Pentax smc DA 15mm f/4 ED AL Limited review

The Pentax smc DA 15mm F4 ED AL Limited is a unique lens in the current market, a small, lightweight wideangle prime for APS-C cameras. And let's make it clear from the outset that Pentax should be applauded for producing such a lens, to provide a genuine alternative to the wideangle zooms which are the only option in other manufacturers' lineups. This is indeed typical of the company's attitude towards primes in general; it makes arguably the best APS-C optimized set currently on the market, which counts as something of a selling point for the K system as a whole.

The 15mm is not a bad performer, either. Chromatic aberration is reasonably under control (and easy to correct if necessary), falloff is low at just 1.3 stops wide open, and rectilinear distortion is essentially absent. Also important in real-world shooting is the fact that the lens is very resistant to flare when shooting into the light, an especially desirable characteristic for a wideangle optic. Unfortunately though it's rather soft wide open, and even when stopped down is never breathtakingly sharp in the fashion we'd hope for from a premium prime. This is a little disappointing, especially considering the price and relatively slow maximum aperture; but then again you rarely have to shoot a lens this wide at F4 anyway (especially with the in-body stabilization in all current and recent Pentax DSLRs).

One positive aspect not to be overlooked though is Pentax's signature 'Limited' build quality, which is excellent. The machined aluminium barrel, engraved markings and smooth focus ring may have no effect on the final image, but they certainly make the lens a more desirable object in its own right, and one which is a pleasure to use. The sliding lens hood, of course, will have a genuinely positive impact on image quality, and the fact that it's built-in makes it much more likely to be used as a matter of course. Thankfully the metal construction doesn't result in excess weight, and the lens is eminently portable, making it ideal if you don't want to deal with the bulk of a wideangle zoom.


Andy Westlake

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