photo - Ken Gilbert
photo - Ken Gilbert
photo - Ken Gilbert
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CIRCULAR PL<br />
Capture summer memories<br />
with rich blue skies and<br />
crystal clear waters<br />
A HOYA Circular Polarizing filter<br />
absorbs polarized light giving skies a<br />
darker blue appearance and makes<br />
puffy white clouds "pop". It also reduces<br />
the reflections off water and glass<br />
as well. Professional <strong>photo</strong>graphers<br />
agree that a Circular Polarizing filter is<br />
the most important filter for outdoor<br />
<strong>photo</strong>graphy.<br />
With CIRCULAR PL Filter<br />
Without Filter<br />
HOYA is the world's largest optical<br />
glass manufacturer with traditions of<br />
quality that date back nearly a century.<br />
We are proud of our heritage and<br />
where our glass is made.<br />
EXCLUSIVE DISTRIBUTION BY:<br />
7642 Woodwind Drive, Huntington Beach, CA 92647<br />
Visit our website for more information at<br />
www.thk<strong>photo</strong>.com<br />
lab * LenS teSt<br />
pentAx-DA 15mm F/4 eD AL LimiteD AF<br />
Pro Vision<br />
pentax<br />
2.44 in.<br />
makes big<br />
waves with<br />
a very little<br />
ultrawide<br />
0.22 in.<br />
1.56 in.<br />
the widest of Pentax’s<br />
Limited series, this<br />
22.5mm equivalent<br />
has the Extra-low<br />
Dispersion glass, highgrade<br />
aluminum construction,<br />
nonrotating front lens<br />
barrel, and quick-shift focus<br />
system typical of this top-tier<br />
group. Another highlight: a<br />
built-in, petal-shaped, telescoping<br />
lenshood that’s velvet-lined.<br />
Even the lenscap sports a<br />
velvet lining, although neither<br />
we nor the folks we spoke<br />
with at Pentax USA could figure<br />
out why. Perhaps it’s meant<br />
simply to denote luxury—or to<br />
reassure <strong>photo</strong>graphers that the<br />
metal cap won’t scratch the lens.<br />
As with all Limited optics, this<br />
one is almost pancake-thin and,<br />
amazingly for a 15mm, throws<br />
no shadow when used with the<br />
Pentax K-7’s built-in flash, even<br />
with the hood fully extended.<br />
Beautifully designed—with<br />
highly legible engraved barrel<br />
markings (feet in blue,<br />
meters in yellow), an extensive<br />
depth-of-field scale, and an<br />
exquisitely-ribbed focusing<br />
ring seemingly machined by a<br />
jeweler—the lens offers quick<br />
and accurate (though slightly<br />
noisy) autofocus, and smooth<br />
but somewhat underdamped<br />
manual-focus action.<br />
Other optical perks: a hybrid<br />
aspheric element and Pentax’s<br />
88 PoPulAr PhotogrAPhy JAnuAry 2010<br />
www.storemags.com & www.fantamag.com<br />
AmAteur Pro<br />
relatively new SP (Super Protectant)<br />
coating that allows easy<br />
cleaning of fingerprints and<br />
water marks.<br />
Optically the lens is no slouch:<br />
SQF tests found sharpness and<br />
contrast in the low Excellent<br />
Continues on page 116<br />
SPECIFICATIONS<br />
15mm (15.54mm tested), f/4 (f/3.80<br />
tested), 8 elements in 6 groups. Focusing<br />
turns 80 degrees.<br />
diaGonaL View anGLe: 86 degrees<br />
weiGht: 0.44 lb fiLteR siZe: 49mm<br />
moUnt: Pentax KAF2<br />
inCLUded: Built-in hood, case<br />
stReet pRiCe: $550<br />
TEST RESULTS<br />
distoRtion: 0.17% (Slight) barrel<br />
LiGht faLLoff: Gone by f/6.7<br />
CLose-foCUsinG<br />
distanCe: 6.75 inches<br />
maximUm maGnifiCation<br />
Ratio: 1:6.33<br />
pentax-da 15mm f/4 ed aL Limited<br />
what’s hot<br />
Solid construction and compact size<br />
what’s not<br />
Underdamped manual focus, noisy AF<br />
POPPHOTO.COM
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