[TroutHunterJohn]

Does anyone have insights on if/when this lens might be re-issued? Hopefully without SDM issues and, possibly, sharper corners.


I had one some time ago and find myself longing for a single-lens zoom in this wide/medium range, at 2.8. I really liked the images from my first version but SDM died, and the corner sharpness was lacking. I now have primes for my "quality work", but I need a good zoom for short trips where I don't have space or time for lens changes.


I looked at the 16-85, but it seems a little slow for my tastes.


Is anyone else feeling the need?

[mee]

I hope the whole DA side gets DC motors and the new coatings.. but I doubt it is happening anytime soon with the FF ramp up..

[jatrax]

I would think at some point it will be updated to HD coatings and maybe DC drive. But I suspect Ricoh has a lot of other projects with higher priority. It remains one of the best zooms available for Pentax. SDM has been the main issue, the distortion at 16mm is usually easy to correct in post. There really seem to be few complaints on SDM reliability these days. Not that it cannot fail, just that it now seems as reliable as any other drive system. And if it fails convert it to screwdrive it is still a very good lens. Mine is converted to screwdrive and I really don't notice any difference from SDM, it might even be a bit faster.

There are also the the Sigma and Tamron 17-50 f/2.8 lenses which also get good marks. See here: DA* 16-50mm vs. Sigma and Tamron 17-50mm F2.8 Comparison Review - Introduction | PentaxForums.com Reviews

Personally I think it will be years before Ricoh gets around to updating the 16-50 so if you need something in that range go back to the 16-50 or look at the Sigma or Tamron.

[Pål Jensen]

Sort of doubt it with the 16-85 is here and an FF 15-30/2.8 (?) coming....

[Rondec]

I doubt the 16-50 will get much new attention at this point. It isn't that the 16-85 took its place. It isn't a * lens after all, even though it is sealed. It is more that Pentax is going to be really busy over the next couple of years getting the Full frame zooms and primes designed and manufactured to re-visit older lenses like the 16-50.

That said, I really like the 16-50 and find it pretty usable throughout the range as a walk around lens. With the ability to convert the lens to screw drive that now exists, I wouldn't hesitate to buy it.

[Vantage-Point]

Ricoh Pentax have said that APS-C based cameras are supposed to be their main area of concentration for now (after they get the Full Frame dslr up and runniing). Even Kenspo has mentioned that Pentax has not forgotten about their APS-C line. That being said, I would expect Pentax to have a new DA* 16-50 F2.8 lens announced at least by spring of 2017. Pentax must keep Its APS-C line relevant for new and repeat buyers.

[disconnekt]

I'd be happy if they updated the 17-70mm f4 to be fully WR (and made it a stop faster)

[Nicolas06]

Ricoh Pentax have said that APS-C based cameras are supposed to be their main area of concentration for now (after they get the Full Frame dslr up and runniing). Even Kenspo has mentioned that Pentax has not forgotten about their APS-C line. That being said, I would expect Pentax to have a new DA* 16-50 F2.8 lens announced at least by spring of 2017. Pentax must keep Its APS-C line relevant for new and repeat buyers.

One must understand that whatever are Pentax true feeling toward APSC future they had to make that statement. They also released not long ago a revent of the DA ltd, a new version of 55-300, the 16-85 and the 20-40.

Now the 16-50 is part of the "pro", star line. For now the priority is obviously to get a pro line for the FF as pro tend to use more often than not FF bodies than APSC. This is also good strategy as many FF lenses can also be used by APSC users. They already started with 150-450 and many APSC users are interrested indeed.

Now they need also a 24-70, a 15-30 (or something arround it), to get that 70-200 fixed and out, 2-3 lower end lenses with more range like a 24-105, 28-300 and 70-300 and to refresh they prime offering with 4-5 lenses arround 24mm, 35, 50, 85, 135, 200, 300, 400mm.

Now when most of this is done, they can update the 16-50, 50-135 and 60-250 !

[starbase218]

I'd be happy if they updated the 17-70mm f4 to be fully WR (and made it a stop faster)

WR is possible, but unlikely since the 16-85 is out there now. A stop faster? 17-70 f/2.8? Very unlikely. I'm not an optical engineer, but I think there's probably a reason that all 17-70-ish lenses out there are slower than that.

If you want that range and speed though, I suggest you look at a fullframe camera with a 24-105 f/4. Maybe Pentax will even bring one out. You'd have f/2.8-equivalent DOF (assuming equal subject distance) and the fullframe sensor would allow you to shoot at higher sensitivities.

