Question for 16-50mm owners

TanGU · 10-30-2008, 05:30 AM

Originally posted by nulla

Thanks kindly to all you gents for you answers... very helpfull

I will go ahead and buy the lens as I am impressed with it.

Neil

So, did you buy it finally ? how is it ?

Mine is pretty bad, soft at the left side, and did Front Focus at 16mm (see my post https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-slr-lens-discussion/39899-pentax-1...left-side.html), test it with the focus test chart.

avian · 10-30-2008, 06:06 AM

Hi Nulla,
with the bad Aussie dollar you might want to consider getting it locally. Some online stores in NSW have it for AU$899. I ordered mine from Teds for AU$999 - and specifically made sure I can return it numerous times till I get a good copy.

If you go to CR Kennedys aussie pentax site, they have a page on grey imports etc (Pentax Australia | Parallel and Grey Imports ). From what I can read there, they are under no obligation to honour the warranty if you didnt buy it locally (and they are the sole importer in Australia).

FF/BF might be okay, but it seems a good number of lenses have problems with the focus being decentered. In that case you'll have no option but to return it/fix it. Overall buying localy might save you some headaches and shipping costs if you were to return it multiple times.

rfortson · 10-30-2008, 02:07 PM

Originally posted by TanGU

I have a K10D and i want the 16-50 da* too...

What do you mean that terrible CA if exposure was off?? Is it a setting or only a picture with less explosure than needed??

Sorry TanGU, I somehow missed this followup question. I guess I should more appropriately say PF occurred in bright/high contrast situations where a portion of the shot was overexposed. If you're shooting snapshots (family vacations and such), you're often seeing those kinds of conditions. However, with the K20D, I just don't see the PF from my 16-50 like I did from my K10D.

However, I have seen it on occasion with the DA*200, so it's a camera/lens combo effect.

Powermarc · 11-05-2008, 07:17 PM

I'm in the process of looking after a F/2.8 Lens, something like a Tamron 28-75 or a sigma 24-70.

However, even if IQ issues are something to be worried about, i'm also looking at the Pentax 16-50 DA* Lens, mostly for the 16mm versus the 24/28 or the other two.

But, will this lens autofocus will works with cameras that are not SDM-Enabled (in other words, are both screw motors and SDM motors are available with this lens?)

If my initial readings are OK, both the 200mm and 300mm DA* lenses can use screw motors as well as SDM, i'm not sure about the 16-50mm..

Thanks!

**BCtoad** · 11-05-2008, 08:18 PM

The 16-50 has both screw and sdm.

PentaxPoke · 11-05-2008, 08:30 PM

I recommend the Tamron 17-50 f/2.8 instead of the 16-50 for so many reasons...

Powermarc · 11-05-2008, 09:06 PM

Thaks for the clarification

Is it for the quality issues that you would recommand the Tamron over the Pentax?

Powermarc · 11-05-2008, 09:11 PM

Nevermind, i found this, and it explains it all...

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-slr-lens-discussion/35735-da-16-50...-round-ii.html

Thanks for that review

Bart · 11-08-2008, 01:23 PM

Pentax SMC-DA* 16-50mm f/2.8 ED [IF] SDM - Test Report / Review

3rd example was judged good enough to test.

dugrant153 · 11-08-2008, 02:57 PM

Ouch. That hurts.

As an owner of this lens, I have to agree with the distortion at 16mm (it's quite extreme... VERY extreme actually). Other than that, the only other main issue for me has been the focusing. My solution? Manual focus!

PentaxPoke · 11-08-2008, 03:06 PM

"Ouch" is right. How many other Pentax lenses have tested right on the border of "poor" to "fair" at 50mm? Especially a "*" lens. This is what several of us have been saying. I'm certain we'll see a post soon that says "but it's weather sealed!"

frank · 11-08-2008, 03:46 PM

I'm very surprised to see that they used K10D for the test. I've tried several copies of this lens on several K10D and K20D cameras, all the 1650 lenses I tested on all the K10D cameras have some focusing problem which cause less sharp results. But I haven't seen any focusing problem w/ the lens on several K20D cameras I've tried.

