Like all other DA lenses, the SMC Pentax DA* 16-50mm is designed only for Pentax DSLR cameras. It was announced in late February, 2007. It auto-focuses with an SDM ultrasonic motor on the K10D (firmware 1.30) and newer cameras. On older cameras the lens will auto-focus with the 'screw drive' mechanism.
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-DA* 16-50mm F2.8 ED AL [IF]: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): $1,100.00
| Rating: 9
Pros:
Its centre Point is incredibly sharp
Cons:
Weight, its heavy & price
Tried out this lens yesterday. At F2.8 not as good as I thought it would be but moving out to f8 you could not beat this lens. I shot a plane in the sky & you could print a 10"x8" print clearly. The same could not be said of the Tamron18-250mm lens which was not as good. It took natural light well & even when evening sun came in no flare. Indoors this lens stood out & its clarity was incredible. I shot my Yorkshire terrier & the shot is one of the best I have of him. I bought this lens for my hiking in Ireland & New Zealand & to stop my insurance company having heart attacks. I will get over the weight because the quality of the photos is superb. I look forward to a 200mm plus lens in this series next year.
Mike
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-DA* 16-50mm F2.8 ED AL [IF]: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): $899.00
| Rating: 10
Pros:
fast
Cons:
physically larger than expected
I've had mine a week now. I don't have an opinion of the optical quality (this is not a negative---just haven't tried to evaluate it). What I am really excited about is the SDM.
You have to do a software upgrade on the K10D to 1.3 to get it to work, and if you have any other pentax digital other than the K100 Super which has been on the market since early july to bad, so sad...... to be sure it supports the now obsolete cam drive characteristic of the KAF mount, but you don't get the benefit of the SDM.
In June I was batting around whether to buy a K10 or K100 and finally settled on the K10 as I decided that the K100 wasn't different enough from my perfectly good istD to justify having a 'new one'. the SDM was announced and never ocurred to me that the SDM might not work on the K100. I shudder to think I could have been the last guy on the planet to buy a K100 that doesn't support SDM, but I dodged the bullet.
The SDM draws power through the two electic contacts
which define the '2' in the KAF2 mount designation which were originally added to support Power zoom in a few
film models.
The SDM is a real winner. Almost totally silent (you can hear it with your ear to the lens), and much faster than the cam driven, though the speed has a lot to do with the camera body as well. My ZX-5 seems to whirr for an eternity compared to the K10---with the same lens
My disappointment with the 15-50 is its absolute physical size. Not having seen it in person before I bought it I was expecting a smaller lens. Somehow I was sort of expecting something the size of the of the DA 50-200, but instead it is large and heavy.
I've used a Sigma 18-35 for my wide angle zoom for years and somehow had an expectation of a similar piece size.
I probably should have known better since it has a long zoom range and is fast, but I was genuinely surprised at its heft.
I do like the SDM however. While it may be a step in planned obsolence of all the FA lenses, it is a better mousetrap which will bite you when the K-next-D comes out someday with no camshaft.....
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-DA* 16-50mm F2.8 ED AL [IF]: No |
Price (U.S. Dollars): $850.00
| Rating: 3
Pros:
SDM, SMC, WX sealing, construction quality, clutch focusing
Cons:
short "throw" when manual focusing - bokeh and chromatic abberation at 16mm and f/2.8
On the way back from lunch about two weeks ago, I stopped in the local camera store, and what do I see on the shelf behind the counter? Yup, you guessed it! While waiting patiently for a salesman, I went over in my mind how much I'd be willing to pay. Finally got some help, and even though the price was more than I had in mind...just couldn't resist. How does that go? "A bird in the hand...", or in this case, "in stock, on the shelf versus a less expensive price from an internet retailer who will deliver 'who knows when'". I passed on the UV filter, and felt 'better'.
Have only exercised this lens on one occasion. For the class I teach (Map Interpretation and GPS), I went into the desert to take some field shots in support of my lectures on topographical features and their representation on maps. Boy! I'm gonna really like this lens! I don't think I'll ever use the kit lens again! Neither my Zenitar...nor any of my M or A primes in this focal range. About the only lenses I'm going to keep (in this focal range) are my Limited primes and fast 50mm lenses. Otherwise, gone! That's how much I like this lens. It is now my default lens...the one that stays on the body when it is in the bag, and the one that will get used the most.
On the negatives and positives...
SDM...it works! Very, very silent. You feel it more than hear it. Seems pretty fast too, but would have to do a time test to make sure. The focus lock is pretty quick and positive. I'm impressed!
SMC...what can one say? It is simply the industries best! Pentax has not rested on their laurels, but have continued to improve SMC over the years. SMC alone is worth any extra expense of a lens.
WX sealing...when you need it...you'll be glad you have it. More of a "peace of mind" item, but again, worth any extra expense.
construction quality...for a composite lens, I have not seen anything better. This thing will last a long time, and will be handed down from generation to generation.
clutch focusing...thank you, Pentax, for keeping this in the DA* lenses. This is another feature that makes Pentax lenses worth any extra expense.
About the only negative I can offer of this lens is that there is an extremely short "throw" when one is in manual focus mode. For comparison, consider the 77mm Limited. That has a very long "throw" which allows a more precise manual focus. This lens has a very short "throw", from stop to stop. That 'feature' greatly aids in autofocus speed, but does not help when manually focusing. Consider this lens a auto focus lens...and use primes for manual focusing needs.
