you will get responses from forum members who have experience with the DA15mm. I myself am glad I went for the DA12-24mm, it is just fantastic!

Good luck with your quest

Best wishes
Bjørn

I have not had the pleasure of using the DA 16-45mm, but I have a comment about the DA18-55mm WR, of which I have two. The first DA18-55mm WR, that came with my K20D, is very sharp and has great colour rendition. I recently purchased a K-5 + DA18-55mm kit, but this second lens is quite different form the first. This second lens is noticeably less sharp, even though the colour rendition is probably quite similar. So my (empirical, but not scientific)conclusion is that there are sample variations with this lens. My first DA18-55 WR is permanently fitted to the K20D, as my "have in the car" allround second camera. I have learned to really appreciated the DA18-55 WR.

Regards
Bjørn

btw: I also have the FA* 28-70mm f2,8 zoom, so I have been able to compare the DA18-55mm WR with a great professional grade Pentax zoom.

Very nice set. My favorite is number two.

Regards
Bjørn

Wonderful images!

Regards
Bjørn

Thanks David and Stuey!

Best wishes
Bjørn

Thank you for your comments, much appreciated!

He he... Some of the Waxwings visiting our garden look like "flying tennisballs", they are really plump looking. I feel a bit bad about this, maybe I should suggest an exercise program for them

It has been a particularly cold winter here in Norway. This weekend we are having temperatures around minus 15 celsius. I guess it is only positive that the Waxwings are "slightly overweight", it keeps them warm. That is, as long as they still are able to fly

Regards
Bjørn

The last few weeks Waxwings have returned to this part of Norway, and we often see them in our garden. C&C is welcome!

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Regards
Bjørn

Thanks Gwyn! Yes, we are also looking foreward to spring coming, we have had a long and cold winter.

I sent an e-mail to a Norwegian ornithological club, with some questions about woodpeckers. The ornithologist that answered my request, believed that the woodpeckers mark their territory with the pecking, and they like the resonance of the metal plates. The woodpeckers also peck on wood in search of insects, like you also say. The video quality on the original K-5 avi file is much better than www.vimeo.com is able to reproduce. And considering that there is a 510mm zoom on the shot, the quality is excellent.



Not me

Woodpeckers have shown up in our housing estate the last few day. They like to sit on the light posts and make "drum rolls" on the metal plates on top of the light posts. Initially I attempted to get some nice photos of the woodpeckers, but then I realized that the most amusing part of their activity (the drum rolls) would not be captured on a photo, one has to hear the sound. I therefore tried the video mode on my K-5 for the very first time. So here is a short video of the woodpecker. K-5 and FA*300mm + AF Adapter 1.7x and tripod. This video is shot from our bedroom window, unfortunately I had to close a door while I was filming, which resulted in some camera shake. Watch the video, it is quite amusing!

http://vimeo.com/59141689

Best regards
Bjørn

PS: Below is a picture of the "main actor" in the video

Fantastic images! I would have loved to have an A3 format book with these images in

Thanks for sharing!

Regards
Bjørn