I have to agree on the bad CA problem, although some users reported less CA w/ this lens on a K20D than it is on a K10D ...

roentarre · 11-08-2008, 03:58 PM

Originally posted by frank

I'm very surprised to see that they used K10D for the test. I've tried several copies of this lens on several K10D and K20D cameras, all the 1650 lenses I tested on all the K10D cameras have some focusing problem which cause less sharp results. But I haven't seen any focusing problem w/ the lens on several K20D cameras I've tried.

I have to agree on the bad CA problem, although some users reported less CA w/ this lens on a K20D than it is on a K10D ...

I aggreed on this as well. Maybe Klaus does not have a k20d to use at all. Even k200d sensor is tweaked to have better dynamic range comparing to k10d...

Isaac314 · 11-08-2008, 05:43 PM

Why such bad reaction from you? To me this review is surprisingly positive compared to some of the examples i have seen. Especially the conclusion which says that in real life situations it is really quite useable.
I mean, im not saying this isnt an absolute joke of a supposedly * lens, but its not a piece of crap either, and still stands up to some of the competition.

nulla · 11-08-2008, 06:52 PM

I was lucky to get a good copy and can say with all honesty its my most used lens as its fits into my most used FL range

I dont think the article is to harsh either, most of what is written was stated here in these forums well before I decided to get one.

I am surprised at the number of tests done on lenses using the K10, especially DA's

Neil

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

11-05-2008, 07:17 PM	#979
Powermarc Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Quebec City (Canada) Photos: Gallery Posts: 55	Pentax 16-50, on old models I'm in the process of looking after a F/2.8 Lens, something like a Tamron 28-75 or a sigma 24-70. However, even if IQ issues are something to be worried about, i'm also looking at the Pentax 16-50 DA* Lens, mostly for the 16mm versus the 24/28 or the other two. But, will this lens autofocus will works with cameras that are not SDM-Enabled (in other words, are both screw motors and SDM motors are available with this lens?) If my initial readings are OK, both the 200mm and 300mm DA* lenses can use screw motors as well as SDM, i'm not sure about the 16-50mm.. Thanks!

11-08-2008, 01:23 PM	#984
Bart Pentaxian Join Date: May 2007 Location: WW community of Pentax users Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,646	*Photozones test of DA 16-50 is up** Pentax SMC-DA* 16-50mm f/2.8 ED [IF] SDM - Test Report / Review 3rd example was judged good enough to test.

11-08-2008, 03:46 PM	#987
frank Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Singapore Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,202	I'm very surprised to see that they used K10D for the test. I've tried several copies of this lens on several K10D and K20D cameras, all the 1650 lenses I tested on all the K10D cameras have some focusing problem which cause less sharp results. But I haven't seen any focusing problem w/ the lens on several K20D cameras I've tried. I have to agree on the bad CA problem, although some users reported less CA w/ this lens on a K20D than it is on a K10D ... Last edited by frank; 11-08-2008 at 03:55 PM.

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10-30-2008, 05:30 AM	#976
TanGU Inactive Account Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Longueuil, QC Photos: Gallery Posts: 90	Originally posted by nulla Thanks kindly to all you gents for you answers... very helpfull I will go ahead and buy the lens as I am impressed with it. Neil So, did you buy it finally ? how is it ? Mine is pretty bad, soft at the left side, and did Front Focus at 16mm (see my post https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-slr-lens-discussion/39899-pentax-1...left-side.html), test it with the focus test chart.