The other thing I don't like is the lack of an aperture ring. But, none of the DA lenses have one, so it really can't be considered a negative. It's just the way the industry is going. Having an aperture ring is what makes pre-DA/FAJ lenses attractive (to me).
Almost went for the 16-45/4, but glad I waited. This lens, along with the 50-135/2.8, Limited primes, and one of the fast 50s are my travel kit now.
Thanks, Pentax, for such a great lens.
- - - - -
Update, April 2008
Above comments unedited, however I have to change my recommendation from "yes" to "no" and drop the ranking from 10 to 3. The primary reason is because of the bokeh when shooting at 16mm and f/2.8 aperture. A Zenitar will give you better images under such settings. Low contrast situations are probably okay at 16mm/2.8, but if there is any amount of contrast in the out-of-focus areas; you will get a horrible image.
This is the first Pentax lens I purchased that I wish I didn't. It does not deserve the Pentax * nomenclature, which used to be reserved for the "best of the best". Now, the definition seems to have changed to indicate a lens that is weather sealed with SDM.
I must say that the DA* 50-135/2.8 is one outstanding lens! It truly deserves the * nomenclature, and produces images every bit as good as Limited lenses within its focal range. Sadly, the same cannot be said about the 16-50/2.8.
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-DA* 16-50mm F2.8 ED AL [IF]: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): N/A
| Rating: 8
Pros:
Sharp, SDM, weather sealing
Cons:
Distortion, size, I had to sell my 24mm to get it and zoom creep.
I was nervous about getting this lens. All the bad samples being reported and all the QC issues being talked about almost made me pass on this. I'm glad I didn't.
On the wide end, it's on par or slightly better than my DA 14mm f/2.8 at all apertures up to and including f/8 (I didn't go beyond that) and the colour is more natural. Contrast also seems a bit better overall.
SDM is quiet, but it's no quicker than the screw-drive AF.
The size of this lens is substantial, dwarfing my 14mm. The build quality is also excellent.
Weather sealing is also a bonus which I've been hoping for, for a long time. Glad this finally came to pass!
The lens also has PF/CA in high-contrast areas. This isn't as bad as I thought it would be, but it is present. The only other "issue" I see is the distortion at 16mm, but in my real-world application, the distortion isn't too much of an issue as landscapes seldom include strait lines.
As for trading in my FA* 24mm f/2.0 - no regrets on that! This lens - to my (limited) experience with it - has proven sharper and maintained all the 'star' lens qualities the 24mm had going for it as well.
**EDIT**
2008-06-25
Just an update after having used the lens more.
One item I'm adding to the 'cons' of this lens is there is zoom creep on this. Typically it will slip from 16mm to 18mm without fail. Much less frequently, it will creep all the way out if you're on a long hike and not paying attention (with the camera hanging off your shoulder). It's enough of an annoyance that I've moved my rating from a 9 to an 8. It's not a deal-breaker though.
The other 'con' isn't really a knock against the lens....more my lack of foresight. Cokin P type polarizers (in my case, singh-rays) vignette up to about 19mm unless you hand-hold them against the lens. Grads don't have this problem....just the polarizers. If you're thinking of getting a cokin filter system for this lens go with the XP size.
On the other hand, I've been very impressed with the image quality of this lens....moreso than when I purchased it.
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-DA* 16-50mm F2.8 ED AL [IF]: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): $1,000.00
| Rating: 9
Pros:
Sharp, great build quality, weather sealed.
Cons:
CA. Distortion at wide angle settings only.
This is an excellent zoom, IMO.
Very sharp for a zoom, contrasty, great colour rendition and bokeh is good most of the time depending on subject matter. It seems that bokeh suffers a little with highlights, but overall it is very good for a zoom.
AF SDM is super quiet and accurate and the build quality is excellent.
I used this lens and the AF540FGZ flash for a wedding recently and it worked brilliantly. Never missed a shot with the low light focus assist lamp and the results were excellent.
For a general all purpose zoom, this is an excellent lens and one of my most utilised lenses and highly recommended. It has the focus clutch system which is also very handy for fine tuning.
I rate:
Sharpness: 9
Bokeh: 7 - 9 depending on subject matter
Colur rendition: 9
Handling: 9
Build quality: 10
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-DA* 16-50mm F2.8 ED AL [IF]: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): $900.00
| Rating: 9
Pros:
Speed, balance on k10d with grip, silent focusing, image quality
Cons:
Purple fringing and Chromatic aberration
I would have given this lens a 10 if it were not for the CAs, and they can be corrected in post processing - and often need it. I took everything in my arsenal except the A 70-210/4 with me on a trip to Waterton Lakes National Park and Beauvais Lake Provincial Park today. Never took it off the camera.
I string for a local weekly, and guess what lens is the one that gets me my gas money? I had eight pictures in the last issue before Christmas. Five full colour and three black and white.
This lens is a winner, in my book. It does what I need when I need it.
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-DA* 16-50mm F2.8 ED AL [IF]: No |
Price (U.S. Dollars): $1,000.00
| Rating: 5
Pros:
Image quality, f2.8 and weather sealing
Cons:
SDM, weight (although still ok), shorth throw on the focus ring
I'm not yet at the level of professional photographer so I must admit I have not checked out the ultimate details like chromatic abberation (and I have never had problems with this either, not even with the 16-45 DA). This is probably due to the nature of the pictures I take (usually low light).
