Question for 16-50mm owners

**sinus007** · 07-15-2008, 11:01 AM

Hi Fishy,
It's hard for me to judge from those pictures.
I took a risk with 16-50. When I'v got it I conducted a simple and unscientific test: put the camera (k200d) on tripod, taped a newspaper to the floor, made sure that the floor is horizontal, made sure that the back of the cam is also horizontal, thus making the object and the sensor as close to parallel as I could with this simple setup, and took a bunch of pictures @ different f-lengths and apr. Then compared 100-200% crops of sides and center, especially @2.8. Turned out I bought a good one. Sad thing to say about pentax, but, hey, what can you do...
Hope this helps - Good luck

AK

fishy · 07-15-2008, 11:16 AM

Hi AK, thanks for your reply.
Could you show me results of those tests? I tried a similar thing, sing a really flat book, but I can not guarantee they're really parallel. In general the edge softness (especially on the right??) seems really bad. Center sharpness is not much worse than my FA50 1.4...
Sad thing indeed that we gamble with lenses at this pricelevel.
see newer testshot below:

**sinus007** · 07-15-2008, 05:32 PM

HI,
Unfortunately I deleted my test pics.
Following advise some very knowledgable folks @dpreview, I couldn't stress enough the importance of the cam and paper being parallel.
AK

AdamJ · 07-17-2008, 07:18 PM

I just ordered one of the 16-50mm f/2.8 lenses (over the Tamron 17-50 f/2.8) from B&H and now I'm wondering if it was a mistake, I had no idea there was so many unhappy with their copy.

I guess I will find out once it gets here if there is any problems...

ricosuave · 07-17-2008, 07:24 PM

hope the company that you ordered from has a good return policy.

jsherman999 · 07-17-2008, 07:29 PM

Good copies are really nice to own, and in spite of how it may seem, there are many more good ones out there than bad. I love mine. Don't sweat it too much.

Wheatfield · 07-17-2008, 07:42 PM

Originally posted by AdamJ

I just ordered one of the 16-50mm f/2.8 lenses (over the Tamron 17-50 f/2.8) from B&H and now I'm wondering if it was a mistake, I had no idea there was so many unhappy with their copy.

I guess I will find out once it gets here if there is any problems...

I tested an early production sample (pre release) and found it to be an excellent performer. Were I in the market for a zoom in that range, I would buy it in a second.
There does seem to be some QC issues with it, so do make a point of ensuring that it will focus across the entire image plane.
I think the ubiquitous brick wall test is not a bad thing with this lens, just to make sure you have one that isn't decentered..

AdamJ · 07-17-2008, 07:55 PM

I'm comfortable with B&H's return policy, I guess I will just be disappointed. If it turns out to be a bad copy, I'm not sure I'd be willing to keep trying copies until I got a good one. Being that I was on the verge of the Tamron 17-50, I will probably swap for that one if that's what it comes down to.

Blue · 07-17-2008, 09:18 PM

Try it out thoroughly and use it as much as you can as soon as you get it. If it is a good sample, use it a lot to make sure it holds up.

**Canada_Rockies** · 07-17-2008, 10:10 PM

I bought mine from B&H. It is my best walk around lens. That extra stop of speed at f/2.8 and the weather sealing (used it in the rain just the other day) combined with an extra 5 mm at the long end over the DA 16-45 sold it to me. Zero complaints. It is a great lens in my bag.

Short answer: Go for it!

little laker · 07-17-2008, 10:47 PM

Originally posted by AdamJ

I'm comfortable with B&H's return policy.

Although I've never dealt with them, in my opinion B&H is one of the best mail order stores out there.
If you have problems with the lens I know that they'll do their best to remedy the situation.

They are fully aware of the lenses track record, so it shouldn't be a hassle.

Venturi · 07-17-2008, 11:56 PM

I was a hair's width from buying the 16-50 myself and I'm sure you'll be quite happy with it. In the end for me the price difference is what tipped the scales in favor of the Tamron 17-50 (ordered it tonight from B&H

). I'm not doing the type of shooting where the weather sealing and SDM are going to be an issue. Should have mine Tuesday so what say we meet back here end of next week and compare shots.

**sinus007** · 07-18-2008, 06:47 AM

Hi,
I've got 16-50. Love it. After reading about its QC I ran some crude tests which showed that the lens is OK.
I'm interested in comparing it to Tamron 17-50, just want see the differences.
Good luck,
AK

DanLoc78 · 07-18-2008, 07:16 AM

how can a beginner photographer tell a good copy from a bad?

**rogerstg** · 07-18-2008, 07:33 AM

I love my 16-50. But, I returned the first lens due to minor focus issues at infinity & f2.8 (which would rarely be used in real life)
The next lens was about the same but I figured I would keep it since it was so good otherwise. However it stopped working properly with my K10d so I sent it to Pentax for service.
It came back fixed according to the paperwork, but was still the same. I sent it back with my camera body (per their instructions on the original repair receipt).
Now everything is perfect.

In retrospect, I should have just sent the lens and camera in at the same time originally and avoided the other two return cycles. Turn around with Pentax was < 3 weeks.

