DA* 16-50mm Serial Number Database.

mcpxr · 08-16-2010, 07:01 PM

Ok...it was a 2 Kit lens consisting of DAL 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 AL and DAL 50-200mm F4-5.6 ED. The pic i attached prior was the 50-200mm lens.

ManhattanProject · 08-16-2010, 07:12 PM

Originally posted by mcpxr

Ok...it was a 2 Kit lens consisting of DAL 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 AL and DAL 50-200mm F4-5.6 ED. The pic i attached prior was the 50-200mm lens.

And this thread is for the DA* 16-50mm... what are you missing?

mcpxr · 08-18-2010, 11:06 PM

ok...sorry...newbie here and new dslr owner. Saw SN on lens and was curious. I'll look for correct thread. Thx.

ManhattanProject · 08-19-2010, 12:16 AM

Originally posted by mcpxr

ok...sorry...newbie here and new dslr owner. Saw SN on lens and was curious. I'll look for correct thread. Thx.

There probably isnt a thread for your lenses. This thread was created specifically because the DA* 16-50 has had QC issues and we're trying to figure out if there's a serial number pattern to the issues. Overall, it seems like its pretty random.

JoepLX3 · 08-19-2010, 07:39 AM

How about the frequency of issues on the DA* 50-135?
- I have seen compains elsewhere, but that might have been a single incident?

arm_jstp · 08-29-2010, 11:57 PM

DA* 16-50mm
S/N 9031541 has SDM failure

mickep · 08-31-2010, 02:16 AM

S/N 9020679
I think the SDM is slow, but what is more strange is that the minimal focus distance is about 5-10cm instead of 30cm as it should be(!)

I will probably return this piece.

robr7 · 09-17-2010, 08:23 PM

S/N 9041810
Ok so far I guess... I'm a noobie and its my first DA* lens, not completely sure what to expect from this line / lens. I read about the potential issues but I risked it anyway because I wanted a better than average lens since I was leaving soon for my brother's destination wedding, I had the rebate program to take the sting off the price and hoping any production problems had been worked out.
Only gripes? - I'm surprised with the build not being tougher (maybe I'm spoiled by K7?) - a few weeks in and the camera w/ lens tumbled from a bench seat 18" - 24", it wasn't a dramatic straight drop, it got tangled by the strap and clumsily tumbled so I was stunned the barrel dislodged / got off-track and stuck a bit... I gently extended and retracted the barrel, it straightened out and its working fine. Also, (even before the drop) the lens once in a rare shot seems unsure on the auto-focus and does nothing? - I guess these are more review type findings and not straight out production faults, once I get some more experience and know what I'm talking about I'll try and include it in the reviews / ratings.

kari · 09-19-2010, 10:28 AM

I've read that this lens can use screw-drive AF on older Pentax DSLR's (the *ist series). Would it therefore theoretically be possible to insulate the SDM contacts and use it in screw-drive mode on the newer bodies in case of SDM failure?

bymy141 · 09-19-2010, 10:36 AM

My DA*16-50mm is out for service...
After more than 20k photo's, the zoom ring got more or less stuck.
I could loosen it by gently moving it back and forth.
After that the lens worked fine again, but the front lens element was loose somewhat at 16mm.

I brought it out for service, now I have to experience life without it!

- Bert

conbio · 09-26-2010, 05:47 PM

My copy of the 16-50 DA* is GOOD.
s/n 9032147
I use it all the time; it's a beauty.
Having said that, I'm tired of lugging it, and am in the market for the 21mm f3.2!

smcPixellie · 09-27-2010, 09:29 AM

I got a good one from SRS No. 9031276 I thought my 50-135 was my best lens but now this one is used most, Superb.Thanks SRS.

bombs&bullets · 09-30-2010, 02:36 AM

My copy, 9030148, which I purchased from B&H, is also good after 1.5 years as my main lens

wjax · 10-02-2010, 05:58 AM

I have read much of this looong thread since I just purchased the 16-50mm DA* lens from Amazon. I have to say that the preliminary photos have been very impressive, esp. color and center sharpness. However, after reading this thread, I looked back at some calibration images and saw this (16mm F2.8):

All sizes | grid | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

As you can see, there is definite softness on the right side, more at the bottom, even accounting for the uneven lighting. The left side looks great to me. This apparent de-centering defect seems to be a common problem with this lens though it resolves at narrower apertures. The lens appears to be in great shape other than this one flaw.

So I guess my question to those who have more experience with this lens and the QC issues is should I exchange the lens for a new one or would this one flaw still qualify the lens as a relatively "good copy"?

Oh, and the SN is 9043508 if that means anything.

pakhead · 10-09-2010, 07:44 AM

Sadly facing the same problem that forced me to send the lens back to Japan 2 years ago - the zoom has jammed. I'm pretty sure this is the result of sealing rings coming loose. It's a shame - I have been very happy with the optical performance and range of this lens since it was fixed last time. But that required 3 months in Japan, although it was at least under warranty.

So it will have to go back again. A definite design problem - this has been reported by a number of users.