Apart from those things, I have compared some shots taken with a 50 mm Pentax-M f1.4 at f4 (this lens is known to be very sharp at f4) with shots taken with this lens (also at f4) and shots taken with the Pentax DA 16-45 (also at f4).
The first two are equal in terms of sharpness, while the 16-45 is just a bit less sharp (but still very good). I'm impressed by this.
Autofocus is better (and definitely a lot faster :-) than I can do it manually, and as good as I can do it manually with the Pentax-M (this lens has a much longer throw on the focus ring).
I've also owned a Sigma EX DF 28-70mm f2.8, and at f2.8 the Pentax is obviously much better (as expected).
The weight is impressive, but I haven't had any problems with it yet (not even on new year's eve :-).
Size is better than I had expected, only slightly larger than the 16-45 DA.
Build quality and overal feel is excellent ! I expect this lens to last a very long time...
And then the obvious: SDM is better, faster and more silent than regular AF, it has weather sealing, and internal focus (for whoever uses filters).
Looking forward to the release of the DA* 50mm 1.4 !
###
Have to take back some of my comments, and drop rank from 10 to 5, because the SDM (although it seemed ok at the beginning) doesn't give much added value (it's not much faster/better than regular AF in dark situations), and seems to be very fragile stuff because something in the SDM simply broke off (and WITHOUT having dropped the lens, like Pentax claims !)
It cost me 500$ to have this repaired (while it was still in warranty), and now I'm stuck with a lens I'm afraid to use because it's so fragile.
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-DA* 16-50mm F2.8 ED AL [IF]: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): $799.00
| Rating: 10
Pros:
High Contrast, Creamy bokeh
Cons:
Back focusing
This zoom saves me from carrying too many primes on several trips.
A great zoom with incredible bokeh and colour. There is an issue with backfocusing under low light setting. But my Canon 50mm f1.2L does this more than this zoom!
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-DA* 16-50mm F2.8 ED AL [IF]: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): $1,000.00
| Rating: 9
Pros:
image quality, build quality, silent
Cons:
barrel distortion at 16mm, weight
Have been using this lens for some 5 months now. Generally speaking it has lived up to my expectations. Some comments:
-mechanically a very solid construction, operates smoothly
-bigger and heavier than standard kit zooms, being a stop or two faster .
-sharpness pretty good already at f 2,8. Stopped down - even a little - excellent!
-very good colours and contrast
-slight barrel distortion at 16 mm, as usual with nearly all wide angle zooms. This is about the only criticism I have to report.In most cases this is unnoticeable, and disappears completely at longer focal lengths
- flare and reflections are kept at bay, especially with the lens hood provided.
- some vigneting wide open at 16 mm, but not too bad
- the SDM AF may (or may not) be somewhat faster than the shaft drive. However,the special feature about this is the complete absence of the usual squeaks. This silence is almost spooky, and makes you wonder whether the lens is focussing at all! It does take a while to built the confidence!
-weather sealing is an additional bonus,and may come in handy depending on where you shoot
I am quite pleased with the lens. I also have some primes for my film bodies within the focal range of this zoom.In practice I have never bothered using them on my DSRL since buying this lens. I quess it is only serious architectural work where I might be tempted to stick to the primes.
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-DA* 16-50mm F2.8 ED AL [IF]: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): $699.00
| Rating: 10
Pros:
Contrast, Color Rendition, Weather-sealing, Sharpness, Rugged Construction
Cons:
Heavy, somewhat expensive, QC issues (see below)
It took me 3 tries to get a good one that did not have centering defects. However, this lens is so good when it works the way it was intended, that it was worth the hassle.
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-DA* 16-50mm F2.8 ED AL [IF]: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): $565.00
| Rating: 10
Pros:
SDM, Build Quality, Color rendition
Cons:
Average Distortion control/Vignetting at 16mm wide open
Happy owner of a 16-45mm, I was staying on the sideline and keeping my LBA at bay, with all the reports of QC issues. But I finally answered call of the wild hmm the Amazon who were selling a refurbished sample at a great price. I thought to myself: it might have got some R&R through Pentax, someone went through the hassle for me so worth the risk... I am so glad I took the plunge:
- The lens is beautifully made
- The SDM exceeds my expectations. It is nearly silent and very fast (similar to 16-45mm in daylight, much better in darker indoors conditions)
- It is good at F/2.8, and becomes excellent from F/4.
- The color and contrast are excellent - on par with my DA 70mm which I find most excellent in that department.
- The only downside is the performances at 16mm wide open which is average (not bad, just fair). Just stop it down and it comes back to its fantastic self.
It is now fighting my DA 70mm for my most beloved lens spot. To anyone on the market, I would say take the chance, go through the Pentax R&R if necessary - it is worth the effort.
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-DA* 16-50mm F2.8 ED AL [IF]: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): $650.00
| Rating: 9
Pros:
SDM, Weather Sealing, Color and IQ are great
Cons:
None
I am not a wide-angle shooter, but I bought this lens in anticipation of my trip to the Grand Canyon where it just made sense to have it. Because of that it is not my favorite lens, but that does not take away from it being a true performer.
