This post is a compilation of Pentax smc DA 15mm f4 ED AL Limited lens professional and user reviews, owner opinions, reports and experiences, tests, conclusions, ratings and feedback.
Full attribution is given by linking to the source and where available, the author’s homepage or photo gallery.
The Pentax 15mm was announced on 2-March-2009. Read the press release on DPReview, titled “PENTAX announces a new ultra-wide angle lens, the smc PENTAX-DA15mm F4ED AL Limited“.
Pentax 15mm Limited review at DPReview.com
Andy Westlake, the reviewer, had the following conclusions and verdict of “Recommended” for the optic:
So overall we have a lens which is difficult to categorize. Its very uniqueness makes it desirable — if you want something a bit wider than the 18-55mm kit lens, but without the bulk of a wideangle zoom, it’s your only choice. Like all of Pentax’s Limited series primes, it’s also a finely crafted piece of kit which is a delight to use — a somewhat frivolous reason to choose one, perhaps, although still perfectly valid in its own way. Shot carefully stopped-down to its sweet spot, it also delivers very good but not outstanding image quality. So if your priorities lie in keeping your kit small, light and discreet, it’s a great option, but for most users we can’t help but feel that a wideangle zoom still makes more sense. Ultimately when compared to the alternatives, the 15mm F4 falls just short of offering enough of the expected advantages of a prime (smaller, faster, sharper, and cheaper) to earn our highest recommendation.
Andy does suggest to consider buying the Pentax DA 12-24mm f/4 ED AL (IF) lens instead, which is optically similar to the Tokina 12-24mm f/4 (not available for the Pentax mount), if you want a sharper lens at wide-open apertures.