I just picked up a new HD Pentax-DA 16-85mm F3.5-5.6 ED DC WR lens, [I'm not used to buying new lenses, but I already had a proper (used) S90-140 lens pouch to hide it in, so that will help a bit with the shock.] However, I do have some questions, mostly I guess for current users of the lens:
1. How smooth should the zoom action be when using the zoom ring? On this copy of the lens, it seem fairly smooth (and just a wee bit stiff, though not excessively), from one end of the zoom range to the other,EXCEPT at maybe about 75mm or so. Whether starting at 85mm and zooming out, or starting at 16mm and zooming in, the action seems fairly "normal" except when reaching the neighborhood of 75mm or so, where the zoom action requires more force to keep the zoom action going. The PF review of the lens does say:
"The zoom ring exhibits more friction than we usually see in zoom lenses. This prevents zoom creep, but we'd speculate that with use the friction will become less. The friction lessens in the long end when one zooms past approximately 75mm, probably caused by a change in the pattern of movement of the lens elements at the long end."
However, to my fingers, the friction lessens both above and below 75mm or so, and the friction seems "normal" on both sides of that. Does anyone have any advice for me on this possible issue? Has anyone noticed a change in "zoom feel" over time?
EDIT:
After having "exercised" the zoom ring while taking it out for a walk today on a K-3, taking long-, medium-,and short-FL shots of a number of subjects (which optically were all acceptable or better, considering the lack of skill of the "photographer"), I would say that the "zoom feel" has changed somewhat, becoming more like (but not identical to) how the PF lens review described (as quoted above). That is to say that, when zooming from 16mm to 85mm, the zooming is pretty smooth until maybe 75mm, where it becomes a bit balky for the rest of the way out to 85mm, but, when zooming in from 85mm to 16mm, the zooming is more "normal".
2. Gee, the hood seems rather sloppy or wobbly, whether mounted forward or reversed. the PF review did say:
"In one out of the two copies of this lens that we tested, there was some play in the bayonet and the hood rattled slightly when we moved the lens around. This is not a problem for the image quality of course, but it did take a bit away from the otherwise solid impression of the build quality of this lens."
Obviously, this is NOT a "serious" problem, but is surely seems a bit disconcerting to me to actually ~hear~ the lens hood ~rattle~ when carrying the lens attached to a K-3 hanging by a neck strap. Does anyone else notice this or have any comments about this?
EDIT: I can certainly live with this, but my point is still that a hood that had a more secure feel would make the lens feel more "finished" -- some reviews have griped a bit about the lack of a case or pouch for what is certainly not a mere kit lens, but I would fuss (well, I guess I ~am~ fussing) a bit instead about a somewhat floppy hood.
3. Following advice given in several threads, I do plan on trying to test for decentering. However, while I would assume that the aperture should be wide open (right?), I am not sure at what focal lengths would be best to check. Does anyone have some solid advice here?
SO, I do appreciate any comments that might help this 16-85 newbie. Thanks for listening.
Last edited by fwcetus; 10-28-2017 at 01:12 PM.