The 10 is for my 'good' copy - my first two copies were sub-par. When I got the good copy, I was simply stunned at the IQ of this lens at every focal range an aperture. The SDM and weather sealing are icing to me - the f/2.8 constant aperture is more important, but this lens' best feature is it's IQ, plain and simple. It's color/contrast are better than any zoom I've tried - except for maybe the DA* 50-135.
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-DA* 16-50mm F2.8 ED AL [IF]: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): $900.00
| Rating: 9
Pros:
Build quality, flare control, excellent contrast and colour, smooth and quiet focusing
Cons:
Soft at f/2.8, weak corners at wider apertures, CA, purple fringing, very short focus span
Scary quality control reports prevented me from buying this lens to match, but I finally pulled the trigger and I have been lucky (so far). My observation (with a Pentax K20D) :
Pros :
+ Superd build quality, tight tolerances, the zooming action nice
+ quite sharp at f/4 and VERY sharp at f/5.6, until around f/11
+ beautiful colour and contrast
+ smooth and quiet autofocusing, plus Quickshift and that neat AF/MF swith on the lens barrel
+ weight balance with K10D/K20D
+ very good resistance to flare
+ weather sealing
+ close focus bokeh at 50mm
Cons :
- very short focus span, which is a pity for manual focusing espicially given the broad focus ring
- very weak corners at 16mm f/2.8, f/4
- lower contrast and overall soft image at f/2.8
- chromatic aberration levels, especially at wide angle but still present at longer focal lengths
- occasional purple fringing (not much but it seems that it's worse with a K10D)
- bokeh at wider focal lengths can be downright unpleasant
- barrel distortion at 16mm
I'm very pleased with this lens, in spite of the cons listed above. I chose it over the Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 because of its superior build quality, silent autofocus, weather sealing and because the Tamron seems to underexposure randomly. I considered the Sigma 17-70mm too, which has lower chromatic aberration and purple fringing levels but less "sophisticated" autofocus, lacks a constant aperture and weather sealing. Plus the 16-50mm colour and contrast are more pleasing to my eyes.
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-DA* 16-50mm F2.8 ED AL [IF]: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): $650.00
| Rating: 10
Pros:
sharp, colors, bokeha, SDM, weather sealed
Cons:
possible QC problem
Overall it's a great lens. I've got a good copy but after 3 weeks AF stopped working. Sent for repair - now it works as expected.
Yes, it's heavy, but what do you expect from a zoom lens with SDM and constant F2.8? Yes, it's soft in the corners wide open, but I don't think there are many lenses with similar specs that are better. Yes, there's high % of duds, but when a copy is good it is good.
On the positive side - it's very sharp stopped down, it's fast and silent, color rendition is great (IMO). But the main point is that I have a lot of fun taking pictures with it.
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-DA* 16-50mm F2.8 ED AL [IF]: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): $660.00
| Rating: 9
Pros:
So sharp, beautifully built with great feel, silent focus
Cons:
Purple fringing, weight, size, soft when at extreme settings.
After trying it out in some low light situations it looks sharp until the border (thats close focussed), and i havent noticed any CA yet. Its noticeably soft at 2.8 across the range but at f/4 ish the sharpness hurts.
Its definitely useable at the wide end at 2.8, but is a little bit soft in the details which still seem preserved. I believe at any smaller apertures this thing easily out resolves the sensor on the k20d.
What shocked me which none of you seem to mention all that much is the build quality of this thing. Its infinitely better than the kit lens or the 55-300. An absolute work of art. Its heavy too which gives a surprising amount of extra image stabilization.
The focus is silent apart from a few clicks if you stick your ear on it, but its not amazingly fast (until you consider the size of glass its moving). Very accurate in most situations apart from low light or if the detail is too fine.
No zoom creep, the gearing is fine for me.
I doubt i will be taking this lens off my camera for a long time.
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-DA* 16-50mm F2.8 ED AL [IF]: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): $600.00
| Rating: 9
Pros:
Build quality, colour rendition, sharp, SDM
Cons:
Small and difficult to access zoom ring, mediocre IQ at wide end for DA* lens
For a DA* lens, I believe it meets its pre-requisite of being of outstanding build quality, superior image quality and weather sealing.
The images produced by this gem are of the best compared to all other wide zooms I've had. Focus is fast, given the small focus throw, and quite accurate each time.
There's not much to say than what's already been said, and my only gripe with this lens of significance is its high barrel distortion, harsh bokeh and corner softness at the wide end, especially wide open. I appreciate this is hard to control particularly for zooms, but wished it could have performed better in this way compared with the DA 16-45. Though there isn't a lens I have tried that can rival this one throughout its focal range.
The (insignificant) gripe I have with the lens is the smaller zoom ring, which is tucked right at the root of the lens making it only easy to control zoom from below (the correct way, I suppose), which can be challenging to do quickly as it is reasonably tight (to have effective weather sealing, I suppose again)...
Still a keeper, and is the DA* lens to get if you're going to get any DA* lens (the 50-135 would closely be the next one on the list).
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-DA* 16-50mm F2.8 ED AL [IF]: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): N/A
| Rating: 9
Pros:
Classic Pentax Color
Cons:
Big and Heavy, Hood very awkward
I think I got a "good" one. The colors are Pentax rich, a feature I can't define precisely but know when I see it. Focus is sharp. My only complaints are that it is a very large lens, and heavy. The hood is so wide that it's hard to get this into my bag, but I assume that these dimensions are matched to the lens' function and "have to be" that way. Still, I am delighted with this lens.
