Light Through The Lens

I’m back home, having spent the past several days in Tennessee.  It was a great experience and my first of what I hope will be many visits to Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  The wildflowers were blooming at lower elevations, the redbuds were abundant, the waterfalls flowing, and the trails in great shape.  If you’re able to make it to the park in the next few weeks, I highly recommend it.  The rhododendrons had not yet bloomed, but from what the locals told me, it is a dazzling color display you don’t want to miss!

For this trip, I decided to try out the Pentax DA 15mm F4 ED AL Limited lens, which I rented from Camera Lens Rentals.  The following is a brief overview of the lens, coupled with my experience using this lens.  It is not so much a technical review as it is a hand-on report.  While I did evaluate image quality, I did not do so under controlled conditions.  I chose to shoot in real world conditions rather than test charts in a studio.  I should also mention, in the interest of full disclosure, I paid for the rental fee out of my own pocket and was not compensated, monetarily or otherwise, by either Pentax or Camera Lens Rentals.

The Pentax DA 15nn F4 ED AL Limited is a wide angle lens, and one of only five DA Limited lenses in the Pentax lineup.  On my Pentax K-7, it is the 35mm focal length equivalent of a 22mm lens.  The build quality is what one would expect from Pentax, specifically the Limited line, and features all metal construction, excellent optics, and a built-in retractable lens hood.  The front cap screws on securely, and the lens accepts both standard and slim profile filters.  It’s diminutive size and light weight makes it ideal for travel and outdoor photography, or any situation where weight is important.  Though I didn’t use the lens in this capacity, I suspect its size makes it a capable lens for street photography and photojournalism as well.  It currently retails for around $600 at major online retailers (Amazon, B&H, Adorama) with an MSRP of  $650

The first test of this lens came along the Laurel Falls Trail, a 1.3 mi (2.6 mi roundtrip) paved trail with a difficulty rating of Moderate.  The trail ascends some 1750 feet and ends at the upper base of a spectacular 80-foot cascading waterfall.  The light conditions were a mix of sun and shade, and required a slow shutter speed (1/8s) and tripod to capture the silky smooth effect of the water.

Upper Laurel Falls, Great Smoky Mountains National Park

It may be difficult to judge in this web-sized version, but it appears to be sharp from edge to edge. with the center of the frame resolving minute details in the lichen growing atop the wet rocks.  It’s amazing the detail captured by such a tiny lens!  The corners held enough detail so as not to appear soft, though upon close inspection (100% view in Lightroom) I find them to be slightly less sharp than the center.  I doubt very much it would be apparent in prints up to 11×14, possibly larger.

Overall, I found the Pentax DA 15mm F4 ED AL lens to be a very capable and worthwhile lens.  After 10 days of use, in real world situations and under mixed lighting conditions, I can honestly say I would recommend this to anyone looking for a lightweight alternative to the usually bulky wide angle lens.  Its combination of size, handling, and image quality make it a must have for outdoor, travel, and landscape photography.