View Poll Results: Is this DA*16-50mm good or bad?
Keep it -- it's good.	23	88.46%
Return it or send it in for repair.	3	11.54%
Voters: 26. You may not vote on this poll

07-17-2008, 07:18 PM	#754
AdamJ New Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Chicago Area, IL, USA Posts: 20	*Just ordered a DA 16-50mm f/2.8 - Mistake?** I just ordered one of the 16-50mm f/2.8 lenses (over the Tamron 17-50 f/2.8) from B&H and now I'm wondering if it was a mistake, I had no idea there was so many unhappy with their copy. I guess I will find out once it gets here if there is any problems...

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07-15-2008, 11:01 AM	#751
sinus007 Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Cleveland, OH, USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 292	Hi Fishy, It's hard for me to judge from those pictures. I took a risk with 16-50. When I'v got it I conducted a simple and unscientific test: put the camera (k200d) on tripod, taped a newspaper to the floor, made sure that the floor is horizontal, made sure that the back of the cam is also horizontal, thus making the object and the sensor as close to parallel as I could with this simple setup, and took a bunch of pictures @ different f-lengths and apr. Then compared 100-200% crops of sides and center, especially @2.8. Turned out I bought a good one. Sad thing to say about pentax, but, hey, what can you do... Hope this helps - Good luck AK

07-15-2008, 05:32 PM	#753
sinus007 Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Cleveland, OH, USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 292	HI, Unfortunately I deleted my test pics. Following advise some very knowledgable folks @dpreview, I couldn't stress enough the importance of the cam and paper being parallel. AK

07-17-2008, 07:24 PM	#755
ricosuave Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: NC Photos: Gallery Posts: 298	hope the company that you ordered from has a good return policy.

07-17-2008, 07:29 PM	#756
jsherman999 Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,237	Good copies are really nice to own, and in spite of how it may seem, there are many more good ones out there than bad. I love mine. Don't sweat it too much.

07-17-2008, 07:42 PM	#757
Wheatfield Moderator Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: The wheatfields of Canada Posts: 15,975	Originally posted by AdamJ I just ordered one of the 16-50mm f/2.8 lenses (over the Tamron 17-50 f/2.8) from B&H and now I'm wondering if it was a mistake, I had no idea there was so many unhappy with their copy. I guess I will find out once it gets here if there is any problems... I tested an early production sample (pre release) and found it to be an excellent performer. Were I in the market for a zoom in that range, I would buy it in a second. There does seem to be some QC issues with it, so do make a point of ensuring that it will focus across the entire image plane. I think the ubiquitous brick wall test is not a bad thing with this lens, just to make sure you have one that isn't decentered..

07-17-2008, 07:55 PM	#758
AdamJ New Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Chicago Area, IL, USA Posts: 20	I'm comfortable with B&H's return policy, I guess I will just be disappointed. If it turns out to be a bad copy, I'm not sure I'd be willing to keep trying copies until I got a good one. Being that I was on the verge of the Tamron 17-50, I will probably swap for that one if that's what it comes down to.

07-17-2008, 09:18 PM	#759
Blue Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Florida Hill Country Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,377	Try it out thoroughly and use it as much as you can as soon as you get it. If it is a good sample, use it a lot to make sure it holds up.

07-17-2008, 10:10 PM	#760
Canada_Rockies Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Sparwood, BC, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,385	I bought mine from B&H. It is my best walk around lens. That extra stop of speed at f/2.8 and the weather sealing (used it in the rain just the other day) combined with an extra 5 mm at the long end over the DA 16-45 sold it to me. Zero complaints. It is a great lens in my bag. Short answer: Go for it!

07-17-2008, 10:47 PM	#761
little laker Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,697	Originally posted by AdamJ I'm comfortable with B&H's return policy. Although I've never dealt with them, in my opinion B&H is one of the best mail order stores out there. If you have problems with the lens I know that they'll do their best to remedy the situation. They are fully aware of the lenses track record, so it shouldn't be a hassle.

07-17-2008, 11:56 PM	#762
Venturi Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Tulsa, OK Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,636	I was a hair's width from buying the 16-50 myself and I'm sure you'll be quite happy with it. In the end for me the price difference is what tipped the scales in favor of the Tamron 17-50 (ordered it tonight from B&H ). I'm not doing the type of shooting where the weather sealing and SDM are going to be an issue. Should have mine Tuesday so what say we meet back here end of next week and compare shots.

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07-18-2008, 06:47 AM	#763
sinus007 Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Cleveland, OH, USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 292	Hi, I've got 16-50. Love it. After reading about its QC I ran some crude tests which showed that the lens is OK. I'm interested in comparing it to Tamron 17-50, just want see the differences. Good luck, AK

07-18-2008, 07:16 AM	#764
DanLoc78 Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Philadelphia Photos: Gallery Posts: 915	how can a beginner photographer tell a good copy from a bad?

07-18-2008, 07:33 AM	#765
rogerstg Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Rhode Island Photos: Albums Posts: 1,168	I love my 16-50. But, I returned the first lens due to minor focus issues at infinity & f2.8 (which would rarely be used in real life) The next lens was about the same but I figured I would keep it since it was so good otherwise. However it stopped working properly with my K10d so I sent it to Pentax for service. It came back fixed according to the paperwork, but was still the same. I sent it back with my camera body (per their instructions on the original repair receipt). Now everything is perfect. In retrospect, I should have just sent the lens and camera in at the same time originally and avoided the other two return cycles. Turn around with Pentax was < 3 weeks.