10-09-2010, 07:44 AM	#510
pakhead New Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Bangkok Posts: 24	2nd failure S/N 9023660 Sadly facing the same problem that forced me to send the lens back to Japan 2 years ago - the zoom has jammed. I'm pretty sure this is the result of sealing rings coming loose. It's a shame - I have been very happy with the optical performance and range of this lens since it was fixed last time. But that required 3 months in Japan, although it was at least under warranty. So it will have to go back again. A definite design problem - this has been reported by a number of users.

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08-16-2010, 07:01 PM	#496
mcpxr New Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 6	Ok...it was a 2 Kit lens consisting of DAL 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 AL and DAL 50-200mm F4-5.6 ED. The pic i attached prior was the 50-200mm lens.

08-16-2010, 07:12 PM	#497
ManhattanProject Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Midwest Photos: Gallery Posts: 221	Originally posted by mcpxr Ok...it was a 2 Kit lens consisting of DAL 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 AL and DAL 50-200mm F4-5.6 ED. The pic i attached prior was the 50-200mm lens. And this thread is for the DA* 16-50mm... what are you missing?

08-18-2010, 11:06 PM	#498
mcpxr New Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 6	ok...sorry...newbie here and new dslr owner. Saw SN on lens and was curious. I'll look for correct thread. Thx.

08-19-2010, 12:16 AM	#499
ManhattanProject Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Midwest Photos: Gallery Posts: 221	Originally posted by mcpxr ok...sorry...newbie here and new dslr owner. Saw SN on lens and was curious. I'll look for correct thread. Thx. There probably isnt a thread for your lenses. This thread was created specifically because the DA* 16-50 has had QC issues and we're trying to figure out if there's a serial number pattern to the issues. Overall, it seems like its pretty random.

08-19-2010, 07:39 AM	#500
JoepLX3 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 518	How about the frequency of issues on the DA* 50-135? - I have seen compains elsewhere, but that might have been a single incident?

08-29-2010, 11:57 PM	#501
arm_jstp Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Blacksburg, VA Posts: 485	DA* 16-50mm S/N 9031541 has SDM failure

08-31-2010, 02:16 AM	#502
mickep New Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Lund Posts: 3	S/N 9020679 I think the SDM is slow, but what is more strange is that the minimal focus distance is about 5-10cm instead of 30cm as it should be(!) I will probably return this piece.

09-17-2010, 08:23 PM	#503
robr7 Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: NJ Posts: 88	S/N 9041810 Ok so far I guess... I'm a noobie and its my first DA* lens, not completely sure what to expect from this line / lens. I read about the potential issues but I risked it anyway because I wanted a better than average lens since I was leaving soon for my brother's destination wedding, I had the rebate program to take the sting off the price and hoping any production problems had been worked out. Only gripes? - I'm surprised with the build not being tougher (maybe I'm spoiled by K7?) - a few weeks in and the camera w/ lens tumbled from a bench seat 18" - 24", it wasn't a dramatic straight drop, it got tangled by the strap and clumsily tumbled so I was stunned the barrel dislodged / got off-track and stuck a bit... I gently extended and retracted the barrel, it straightened out and its working fine. Also, (even before the drop) the lens once in a rare shot seems unsure on the auto-focus and does nothing? - I guess these are more review type findings and not straight out production faults, once I get some more experience and know what I'm talking about I'll try and include it in the reviews / ratings.

09-19-2010, 10:28 AM	#504
kari Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Photos: Albums Posts: 142	I've read that this lens can use screw-drive AF on older Pentax DSLR's (the *ist series). Would it therefore theoretically be possible to insulate the SDM contacts and use it in screw-drive mode on the newer bodies in case of SDM failure?

09-19-2010, 10:36 AM	#505
bymy141 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,563	My DA*16-50mm is out for service... After more than 20k photo's, the zoom ring got more or less stuck. I could loosen it by gently moving it back and forth. After that the lens worked fine again, but the front lens element was loose somewhat at 16mm. I brought it out for service, now I have to experience life without it! - Bert

09-26-2010, 05:47 PM	#506
conbio New Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 15	My copy of the 16-50 DA* is GOOD. s/n 9032147 I use it all the time; it's a beauty. Having said that, I'm tired of lugging it, and am in the market for the 21mm f3.2!

09-27-2010, 09:29 AM	#507
smcPixellie Junior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: North Wales UK Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 35	I got a good one from SRS No. 9031276 I thought my 50-135 was my best lens but now this one is used most, Superb.Thanks SRS.

09-30-2010, 02:36 AM	#508
bombs&bullets Inactive Account Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: SoCal Posts: 2	My copy, 9030148, which I purchased from B&H, is also good after 1.5 years as my main lens

10-02-2010, 05:58 AM	#509
wjax Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 51	I have read much of this looong thread since I just purchased the 16-50mm DA* lens from Amazon. I have to say that the preliminary photos have been very impressive, esp. color and center sharpness. However, after reading this thread, I looked back at some calibration images and saw this (16mm F2.8): All sizes \| grid \| Flickr - Photo Sharing! As you can see, there is definite softness on the right side, more at the bottom, even accounting for the uneven lighting. The left side looks great to me. This apparent de-centering defect seems to be a common problem with this lens though it resolves at narrower apertures. The lens appears to be in great shape other than this one flaw. So I guess my question to those who have more experience with this lens and the QC issues is should I exchange the lens for a new one or would this one flaw still qualify the lens as a relatively "good copy"? Oh, and the SN is 9043508 if that means anything.