Originally posted by AfterPentax I like to know which camera you use. You have a really good lens: the 18-135. But the 16-85 is also very good. Those two are compared in the 16-85 review on this forum. Both are unique lenses, there is not a better quality lens with the same mm specifications.
You mean for k mount or generally?
If looking generally I am not too sure, but I never took time to examine other brands aps-c lenses too much in the last decade.
Just a list of lenses I think of that possibly may compare, but I do not know myself
16-70 f4 Sony Zeiss
16-80 f2.8-4 Nikkor
16-80 f4 Fuji
I own the 16-85, and after service by Pentax it is okish for me.
I never really liked it, I only take it at bad weather (the DFA 50 is my only weather sealed prime in this range) or if I have absolutely no idea if I will take photos at all and have no idea which kind of photos I will make. I mostly use it as a wide angle, but at 50mm and above I am really not a big fan of the outcome.
It is tough, as long as the 16-50 does not get reworked, to come up with a better zoom at this range for k mount though.
I am much more of a prime shooter and maybe am just not the right audience for such a lense, but I never fell in love with it as others here seem to have.
If weight is not an issue and you do not need the long end, you may have a look at the sigma 18-35 f1.8 in combination with your primes too or if you prefer combine the DFA 24-70 with another wide angle lens like the 15mm limited.