Pentax SMC-DA 16-45mm F4

offertonhatter · 03-01-2009, 06:19 PM

Just got this lens and I rather like it.

This was taken with my K20D

The Bokeh is excellent.... :-)

K100Dave · 03-01-2009, 07:31 PM

There's just something about this lens that forces you to take great pictures with it. It's not a particularly fast lens, however using it in the right situation generally yields positive results.

Plus, I have never heard of anyone getting a bad copy of this lens, like it's faster more expensive cousin.

*shutterbob* · 03-04-2009, 03:14 PM

Originally Posted by K100Dave

There's just something about this lens that forces you to take great pictures with it. It's not a particularly fast lens, however using it in the right situation generally yields positive results.

Plus, I have never heard of anyone getting a bad copy of this lens, like it's faster more expensive cousin.

I heartily agree! I have had a love/hate relationship with this lens. It is a peculiar medium range zoom with a funny reverse extension from wide to zoom. I hated it with my k100d, off and on with my K10d, and now I'm loving it with the Samsung GX20!

I have owned it a couple of years and it has sat on the shelf for months at a time. Then I'd grab it and try again. Be patient with it. Your photos can appear very dark on the camera LCD, but once you pop them up on the bigger computer or tv screen, they can really create the wow! response. A kind of surrealistic quality.

I can only describe it as a kind of "dark" lense that has the ability to yield results that rival the Pentax primes; and I'm talking about the good primes (I own the FA31mm ltd, FA 35mm FA 50mm etc). Last outing with it was a quick trip to San Diego. I uploaded a few samples in the gallery if you'd like to gaze at them. They're under shutterbob.

FotoPete · 03-05-2009, 09:40 AM

Originally Posted by shutterbob

It is a peculiar medium range zoom with a funny reverse extension from wide to zoom.

I use that to my advantage in event photography. For the more shy event goers and candid pics, I shoot wide and the 16mm (equiv 24mm) enables me to include them in the photo when they think I'm just zooming off into the distance.

rburgoss · 03-05-2009, 10:15 AM

I've never been too fond to zoom lenses. In my background I've had several pentax zooms (FA28/80, FA28/105 both versions, FA 28/70f4, FA 70/200 f4-5.6, FA 80/320, FA 28/200). None of those were up to "my standards" in IQ. Not pretending to be picky here, just that they were not comparable to any of my primes IQ.

Today, I have the FA17/28, which I almost never use especially with a digital body and the DA 16/45 and DA 12/24.

To be honest, the DA 12/24 is a good performer, but I've rather have back my wides coverage with primes (15/20/24 and 28 which I all have) but when matters are taken with the DA 16/45, this is an outstanding piece of glass. I am very happy with its IQ, so much I've never had the urge to go for the DA 16/50 F2.8.

Digitalis · 03-06-2009, 02:23 AM

An observation of mine is that constant aperture lenses tend to have excellent bokeh, of course there are always exceptions to that rule....just take a look at the cannon 16-35 f/2.8L - that thing is U-G-L-Y

meand myK20 · 03-08-2009, 09:20 PM

OMG lens in totally screwed; has some mirror image issue. Steering wheel appears to be on wrong side of car. Is that Spotted Dick on the dash?

*Andi Lo* · 03-08-2009, 10:12 PM

Originally Posted by meand myK20

OMG lens in totally screwed; has some mirror image issue. Steering wheel appears to be on wrong side of car. Is that Spotted Dick on the dash?

Lol. that's funny. I just remembered that the driver seat is not the american version

jmbradd · 03-09-2009, 12:27 PM

This is an awesome lens...did something similar awhile back just went for a different perspective

Love the way it handles color and when used properly it is very sharp

axl · 03-09-2009, 04:28 PM

by all accounts this seems to be a great lens. I once had a chance to get refubrished version for £140 only but I passed on it (got 31ltd later) but this is one of those lenses that is still on my mind. Maybe one day I'll find enough courage to justify it's purchse. It's going to have to be a lot of courage since in that range I already have: Sigma 10-20, FA31, DA40 and DA18-55...
BR