[Ahab]

I have the 16-45 and use it primarily out doors. I also have the Tamron 17-50 which replaced my Sigma 17-50 which was "wonky" out of the box. Aparently I got a good one. I lke the 2.8 which has served me well.

[seventysixersfan]

OK, I just received my DA 16-45 lens over the weekend but haven't had a chance to really run it through its paces. Very pleased to see that the condition of the lens was better than Henry's described. Surprised by how lightweight the lens feels-- not necessarily in a cheap way, but definitely in a way that indicates the build quality is not up to the DA 18-135 or even the DA 18-55 WR standards. But I like the way it handles-- not too light, not too heavy, looks very nice attached to my black K-50. Couple this lens with my DA 55-300 and I'm looking at excellent image quality from 16mm-300mm.

I do have one question for you all who have owned or currently own the 16-45--- the barrel wobble problem that some have complained about with this zoom. I didn't notice any obvious barrel wobble with my copy so I'm hopeful that I got lucky with that-- but then it occurred to me that I'm not exactly sure what barrel wobble looks like? When you extend the lens to 16mm, is the plastic inner barrel slightly wobbling upon extension, or only when you lightly shake the lens up and down or side to side? Or do you have to physically push with your fingers on the extended barrel to see if it wiggles or bends a certain direction?

Anyway, if I hadn't heard of this potential problem, I would say that my copy functionally and aesthetically raises no red flags at all. I still need to take the time to evaluate the optical quality, but very very early results (and only looking at the images on the K-50's LCD screen) indicate it's a sharp, contrasty lens wide open and a fast auto-focuser. Seems much better than the 18-55 kit lens but the question for me is, how does it compare to my Sigma 18-50 f/2.8? or DA 18-135? I look forward to finding out over the next couple of days and into the weekend and will report back!

[rrstuff]

OK, I just received my DA 16-45 lens over the weekend but haven't had a chance to really run it through its paces. Very pleased to see that the condition of the lens was better than Henry's described. Surprised by how lightweight the lens feels-- not necessarily in a cheap way, but definitely in a way that indicates the build quality is not up to the DA 18-135 or even the DA 18-55 WR standards. But I like the way it handles-- not too light, not too heavy, looks very nice attached to my black K-50. Couple this lens with my DA 55-300 and I'm looking at excellent image quality from 16mm-300mm.

I do have one question for you all who have owned or currently own the 16-45--- the barrel wobble problem that some have complained about with this zoom. I didn't notice any obvious barrel wobble with my copy so I'm hopeful that I got lucky with that-- but then it occurred to me that I'm not exactly sure what barrel wobble looks like? When you extend the lens to 16mm, is the plastic inner barrel slightly wobbling upon extension, or only when you lightly shake the lens up and down or side to side? Or do you have to physically push with your fingers on the extended barrel to see if it wiggles or bends a certain direction?

Anyway, if I hadn't heard of this potential problem, I would say that my copy functionally and aesthetically raises no red flags at all. I still need to take the time to evaluate the optical quality, but very very early results (and only looking at the images on the K-50's LCD screen) indicate it's a sharp, contrasty lens wide open and a fast auto-focuser. Seems much better than the 18-55 kit lens but the question for me is, how does it compare to my Sigma 18-50 f/2.8? or DA 18-135? I look forward to finding out over the next couple of days and into the weekend and will report back!

This is my personal ranking for the lenses. It might give you some reference points:
DA 40 ltd > SMC Takumar 50 F1.8 > 16-45 DA > Tokina 80-200 F3.5-4.5 > 55-300 DA = 18-55 WR > Sigma 55-200 F4.0-5.6 > Vivitar 200mm F3.5 bright-band.
Unless my copy of 55-300, 16-45 should be a step up in sharpness. All the tests of 18-135 claim it's pretty weak optically, but users like it. It would seem that 'rendering' looks good but the lens has some optical issues, such as soft corners.

[audiobomber]

This is my personal ranking for the lenses. It might give you some reference points:
DA 40 ltd > SMC Takumar 50 F1.8 > 16-45 DA > Tokina 80-200 F3.5-4.5 > 55-300 DA = 18-55 WR > Sigma 55-200 F4.0-5.6 > Vivitar 200mm F3.5 bright-band.
Unless my copy of 55-300, 16-45 should be a step up in sharpness. All the tests of 18-135 claim it's pretty weak optically, but users like it. It would seem that 'rendering' looks good but the lens has some optical issues, such as soft corners.

Here are my IQ rankings:

1. DA 16-45mm
2. DA 55-300mm
3. DA 18-135mm
4. DA 18-250mm
5. DA 18-55mm

I own all of these. Each of the standard zooms was my main lens for at least a full year.