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-DA* 16-50mm F2.8 ED AL [IF]: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): $600.00
| Rating: 10
Pros:
durable, well built, fast, very quiet
Cons:
a little big
A great lens! I have only had is shortly but I know this lens is going to be fun. Its still pretty sharp at 2.8 and it just gets better up to 8 where its razor sharp. love the bokeh and the color. definitely recommended.
EDIT:
Currently I am in Costa Rica and this lens has been on my k20d for the good majority of the time. The sturdy build and weathersealing are awesome. My camera has gone ziplining, up tall trees, into areas of dust and water with little worry. It takes great wide angles and landscapes. Definitely recommended for the rugged outdoor photographer at heart
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-DA* 16-50mm F2.8 ED AL [IF]: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): $890.00
| Rating: 10
Pros:
Very Sharp. Silent. Nice manual focus.
Cons:
As yet non
Only had this lens a few days but I am impressed with the build quality. The images are outstanding if you have a good copy. As I have only gone back to pentac after 3 years with canon I can not state to much and will review if i find any problems. The images in my gallery have been taken with this lens and allowing for some 20% quality loss over the internet I am very happy with the results. I have yet to try in in low light, studio with flashes etc and will post some results when possible.
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-DA* 16-50mm F2.8 ED AL [IF]: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): $400.00
| Rating: 10
Pros:
Excellent Color Rendition, Sharp as Hell, Convenient other than large size/weight
Cons:
This is a big lens, it's perfectly weighted on the K10D with the battery group, but it's still big and heavy
This is my favorite lens by far. I'm not a pro, and I've only been shooting for a year and a half, but I've captured some SPECTACULAR shots with this lens. And I TRUST it. I've taken it to 100+ temperatures (Joshua Tree) and sub-freezing temperatures, through rainstorms, and it's even been snowed and hailed on.
It still rocks. I've never had any problems, and I absolutely adore this thing. If I lost it or it broke, I would absolutely buy another one immediately- I can't imagine anything more useful- this range is just perfect for so many applications. I do wish it were lighter though, especially during backpacking trips haha.
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-DA* 16-50mm F2.8 ED AL [IF]: No |
Price (U.S. Dollars): $730.00
| Rating: 6
Pros:
quiet, wide, rugged
Cons:
big, heavy, soft wide open (negates speed), heavy CAs, QC issues
I wrote about this lens on my blog a while back and got crucified here for my criticism of it. Thing is, I bought one of the very first DA* lenses (50-135) while traveling in Hong Kong before it was even available in the US and was blown away by how good it was. So, I was expecting a similar "wow" from the 16-50. Unfortunately, the copy I tested seems to have been a dud (as it seems many are) and its image quality was not really any better than the 18-55mm kit lens.
However, even if the IQ had been stellar I still don't know if I would buy this lens. It's awfully big and heavy and I do most of my shooting on foot and on the run. The SDM is nice and quiet but doesn't seem to be any more accurate or faster than the standard screw motor. For studio work or anywhere that portability and discretion aren't an issue, I'm sure a well put together copy would be ideal. For me, I'm going to stick with primes and maybe pick up a 12-24 for wide angle work. That's just my opinion. Take it for what it's worth.
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-DA* 16-50mm F2.8 ED AL [IF]: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): $750.00
| Rating: 9
Pros:
Lens and image quality
Cons:
Some light vignetting
Pros
Build high quality
Silent and fast AF
Lens and image quality
In-door versatibilty
Cons
Some light vignetting
Wrap-up
With this new lens, we're dealing with truly professional gear. I would say, as for the DA* 50-135mm, that the DA* 16-50mm is the lens the K10D was waiting for.
As always with Pentax, ergonomics and ease of use are great. The weight and size of the lens are normal.
During my test today, I haven't felt the limitation to 50mm and haven't missed the extra zoom provided by the DA 18-55mm.
Most important, image quality is here and I had a lot of fun.
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-DA* 16-50mm F2.8 ED AL [IF]: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): $610.00
| Rating: 8
Pros:
Great micro contrast, good colors, sharp through most of range
Cons:
Needs to be stopped down at 16-18mm, heavy
I need to begin by saying that I really like this lens. It is on my camera the majority of the time when I am walking around. However, it does have some weaknesses. My first copy had no problems, but at 16 mm and f2.8 it is pretty weak. There is some pretty heavy vignetting that doesn't disappear until you get to about 18mm or f4. I mentioned the heaviness as a con, but I have to say that that doesn't really bother me. I notice it a lot more with the 50-135 which, while close in weight to the 16-50, is much longer.
The build is really good, although I would have preferred an internally zooming lens. It can focus fairly close which is nice when shooting flowers, etc. The best thing about the lens is the colors which are not matched by off-Pentax brand lenses. Focusing is relatively speedy (although not faster than non-SDM lenses). While this lens could be better, it is still excellent and I would definitely recommend it if you need a wide aperture zoom in this range.
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-DA* 16-50mm F2.8 ED AL [IF]: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): $780.00
| Rating: 7
Pros:
Convenient zoom, point and shoot.
