New 16-50mm?

**NaClH2O** · 04-29-2009, 09:54 AM

The problems of the earlier DA 16-50mm F2.8 are well documented, just check out the sticky post at the beginning of this forum. I was wondering if anyone has bought a new-from-the-factory new one lately. Does the lens still have problems? Or is every copy now good?

NaCl(it's spring...of course I have LBA!)H2O

nulla · 04-29-2009, 11:34 AM

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-slr-lens-discussion/57873-lens-ine...eddings-2.html

you will find a happy shopper here who has had a taste of both worlds

Neil

EricT · 04-30-2009, 06:01 PM

I seems like the decentering issues are gone.
Most complaints these days are about front focus/back focus or softness wide open at the wider focal lengths.
I'm very happy with mine, although I had to use the debug mode on my K10D to adjust the focus.

**wtlwdwgn** · 04-30-2009, 07:55 PM

Some of my best images have been with the 16-50. There is a tad of distortion at 16mm which is easily corrected in PP. It has a big front element so it is also a bit hefty to carry around.

cpopham · 04-30-2009, 09:28 PM

I bought one late last year, it's fine (and also fantastic).

If it's your first DA*, avoid it like the plague, it will just make you want more of them!

Myself, I can't help but wonder if a lot of the supposed decentering issues reported were actually just people who don't know what soft corners look like.
(I'm referring to the corner softness wide open, which I actually find can be useful in helping to isolate a subject, or give a slight 3d look to an image)

**Canada_Rockies** · 04-30-2009, 09:34 PM

Originally posted by cpopham

I bought one late last year, it's fine (and also fantastic).

If it's your first DA*, avoid it like the plague, it will just make you want more of them!

Myself, I can't help but wonder if a lot of the supposed decentering issues reported were actually just people who don't know what soft corners look like.
(I'm referring to the corner softness wide open, which I actually find can be useful in helping to isolate a subject, or give a slight 3d look to an image)

The decenter claims are based on corners that are not equally sharp (or unsharp). The top right is softer than top left or vice versa.

For those who want a perfect lens, just add DxO Standard to your lens. It's magic. They let you download and try for free. Caveat - slower than molasses in January. Book a nice lunch at the Ritz when you let it loose. You don't have to watch.

**NaClH2O** · 05-01-2009, 11:12 AM

Thanks everybody. It is what I figured. I could have wished that the decentering issues had continued, now Ive got another lens to obsess over.

NaCl( they are right! there is NO cure for LBA!)H2O

**Sailor** · 05-01-2009, 02:36 PM

Originally posted by NaClH2O

Thanks everybody. It is what I figured. I could have wished that the decentering issues had continued, now Ive got another lens to obsess over.

NaCl( they are right! there is NO cure for LBA!)H2O

Hey, old buddy, I vote you buy one - ya only live once.

Jer

HermanLee · 05-01-2009, 03:19 PM

Originally posted by Canada_Rockies

The decenter claims are based on corners that are not equally sharp (or unsharp). The top right is softer than top left or vice versa.

For those who want a perfect lens, just add DxO Standard to your lens. It's magic. They let you download and try for free. Caveat - slower than molasses in January. Book a nice lunch at the Ritz when you let it loose. You don't have to watch.

Albert,
so what does this DxO do to DA*16-50 exactly?
Not that I don't want to try it myself, but I just hate installing too many softwares in my computer. Especially when I don't find it useful later on.

EricT · 05-01-2009, 04:12 PM

Originally posted by HermanLee

Albert,
so what does this DxO do to DA*16-50 exactly?
Not that I don't want to try it myself, but I just hate installing too many softwares in my computer. Especially when I don't find it useful later on.

DxO is a company specializing in measuring camera sensors and lenses, i.e. dynamic range, sharpness, chromatic abberation, distortion etc.
This means that they have accumulated a lot of knowledge about different lenses, and they apply this knowledge in DxO Optics. By analyzing the EXIF data of your image, the software applies fixes that are customized for lens, aperture, focal length, distance to subject and probably a bunch of other things. I find it particularly useful for distortion, vignetting and abberations.