Here are some full resolution test shots:
18-135 vs. 55-300mm
https://picasaweb.google.com/100586096103361553535/18135Vs55300?authkey=Gv1sRgCO7y5LGM3-rKEA#
18-135 vs. 18-250mm
https://picasaweb.google.com/100586096103361553535/18135Vs18250?authkey=Gv1sRgCNzC5b_4_qXRqQE#

---

Last edited by audiobomber; 05-12-2014 at 09:56 PM.

[seventysixersfan]

Anyone have advice/comments on my question below regarding how to detect barrel wobble? Thanks!

I do have one question for you all who have owned or currently own the 16-45--- the barrel wobble problem that some have complained about with this zoom. I didn't notice any obvious barrel wobble with my copy so I'm hopeful that I got lucky with that-- but then it occurred to me that I'm not exactly sure what barrel wobble looks like? When you extend the lens to 16mm, is the plastic inner barrel slightly wobbling upon extension, or only when you lightly shake the lens up and down or side to side? Or do you have to physically push with your fingers on the extended barrel to see if it wiggles or bends a certain direction?

[audiobomber]

Anyone have advice/comments on my question below regarding how to detect barrel wobble? Thanks!

If your photos are sharp, don't worry about it. If they're not sharp, something is wrong with the lens, send it in for repair or return it for a refund.

You have good comparators, your 16-45 should be sharper than your kit zooms and not quite as sharp as a prime.

[rawr]

I'm surprised that no one has mentioned here that DxOMark loves the DA 16-45. They also have the lens fully profiled in DxO Optics Pro.

Also it is worth noting that Bill Gekas has shot a lot of his most prominent work using the humble 16-45.

[seventysixersfan]

If your photos are sharp, don't worry about it. If they're not sharp, something is wrong with the lens, send it in for repair or return it for a refund.

Thanks, Dan! I guess I shouldn't worry-- I didn't see anything obviously wrong with the lens mechanically and so far, I'm very pleased with the optical results.

I'm surprised that no one has mentioned here that DxOMark loves the DA 16-45. They also have the lens fully profiled in DxO Optics Pro. Also it is worth noting that Bill Gekas has shot a lot of his most prominent work using the humble 16-45.

thanks for reminding me-- the DA 16-45 is at the top of their list of zooms recommended for my K-50.

Those photos by Bill Gekas are amazing! Lovely bokeh for a f/4 zoom.

[bdery]

My guess is that it might well overtake my old Sigma 18-50 f/2.8 even though that lens is a constant f/2.8

It's smaller, wider, but f2.8 is sometimes very useful.

how it matches up with the 18-55

It will trump it, except for WR.

or the 18-135

It will be better, but lacks WR and a long part of the range.

a new Sigma 17-70

That is my main lens (the first version). Except if you need 16mm, given your lineup if you're interested in that range I'd consolidate by either keeping the 18-50 and 18-135, 16-45 and 18-135 or 17-70 and either 18-55 or 18-135 (depending on how much you need the range). That way you'd cover the WR aspect and limit the number of lenses you have.

But then again, LBA or not I made a rule never to keep duplicate lenses.

[seventysixersfan]

LBA or not I made a rule never to keep duplicate lenses.

Yes, I need to follow your rule to avoid my current glut of overlapping lenses! Thanks for all of your comments/feedback. I'll try to consolidate once I decide which zoom lenses I like best and/or best suits my needs.

[audiobomber]

But then again, LBA or not I made a rule never to keep duplicate lenses.

I have reasons for keeping all these consumer zooms. I carry the 16-45 when I don't want to carry primes, the 18-135 because I like the range and don't want to change lenses in the rain. The 18-55 I keep in a drawer. If I sell a camera I can sell it as a kit instead of a body. My wife uses the 18-250 on the rare occasions when she uses her K100DS. That way I don't have to share lenses.

[seventysixersfan]

I have reasons for keeping all these consumer zooms.

You're like the little devil sitting on my left shoulder, whispering in my ear...

[Just1MoreDave]

Anyone have advice/comments on my question below regarding how to detect barrel wobble? Thanks!

If your photos are sharp, don't worry about it. If they're not sharp, something is wrong with the lens, send it in for repair or return it for a refund.

You have good comparators, your 16-45 should be sharper than your kit zooms and not quite as sharp as a prime.

Other owners have said wobble affected corner sharpness at the wide end. They could move the front enough to go from decent sharpness to soft. I tried to duplicate that on mine, and I couldn't. So I just gave up on looking for issues. EXIF on those shots shows that was over 4 years ago, I guess I could look again.

[THoog]

You're like the little devil sitting on my left shoulder, whispering in my ear...

When the little devil on my left shoulder says "Go ahead... You know you want it...", the little angel on my right shoulder looks up from eBay and says, "Sorry, I wasn't listening - Matsuiya's got a great price on a 35 Macro Ltd. What?"

[seventysixersfan]

When the little devil on my left shoulder says "Go ahead... You know you want it...", the little angel on my right shoulder looks up from eBay and says, "Sorry, I wasn't listening - Matsuiya's got a great price on a 35 Macro Ltd. What?"

LOL Todd!!