Cons:
Manual focus performance poor, auto focus too slow for this price, plastic construction, price per performace too low
As far as performance, it has already been said. I'm old school when it comes to lens construction. The new wave of plastic lens housing is a step backwards IMHO. This lens feels cheap compared to what I'm use to handling. Yeah, some will say that that makes it light. That would be the 35mm, small format mindset. All you have to do is shoot large and medium format for a while and you'll find any small format camera is light and convenient.
And the digital geeks hung up on gadgets, specs and sharpness will find that does little to make for a great shot. You can take an excellent photo with a plastic lens in a Holga, for example, because a good picture captures more than a sharp image.
But back to the lens. It has been a good general purpose lens mounted on my K-7 for situations when I want convenient, small format color. And I'm pleased to have it.
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-DA* 16-50mm F2.8 ED AL [IF]: No |
Price (U.S. Dollars): $750.00
| Rating: 4
Pros:
nice range, weather sealed
Cons:
CA, barrel distortion, intense contrast, focus hunting
seriously, mine was the worst copy of any pentax lens i've ever used. i was so looking forward to it as a companion to the 50-135 (which is a very fine lens). i have both new and old primes and quite a few zooms from various manufacturers, and this particular copy of this lens was just awful.
the pros: well, see the other posts, i think the pros are mostly constant for build, design, and use, and i mostly agree. i really wanted the weather sealed body - it's so nice on the 50-135.
the cons: there's good contrast and bad, and this was the latter - i just couldn't find any way to control it. from wide open to shut down the contrast was so intense that the results never came close to what was viewed. highlights were blown and CA, purple fringing, was very prominent in any backlighted area. but the distortion was shocking. no straight lines, worse wide open. more like a fish eye. focus was disturbing, too. it would hunt and hunt, and usually pick a bit back focused. going manually, i was able to get much closer. i tested this against my 50-135 which locked on the same test area quickly and accurately every time.
i know there are reports of great copies out there, but beware there are many like this one also. sn: 9030244 was returned.
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-DA* 16-50mm F2.8 ED AL [IF]: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): $900.00
| Rating: 10
Pros:
Very usable at f2.8/sharp, fast, silent focus, good handeling, rendering/contrast
Cons:
The fact that there have been QC issues so I couldnt risk getting a cheaper copy online, had to go to brick&mortar to try several
After reading so much about this lens and QC issues and reading praise for the 50-135, I was surprised to find that this one impressed me the most when I got them both at the same time. Who knows if the QC issues were in the early batches or not, the store I went to had 3 copies and I tried them all before settling on the one I got, altho none of them seemed terrible whereas one of the 4 50-135 they had clearly had an SDM focusing problem.
So Id say mine is a good copy so I am speaking for a good copy of this lens and I think its great, I could not have wished for much more. I find the AF is better and faster on this than the 50-135 and it the fastest of the lenses I have to AF. The sharpness is great and I dont hesitate to use it wide open. I also like the fact that it extends towards 50mm and not the opposite way as some zooms do, as that just feels more natural for me, altho its not a big thing.
Of course there is some distortion towards 16mm but which wide to normal zoom doesnt have that and with PP tools and the k7 built in correction I dont see that as a problem.
I find the colors/contrast/"rendering" of the lens to be very pleasing and its my currently most used lens due to its great quality and useful range. And its sealed so you can use it come rain too. I think its a great compliment to a k7 or other sealed Pentax body and would absolutely recommend it.
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-DA* 16-50mm F2.8 ED AL [IF]: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): $800.00
| Rating: 9
Pros:
Sharp, contrast, color, well built
Cons:
corner softness at 2.8-4
After taking 100+ shots in different conditions indoors, outdoors, with and without flash, black and white/color I really start liking this lens a lot. It has it's weaknesses but in my use indoors with flash this lens is a very good performer, outdoors it really starts to show it's potential. Colors, contrast and sharpness are punchy. Fully open the corners are soft but when stopped down it's so sharp it's almost unpleasant.
Focus is a lot faster than in the kit lens, this is my first zoom after the kit lens ver. 1 so I can't compare to anything else.
As said it has it's weaknesses but overall this is a very good lens.
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-DA* 16-50mm F2.8 ED AL [IF]: No |
Price (U.S. Dollars): N/A
| Rating: 7
Pros:
Sharp, versatile, high build quality, weather sealing, SDM
Cons:
SDM
Except for the occasional SDM hesitation, this lens should get a perfect 10. But also because of the occasional SDM issue, it doesn't deserve a much lower 9 either so I had to go with a 10.
Terrific lens for landscape, portraiture and even street if you don't mind the size and weight. Very sharp wide open which only gets better when stopped down.
UPDATE: The SDM is right now completely non-functional. Cleaning contacts doesn't work any more. The lens was just a month old (in Sep of 2009) and shipped directly from Pentax as a replacement for (another) faulty 16-50, and I ended up inheriting this dud unfortunately. Optics are great but no AF due to SDM failure, so can't justify the price for a MF lens, regret purchasing this lens despite so many reported issues with SDM.
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-DA* 16-50mm F2.8 ED AL [IF]: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): $744.00
| Rating: 10
Pros:
closeup capability, sharpness, versatility
Cons:
cannot use buitl in flash close to subject as lens edge causes shadow
As a macro photographer with a 100mm attached, I needed a lens that could get me
back with a wider angle of my floral subjects on my K-10D. This is an amazing lens with the capability of being as close as ca. 15 cm with awesome results. Great.