10-30-2008, 06:06 AM	#977
avian Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Melbourne Posts: 52	Hi Nulla, with the bad Aussie dollar you might want to consider getting it locally. Some online stores in NSW have it for AU$899. I ordered mine from Teds for AU$999 - and specifically made sure I can return it numerous times till I get a good copy. If you go to CR Kennedys aussie pentax site, they have a page on grey imports etc (Pentax Australia \| Parallel and Grey Imports ). From what I can read there, they are under no obligation to honour the warranty if you didnt buy it locally (and they are the sole importer in Australia). FF/BF might be okay, but it seems a good number of lenses have problems with the focus being decentered. In that case you'll have no option but to return it/fix it. Overall buying localy might save you some headaches and shipping costs if you were to return it multiple times.

10-30-2008, 02:07 PM	#978
rfortson Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Houston TX Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,129	Originally posted by TanGU I have a K10D and i want the 16-50 da* too... What do you mean that terrible CA if exposure was off?? Is it a setting or only a picture with less explosure than needed?? Sorry TanGU, I somehow missed this followup question. I guess I should more appropriately say PF occurred in bright/high contrast situations where a portion of the shot was overexposed. If you're shooting snapshots (family vacations and such), you're often seeing those kinds of conditions. However, with the K20D, I just don't see the PF from my 16-50 like I did from my K10D. However, I have seen it on occasion with the DA*200, so it's a camera/lens combo effect.

11-05-2008, 08:18 PM	#980
BCtoad Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Prince George, British Columbia, Canada. Posts: 135	The 16-50 has both screw and sdm.

11-05-2008, 08:30 PM	#981
PentaxPoke Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 1,411	I recommend the Tamron 17-50 f/2.8 instead of the 16-50 for so many reasons...

11-05-2008, 09:06 PM	#982
Powermarc Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Quebec City (Canada) Photos: Gallery Posts: 55	Thaks for the clarification Is it for the quality issues that you would recommand the Tamron over the Pentax?

11-05-2008, 09:11 PM	#983
Powermarc Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Quebec City (Canada) Photos: Gallery Posts: 55	Nevermind, i found this, and it explains it all... https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-slr-lens-discussion/35735-da-16-50...-round-ii.html Thanks for that review

11-08-2008, 02:57 PM	#985
dugrant153 Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Vancouver, BC Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,059	Ouch. That hurts. As an owner of this lens, I have to agree with the distortion at 16mm (it's quite extreme... VERY extreme actually). Other than that, the only other main issue for me has been the focusing. My solution? Manual focus!

11-08-2008, 03:06 PM	#986
PentaxPoke Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 1,411	"Ouch" is right. How many other Pentax lenses have tested right on the border of "poor" to "fair" at 50mm? Especially a "*" lens. This is what several of us have been saying. I'm certain we'll see a post soon that says "but it's weather sealed!"

11-08-2008, 03:58 PM	#988
roentarre Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 11,783	Originally posted by frank I'm very surprised to see that they used K10D for the test. I've tried several copies of this lens on several K10D and K20D cameras, all the 1650 lenses I tested on all the K10D cameras have some focusing problem which cause less sharp results. But I haven't seen any focusing problem w/ the lens on several K20D cameras I've tried. I have to agree on the bad CA problem, although some users reported less CA w/ this lens on a K20D than it is on a K10D ... I aggreed on this as well. Maybe Klaus does not have a k20d to use at all. Even k200d sensor is tweaked to have better dynamic range comparing to k10d...

11-08-2008, 05:43 PM	#989
Isaac314 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: London Photos: Gallery Posts: 417	Why such bad reaction from you? To me this review is surprisingly positive compared to some of the examples i have seen. Especially the conclusion which says that in real life situations it is really quite useable. I mean, im not saying this isnt an absolute joke of a supposedly * lens, but its not a piece of crap either, and still stands up to some of the competition.

11-08-2008, 06:52 PM	#990
nulla Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Melbourne Australia Posts: 1,560	I was lucky to get a good copy and can say with all honesty its my most used lens as its fits into my most used FL range I dont think the article is to harsh either, most of what is written was stated here in these forums well before I decided to get one. I am surprised at the number of tests done on lenses using the K10, especially DA's Neil