Originally posted by BethC Wow, I just started looking into replacing a 28 - 70 2.8 Sigma lens and considered the Pentax 16 - 50. I didn't realize they were known for having problems. That's kind of discouraging when looking at the amount I was considering dropping on a new one. Wondering if I should consider a better version of a Sigma or a Tamron instead then? Will be anxious to hear how it works when you get it back. Hope you don't have any more problems with it.
The price of the DA*16-50 is ridiculous now since April1 2012. Before that the street price was $799.95. In one day it jumped to $1499.95. If you are interested in a new one, you'll need to wait for specials that come up once in a while. There was a special over Thanksgiving weekend where the lens was $749.
And about the SDM issue - there are a lot of SDM haters in this forum. Yes, there have been many cases of SDM failure through the years, but as in most forum discussions, you always hear about the bad and rarely the good. People who don't have any problems with something will rarely come and post and say "hey, my lens has been great". What you see is people who will search out a forum like this just to vent their frustrations.
That being said, the SDM issue on these lenses has supposedly been addressed with the newest manufacturing batches. I'm saying all this because I don't want you to pass up on a fantastic lens just because of some naysayers. Personally, I bought a 16-50 used about 6 months ago for a good price and it's never given me a problem. It's a great lens that I feel Sigma and Tamron can't equal in the overall rendering.