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-DA* 16-50mm F2.8 ED AL [IF]: No |
Price (U.S. Dollars): $1,200.00
| Rating: 6
Pros:
qualité optique
Cons:
SDM
J ai eu la chance de pouvoir essayer cet objectif avant un achat plaintiff. Certes J'ai été séduit par la qualité optique, par le rendu des couleurs, la qualité
apparente de la fabrication; Mais tout cela un pied d'égalité Été gaché le SDM Qui est tombé en panne.
Je suis pentaxiste depuis plus de quarante ans. J'ai acheté CERTAINS de mes FA * Il ya plus de vingt ans et je n'ai jamais eu de problème avec eux. Ils parfaitement fonctionnent. Au vu de la proportion d'objectifs DA16-50 AYANT eu des problemes je pense que le systeme SDM est fragile et réparations Les Très couteuses. De Plus
J'ai pu comparer la vitesse de mise au point du DA 16-50 et du FA * 28-70. Identical elles sont.
En conclusion payeur tres cher un objectif à cause du SDM et que cet SDM SE Revelle fragile et Coûteux en réparation, N'EST PAS Une affaire Bonne.
Il Faudra aussi se poser la question de savoir combien d'années les SDM auront à vivre?
Had this lens for 1 month now to replace the 18-55 ALII and give some extra on the wide end on my K20D.
Already own the 50-135 with which I was very happy.
I find the AF speed to be significantly faster than the kit lens... also faster than the 50-135 and almost completely silent.
While I suggested that its weight & size are negative aspects... this is in comparison to the kit lens... comparing with the 50-135 I found it surprisingly compact.
Image quality is excellent, I also have pleasing results from 2.8
Well woth the 744 USD I paid new from Adorama.
Close focus ability is impressive... almost touch the subject with the front element.
While I dont use protective filters, the 77mm front element means that they would be expensive.
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-DA* 16-50mm F2.8 ED AL [IF]: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): $640.00
| Rating: 9
Pros:
Superb build quality, sharp when stopped down, quiet and fast SDM focusing
Cons:
f/2.8 could be sharper for the price.
The AF is fast and silent due to SDM. It produces incredibly prime-sharp pictures when stopped down to f/5.6. The build quality is superb and weighs enough to prove it.
Weather-sealing and silent fast SDM is the reason to buy it based off the price despite a bit of softness at f/2.8, otherwise it would've been a perfect ten.
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-DA* 16-50mm F2.8 ED AL [IF]: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): $600.00
| Rating: 9
Pros:
Fast, quiet, excellent in low lighting conditions
Cons:
A little pricey and there seem to still be some quality issues on some units (mine works perfectly)
Nice Lens overall. I returned the first one I got as it was a little off balance but the second one has been working fine for the last couple of years. It's fast to autofocus and is easy to fine-tune the focus when necessary. The weather-resistance is also reassuring although I wouldn't push the limits on it.
I've got a good copy, it's very sharp, fast and silent, color rendition and bokeh is great. A minor issue is the AF could be a bit faster, but otherwise it's fast enough for me.
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-DA* 16-50mm F2.8 ED AL [IF]: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): $700.00
| Rating: 10
Pros:
sharp, contrasty, WR, silent (SDM)
Cons:
barrel distortion @16mm, big and heavy, zoom friction around 28mm
This lens had a bad reputation due to a lot of bad copies but its performance is fantastic when you get a good copy.
One of the complaint about this zoom is the relatively poor performance at f/2.8. Actually it's already quite sharp in the center, borders need about f/5.6 to get very sharp.
Optically, the only real complain I could do about this lens is the heavy barrel distortions @16mm. I know you can correct them by software (or even in-camera starting with the K-7 and K-x) but it's another step and you'll loose borders meaning that you don't get your full 16mm.
Build construction is great in general (and much better than lenses costing more like the Canon 17-55 IS). The only thing I don't like is the friction when zooming at around 28-35mm. The mechanism never feels as smooth as the excellent DA* 50-135mm.
The big downside for me regarding this lens is the size and weight. I think it doesn't balance well on my K-7 if I'm not using the external grip.
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-DA* 16-50mm F2.8 ED AL [IF]: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): $900.00
| Rating: 9
Pros:
Sharp, great colour/contrast, build
Cons:
heavy, barrel distortion at 16mm, price
Given all the QC issues that surround this lens I was reluctant to buy one and put off purchasing for some time. In fact I seriously considered the DA 14/2.8 or DA 15/4 as a substitute. However, given the fact this lens filled a big gap at the wide-angle end of my collection and the convenience of a zoom I eventually bit the bullet and bought one. I’m glad I did. After a couple of months I think I have a good copy and I’m quite pleased with it. As many others have stated above the colour/contrast of this optic are great. It is very well built and focus is fairly fast. It is pretty soft at the edges at 2.8 but this can be a bit of a bonus when shooting portraits. Things sharpen up dramatically in this area when stopped down. I like the lens hood and the fact it can be reversed for easy storage in the bag – a nice touch. The hood also features a removable tab that permits the use of a circular polarizer – again another nice touch. On the down side this tab is almost certain to be lost the minute one removes it.
