[UncleVanya]

Sounds like you have a good plan. I’d highly recommend checking the marketplace here on the forum.

[seventysixersfan]

I am a bit worried about quality issue mentioned here and also somewhere else on pentaxforums about some 16-85's, but perhaps it is not worse than with any other lens? Would buying an used 16-85 be mostly safe?

I don't think it is worse to buy used than any other lens. The DA 16-85 lens does not, to my knowledge, have complaints about backfocus, or wobbly barrels, or zoom creep, etc. I have purchased two used 16-85 over the years, and resold both, but did not have any problems with their optical or mechanical performance. There can be a very minor issue, however, with a somewhat "loose" lens hood - which I noticed in my two copies -- and the PF in-depth review also mentioned it:
HD Pentax-DA 16-85mm F3.5-5.6 Review - Construction and Handling | PentaxForums.com Reviews

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.

Otherwise, I think you can definitely save a few bucks (a hundred or more) by going used, and I don't think you'd be missing much beyond getting a manufacturer's warranty.

Enjoy!!

[Bertrand3000]

Thank you everyone. I pulled the trigger on a new 16-85 for a price I could not refuse (420 €).
An used 16-85 required 390 €, while the cheapest new 18-135 needed as much as 480 €. Choice was quite easy.
Even if 85mm long end may be limitating, I thought 135mm could be as limitating, and that's what the 55-300 is for. On the other hand, 16mm can be definitely useful and I have only non-WR lenses covering wide angle.

Thank you for helping me feeding my LBA with something. I will come back in two weeks to bug you for yet another lens.

[normhead]

Thank you everyone. I pulled the trigger on a new 16-85 for a price I could not refuse (420 €).
An used 16-85 required 390 €, while the cheapest new 18-135 needed as much as 480 €. Choice was quite easy.
Even if 85mm long end may be limitating, I thought 135mm could be as limitating, and that's what the 55-300 is for. On the other hand, 16mm can be definitely useful and I have only non-WR lenses covering wide angle.

Thank you for helping me feeding my LBA with something. I will come back in two weeks to bug you for yet another lens.

That's what I would have recommend, the 16-85 is definitely the "can't go wrong " choice. The 18-135 has to match your shooting style. For people like me, that's not an issue, it matches my style. But there are lots o people for whom it doesn't. The 16-85 is more consistent throughout it's range.

Let us know what you think in week or two.

[UncleVanya]

Thank you everyone. I pulled the trigger on a new 16-85 for a price I could not refuse (420 €).
An used 16-85 required 390 €, while the cheapest new 18-135 needed as much as 480 €. Choice was quite easy.
Even if 85mm long end may be limitating, I thought 135mm could be as limitating, and that's what the 55-300 is for. On the other hand, 16mm can be definitely useful and I have only non-WR lenses covering wide angle.

Thank you for helping me feeding my LBA with something. I will come back in two weeks to bug you for yet another lens.

That does seem like a no brainer. I suspect you’ll love it.

[Bertrand3000]

I received the 16-85 yesterday, in its box, sealed, and with warranty. For that price, it was a true bargain.

Plastic hood seems rather fragile. My DFA 50 Macro has a metallic hood, the feel is clearly not the same!


Dull weather prevent me to try it right now, but I noticed there is some light stiffness when zooming in around ~80mm. Zooming out is perfectly smooth. Is that to be expected?