As for the 16-50: the main reason I like Pentax is that they have a professional APS-C system. But the 16-50 is getting old. SDM focusing, no HD coatings, and corner sharpness at f/2.8 could be better. I was just browsing a Nikon forum a few days ago and I think the Tokina version is considered a good buy at around 300 euros used. We pay a lot more for our Pentax versions!

I actually expected them to upgrade the DA* line, since they brought out new lenses like the 16-85 that have all the latest bells and whistles, and is a "consumer-grade" lens. But if the focus on fullframe pro lenses will be at the expense of APS-C pro lenses, they begin to look a whole lot like Canon and Nikon.

[Nicolas06]

I actually expected them to upgrade the DA* line, since they brought out new lenses like the 16-85 that have all the latest bells and whistles, and is a "consumer-grade" lens. But if the focus on fullframe pro lenses will be at the expense of APS-C pro lenses, they begin to look a whole lot like Canon and Nikon.

They can focus for more for FF for 2-3 years (after all they just released many update for APSC), a good share of the FF lenses will be usefull on APSC too. Once the FF has a decent line-up, they can add lenses for the 2 as needed.

But you know lenses like DA35, DA50, DA55, DA200, DA300 are just FF lenses branded as DA. DFA50 and DFA100 are officially FF. FA and FA ltd are FF lenses. You may find that out of all the current line-up most of the design are FF design except for the zooms.

[starbase218]

They can focus for more for FF for 2-3 years (after all they just released many update for APSC), a good share of the FF lenses will be usefull on APSC too. Once the FF has a decent line-up, they can add lenses for the 2 as needed.

Yes they can, but it's not a situation I'm happy with. And a fullframe 16-50/2.8 would be big and heavy (if it would ever be released, which is highly doubtful), much more so than the current DA* 16-50/2.8. So I wouldn't want to buy that for my APS-C camera.

But you know lenses like DA35, DA50, DA55, DA200, DA300 are just FF lenses branded as DA. DFA50 and DFA100 are officially FF. FA and FA ltd are FF lenses. You may find that out of all the current line-up most of the design are FF design except for the zooms.

I don't care whether or not any of my current lenses will work on fullframe, because I don't care about a Pentax fullframe.

[TroutHunterJohn]

If I buy another 16-50, how can I increase the liklihood of getting a recent copy, without sdm issues?

Are there extended warrenty options available? I usually buy from b and h or amazon prime.

Thx

[jatrax]

If I buy another 16-50, how can I increase the liklihood of getting a recent copy, without sdm issues?

Supposedly all lenses made in 2012 and later had an updated SDM motor (or something) that corrected the issue unconfirmed non-issue.

Really, look through the forums, there are very, very few complaints about SDM problems with newer lenses. Then look back a few years, it was almost daily, actually far more than daily. Something changed and quite dramatically. So anything in inventory at B&H should be new stock. If you really are worried call B&H and ask them to verify the manufacture date on the lens they send you.

On the other hand I would not buy a used 16-50 without the expectation of having it repaired or converted to screw-drive.

[Nicolas06]

Yes they can, but it's not a situation I'm happy with. And a fullframe 16-50/2.8 would be big and heavy (if it would ever be released, which is highly doubtful), much more so than the current DA* 16-50/2.8. So I wouldn't want to buy that for my APS-C camera.



I don't care whether or not any of my current lenses will work on fullframe, because I don't care about a Pentax fullframe.

Everybody want the priority put on what they want most.

But then I was only stating was is more likely to happen in my opinion: Pentax has commited to FF now and will invest to have create a reasonable line-up of FF lenses.

I'am with you I'd prefer more APSC gear, and for me I don't care of 16-50 at all but more of small, sharp without filed curvature wide angle prime arround 24mm... For me 16-50 SDM is now fixed, the lense perform reasonnably well and there also 17-50 from tamron/sigma as alternative...

But what you or me want or would prefer can be different than what is going to happen. I don't see any reason for Pentax to add that many APSC lenses now they updated that introduced that many recently (DA18-50, DA16-85, HD 55-300, DA HD ltds, DA20-40...)... I can see maybe a collapsible 50-200 or something arround it maybe... And the heavy load of new lenses targeted as the FF for quite some time until they built a good FF lineup.

Let's be honest, FF owner are more willing to spend more money on gear... And if we wait a bit more to have replacement for APSC 16-50 and 50-135, we will benefit from Pentax experience from FF and get even better designs ! If you can't wait, the actual version are quite good as long you are not after action shoots.

[jatrax]

And if we wait a bit more to have replacement for APSC 16-50 and 50-135, we will benefit from Pentax experience from FF and get even better designs !

I expected a refresh of the DA* lenses a year ago or more but it never happened. I suspect they are working on new motor technology and coatings which we will see first in the new FF lenses. My guess would be a DA*16-50 and 50-135 refresh in 2017.