The lens also has a few cons. It is a hefty lens and there are some CA issues as noted above. Barrel distortion is pronounced at 16mm and although I was aware of this issue the degree of distortion was greater than expected. Not that I use it often but the popup flash is rendered useless due to severe vignetting with the lens hood. These issue disappear with a shoe mounted flash. Others above have noted “zoom creep” as an issue. My copy is pretty stiff in this regard, especially around 28-35mm, but I’m sure it will loosen up with greater use.
These issues aside this is the best zoom lens I have ever used and it has assumed a permanent place in my bag.
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-DA* 16-50mm F2.8 ED AL [IF]: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): $750.00
| Rating: 8
Pros:
General quality, weather sealing, sharpness
Cons:
Fringing, slow AF, weight (sorta)
I bought this lens to replace my kit 18-55 and I am glad I did. However, the focus speed when coupled to my k200d isn't as fast as I had hoped for when I shelled out $750 US.
The focus is near silent which is nice.
I was really disappointed to see blue fringing in show up rather glaringly in a recent shoot with a client. Luckily the I had lots of other shots that were fringe-free.
I shoot mostly around f4-f8 with this lens.
The 2.8 aperture is really nice in indoor situations.
Here is part one of a video review that I did (Part2 : Image examples coming soon)
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-DA* 16-50mm F2.8 ED AL [IF]: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): $740.00
| Rating: 9
Pros:
Silent AF, great color, contrast and sharpness
Cons:
None really (maybe the vignetting at 50mm f2.8)
Only had it for a short while, but it has given great images straight away. The bokeh, color rendition, sharpness and contrast is just a little better than my Tamron 17-50 f:2.8 lens.
The silent AF and weather sealing is the big gain.
Very sharp at 2.8 across the whole range.
IQ at 35mm and 50mm already very close to my DA limited 35, and FA50 primes.
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-DA* 16-50mm F2.8 ED AL [IF]: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): $651.00
| Rating: 9
Pros:
great focal length, pairs well with the 50-135, fast glass, sharp
Cons:
Possible sdm failure, not full frame
The only reason this lens isn't getting a 10 is that mine had an sdm failure. The repair under warranty round trip took less than a week, and was mostly painless.
What's not to love about this lens? It's almost as sharp at f4 as the DA 15mm Limited. It's weather sealed, it feels solid, and overall I've been very happy with it.
The color rendition, build quality, IQ, and bokeh are all on par with the other DA zooms.
If you buy this lens, (and it doesn't have an SDM failure), you'll be happy with the results. If somehow mine was destroyed, I'd buy it again tomorrow and hope for no SDM issues.
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-DA* 16-50mm F2.8 ED AL [IF]: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): $800.00
| Rating: 10
Pros:
image quality, colour rendition, sharpness
Cons:
somewhat heavy, weakest at 16mm and f2.8
There are plenty of reviews dissecting the pros and cons of this lens, I just wanted to share what it is like to use, ideally for landscapes, street scenes and indoor shots.
I have owned this lens for a year and used it almost exclusively for most of that time. I still have another year on warranty but have decided that if the motor gives out beyond that point I would fix it. It is that good. I am often looking for optimum depth of field so I use this lens between f8 and f13 much of the time and it delivers. I do find it is weakest at 16mm so I am looking for a prime at the wider end. I know this lens has had quality control issues and I was really anxious when I bought it (it was the only "kit lens priced" option in stock when I bought my 20D) but every time I put this lens back on my camera I am glad I took the chance.
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-DA* 16-50mm F2.8 ED AL [IF]: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): N/A
| Rating: 9
Pros:
Image quality, beautiful build, silennt AF
Cons:
I got this lens used off craigslist at quite bargain and sent it in to have it cleaned and adjusted and still came out good.
Anyway, my first thoughts were "Wow ". This is the first DA* lens I have owned so the constuction and silent SDM really impressed me. I have never really had a situation that the IQ was a question either. NO, its not a prime but in combination with the colors and contrast the rendition is beautiful.
I love the weather seal also living here in Seattle. I get out in times I normallly wouldn't with another lens.
It is a little big and heavy, thats probalbly the only con I can think of.
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-DA* 16-50mm F2.8 ED AL [IF]: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): $900.00
| Rating: 9
Pros:
sharp, excellent rendering, colour, clarity
Cons:
autofocus often slightly off, barrel distortion at 16mm
I have been really happy with this zoom. Bought it to replace the DA 16-45 which I did not really like. The difference is like night and day. I find it to be sharp from 2.8 (I've heard its not great at the edges at this aperture but haven't noticed as I'm usually shooting portraits / close ups at 2.8 and these are great.) From f 5.6 it is extremely sharp. More importantly it just seems to take really pleasing photos, in focus areas have a real pop to them and the transition to out of focus is nice. I find it hard to precisely describe the characteristics of a lens that lead to this, its more than sharpness and smooth bokeh and seems to lie in between the the two in this vague characteristic people seem to refer to as rendering. Anyway this lens has it to an extent I've never seen in a zoom before. Build quality is fantastic.
Now for the minuses, focusing is not very reliable with my K10d which often prompts me to stop down to get a larger depth of field than I otherwise would like. (I acknowledge that this is probably mainly to do with the camera but it seems more of an issue with this lens than some others I've used) Also there is fairly significant barrel distortion at 16mm.
All in all I think this is an excellent underrated lens. I wasn't expecting it to be nearly as good as it is after reading reviews and opinions online.
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so worth the risk... I am so glad I took the plunge: 