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04-28-2009, 04:50 PM   #1
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Tell me your experience with the 16-45

I ordered a 16-45 two days ago. Anyone out there who owns one please tell me your experience (good or bad) with this glass. I have read a lot of good stuff about this lens and made my decision based on that.

I had considered the 16-50, but it looks like there were a lot of bad copies made.

04-28-2009, 04:59 PM   #2
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I just bought the 16-45 a couple of weeks ago from one of our forum members. So far I'm happy with the lens, however it underexposes a little bit, so i need to increase the EV to 0.5 or 1 depending on the lighting. It's sharpness is just average. Sorry it's just average to me because my first lens was the FA 50mm 1.4 which is terribly sharp at apertures 4 and above.
04-28-2009, 05:22 PM   #3
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QuoteOriginally posted by jadem Quote
I just bought the 16-45 a couple of weeks ago from one of our forum members. So far I'm happy with the lens, however it underexposes a little bit, so i need to increase the EV to 0.5 or 1 depending on the lighting. It's sharpness is just average. Sorry it's just average to me because my first lens was the FA 50mm 1.4 which is terribly sharp at apertures 4 and above.
Same as my Sigma 28-105. That is why I bought the 16-45 to give me wide andle coverage.

Thank you!
04-28-2009, 08:09 PM   #4
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I picked up a DA 16-45 used from B&H in lieu of a kit lens when I got my K20 two months ago. Compared to my few other lenses, its color is very rich and warm, exposure maybe dark but not enough for me to typically correct. It does front focus about 12mm that I can almost compensate for competely with the K20 AF Adjustment. Since I do mostly wildlife this is for once a week indoor shot of family or a sunset so I really have not put it through its paces...other than than to calibrate it. From what I have seen so far though, I like it, would buy again, would recommend.

04-28-2009, 09:25 PM   #5
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I really liked the photos I got from it for the short time that I had mine; nice colours and really sharp.

I wasn't such a fan of the zoom design, with the barrel extending as you zoom out, i.e. the barrel is at full extension at 16mm, and the short reach and zoom ratio meant that I replaced mine with a Sigma 17-70mm. But in terms of image quality, it is a pretty good lens.
04-28-2009, 11:30 PM   #6
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it's sharp, surprisingly contrasty it occasionally teeters on the brink of being too contrasty at times.

physical construction is decent..mine does wobble a bit at 16mm. Optical quality is good considering the price, it could be better though. The macro focusing ability is surprisingly useful.
04-28-2009, 11:42 PM   #7
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Well, this lens is traditionally considered as sharp from corner to corner from a zoom perspective. Good pricing for its optical performance. What is MTF?

However, this lens fringes. Fringes badly even in low contrast low light environment. What is CA?

04-28-2009, 11:54 PM   #8
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QuoteOriginally posted by roentarre Quote
Well, this lens is traditionally considered as sharp from corner to corner from a zoom perspective. Good pricing for its optical performance. What is MTF?

However, this lens fringes. Fringes badly even in low contrast low light environment. What is CA?
10,000 posts! Wow! Should I call you a Super Pentaxian or what?

Thank You sooo much!

You are a wealth of info when it comes to explaining CA and MTF
04-29-2009, 12:29 AM   #9
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Bokeh is very choppy, but you don't use this lens to get a shallow depth of field.
04-29-2009, 01:40 AM   #10
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Very good underrated lens, versatile, excellent value. I use it more than any other len. A lot more. I think it's better than the 16-50, actually, which IMO is highly overrated. The 16-45 is a surprisingly good "macro" lens, too, as high as 1/4x. My copy has no issues with focus or with anything else.
04-29-2009, 01:55 AM   #11
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I should probably mention that it's my daily driver as well.
04-29-2009, 06:49 AM   #12
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I agree with most of the posted comments, and overall is a great value lens.


At the same time, apparently just because I praised this lens as a non-problematic, I just noticed it is no longer locking focus on infinity. Or let me clarify: I've been having problems locking focus on the K10D. Today I'll test it on the *Ist DL and confirm if it is the camera or the lens.


In any case, it is a nice beater, very affordable and great results. Definitely worth the upgrades from a kit lens.
04-29-2009, 09:48 AM   #13
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In my opinion is an excellent lens, bearing in mind that it is not the best wide zoom ever, it serves very nicely so it is always in my bag. I purchased it together with my K10D as a kit and soon after that I started feeling the LBA, I have bought and sold many lenses since then, even I almost sold the 16-45 to replace it for a DA*16-50 but I decided it was not worth it.

It was my first lens and still with me...
04-29-2009, 07:40 PM   #14
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Thank you all for your posts. I got the lens today and I am starting my plethora of tests.

Anyone else with a take, please respond
04-29-2009, 10:15 PM   #15
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QuoteOriginally posted by BBear Quote
Or let me clarify: I've been having problems locking focus on the K10D. Today I'll test it on the *Ist DL and confirm if it is the camera or the lens.

k10d would have problems of locking focus or AF accuracy issues with any lens...
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