**Canada_Rockies** · 05-01-2009, 04:21 PM

Originally posted by HermanLee

Albert,
so what does this DxO do to DA*16-50 exactly?
Not that I don't want to try it myself, but I just hate installing too many softwares in my computer. Especially when I don't find it useful later on.

See Eric's reply above. It also takes care of vignetting and the exposure fall off toward the edges and corners. Basically, it analyzes the image and its EXIF data and applies the measurements learned over testing the exact combination of lens and body. It can even correct the "mustache" distortion that lens designers use to get as close to a straight line at the edges as they can. As I said, it's magic. And slow.

cpopham · 05-01-2009, 06:10 PM

Originally posted by Canada_Rockies

The decenter claims are based on corners that are not equally sharp (or unsharp). The top right is softer than top left or vice versa.

Yes I know - what I was attempting to say, rather unclearly is that I can't help but suspect that a fair few of the dissatisfied people actually had fine 16-50s, but thought the normal corner softness that it exhibits wide open was a defect, and thus returned them.

arpaagent · 05-01-2009, 06:20 PM

I just purchased a new one from B&H. received it today. Looks good to me so far, but I have only taken a handful of shots with it. The SDM seems slower than I expected, especially in dimly lit areas (not sure why that would matter vs. screw drive). Although I think that the K200D doesn't have as much juice to send to the SDM motor as the K20D...but I might be mistaken on that.

**Rondec** · 05-01-2009, 06:25 PM

I got a new one in March from Prodigital2000. Seems to be an excellent lens. Very soft on the corners at 16-18 mm and f2.8, but definitely no decentering and very sharp otherwise. To me, the lens seems to auto focus fairly quickly, but I am comparing it to the 50-135 and the DA 35, neither of which are speed demons.

**Canada_Rockies** · 05-01-2009, 09:35 PM

Originally posted by cpopham

Yes I know - what I was attempting to say, rather unclearly is that I can't help but suspect that a fair few of the dissatisfied people actually had fine 16-50s, but thought the normal corner softness that it exhibits wide open was a defect, and thus returned them.

I am sure that many of the lenses that were returned were fine. Many do not realize just how difficult it is to make a 16mm lens, let alone a zoom, and particularly a zoom with f/2.8 aperture.

Originally posted by arpaagent

I just purchased a new one from B&H. received it today. Looks good to me so far, but I have only taken a handful of shots with it. The SDM seems slower than I expected, especially in dimly lit areas (not sure why that would matter vs. screw drive). Although I think that the K200D doesn't have as much juice to send to the SDM motor as the K20D...but I might be mistaken on that.

The shorter the focal length, the harder it is for the lens to focus. There is not as much difference as it moves. I have the same trouble manually focusing wide lenses.

Originally posted by Rondec

I got a new one in March from Prodigital2000. Seems to be an excellent lens. Very soft on the corners at 16-18 mm and f2.8, but definitely no decentering and very sharp otherwise. To me, the lens seems to auto focus fairly quickly, but I am comparing it to the 50-135 and the DA 35, neither of which are speed demons.

These are my results as well. Outside in daylight, it seems quite snappy to me. In my music room with tungsten lighting ....

04-29-2009, 09:54 AM	#1
NaClH2O Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bronx NY Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,631	New 16-50mm? The problems of the earlier DA 16-50mm F2.8 are well documented, just check out the sticky post at the beginning of this forum. I was wondering if anyone has bought a new-from-the-factory new one lately. Does the lens still have problems? Or is every copy now good? NaCl(it's spring...of course I have LBA!)H2O

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04-29-2009, 11:34 AM	#2
nulla Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Melbourne Australia Posts: 1,560	https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-slr-lens-discussion/57873-lens-ine...eddings-2.html you will find a happy shopper here who has had a taste of both worlds Neil

04-30-2009, 06:01 PM	#3
EricT Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 484	I seems like the decentering issues are gone. Most complaints these days are about front focus/back focus or softness wide open at the wider focal lengths. I'm very happy with mine, although I had to use the debug mode on my K10D to adjust the focus.

