Originally posted by RGlasel Perhaps the 111 reviews in the 6 years before that convinced most people who recently acquired one to not bother.
No doubt. But I think it is still worth posting fresh reviews. Things change. Many (most?) of us now use 24mp sensors. Cameras have better high-ISO performance (which reduces the disadvantage of slow-aperture lenses). Software has improved and in-camera corrections for distortion and vignetting are more common. Alternative wide-normal WR zooms like the DA 16-85 and the DA 20-40 Limited have become more affordable and available secondhand. Lenses like the DFA 28-105 and DA 55-300 PLM have raised the bar for affordable zooms. There is a wider range of viable options for a compact and versatile kit.
Originally posted by RGlasel This lens has been around for over a decade now, it was the first Pentax lens with a fast, silent and reliable in-lens AF motor and it has stood the test of time extremely well.
I agree that it has proven to be robust and reliable, although I think in some respects the optical performance is shown up by other more recent zooms.
Originally posted by RGlasel For the record, I acquired mine in 2013 and didn't post a review until 2016; my review is not as in depth as yours (excellent job, by the way) but I did post two pictures with my review from opposite ends of the zoom range.
Thanks. Yours was a good review. We have similar views about the lens.