04-30-2009, 07:55 PM	#4
wtlwdwgn Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Billings, MT Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,838	Some of my best images have been with the 16-50. There is a tad of distortion at 16mm which is easily corrected in PP. It has a big front element so it is also a bit hefty to carry around.

04-30-2009, 09:28 PM	#5
cpopham Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Auckland Posts: 553	I bought one late last year, it's fine (and also fantastic). If it's your first DA*, avoid it like the plague, it will just make you want more of them! Myself, I can't help but wonder if a lot of the supposed decentering issues reported were actually just people who don't know what soft corners look like. (I'm referring to the corner softness wide open, which I actually find can be useful in helping to isolate a subject, or give a slight 3d look to an image)

04-30-2009, 09:34 PM	#6
Canada_Rockies Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Sparwood, BC, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,385	Originally posted by cpopham I bought one late last year, it's fine (and also fantastic). If it's your first DA*, avoid it like the plague, it will just make you want more of them! Myself, I can't help but wonder if a lot of the supposed decentering issues reported were actually just people who don't know what soft corners look like. (I'm referring to the corner softness wide open, which I actually find can be useful in helping to isolate a subject, or give a slight 3d look to an image) The decenter claims are based on corners that are not equally sharp (or unsharp). The top right is softer than top left or vice versa. For those who want a perfect lens, just add DxO Standard to your lens. It's magic. They let you download and try for free. Caveat - slower than molasses in January. Book a nice lunch at the Ritz when you let it loose. You don't have to watch.

05-01-2009, 11:12 AM	#7
NaClH2O Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bronx NY Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,631 Original Poster	Thanks everybody. It is what I figured. I could have wished that the decentering issues had continued, now Ive got another lens to obsess over. NaCl( they are right! there is NO cure for LBA!)H2O

05-01-2009, 02:36 PM	#8
Sailor Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Coastal Texas Photos: Gallery Posts: 26,205	Originally posted by NaClH2O Thanks everybody. It is what I figured. I could have wished that the decentering issues had continued, now Ive got another lens to obsess over. NaCl( they are right! there is NO cure for LBA!)H2O Hey, old buddy, I vote you buy one - ya only live once. Jer

05-01-2009, 03:19 PM	#9
HermanLee Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Southern California, USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 729	Originally posted by Canada_Rockies The decenter claims are based on corners that are not equally sharp (or unsharp). The top right is softer than top left or vice versa. For those who want a perfect lens, just add DxO Standard to your lens. It's magic. They let you download and try for free. Caveat - slower than molasses in January. Book a nice lunch at the Ritz when you let it loose. You don't have to watch. Albert, so what does this DxO do to DA*16-50 exactly? Not that I don't want to try it myself, but I just hate installing too many softwares in my computer. Especially when I don't find it useful later on.

05-01-2009, 04:12 PM	#10
EricT Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 484	Originally posted by HermanLee Albert, so what does this DxO do to DA*16-50 exactly? Not that I don't want to try it myself, but I just hate installing too many softwares in my computer. Especially when I don't find it useful later on. DxO is a company specializing in measuring camera sensors and lenses, i.e. dynamic range, sharpness, chromatic abberation, distortion etc. This means that they have accumulated a lot of knowledge about different lenses, and they apply this knowledge in DxO Optics. By analyzing the EXIF data of your image, the software applies fixes that are customized for lens, aperture, focal length, distance to subject and probably a bunch of other things. I find it particularly useful for distortion, vignetting and abberations.

05-01-2009, 04:21 PM	#11
Canada_Rockies Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Sparwood, BC, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,385	Originally posted by HermanLee Albert, so what does this DxO do to DA*16-50 exactly? Not that I don't want to try it myself, but I just hate installing too many softwares in my computer. Especially when I don't find it useful later on. See Eric's reply above. It also takes care of vignetting and the exposure fall off toward the edges and corners. Basically, it analyzes the image and its EXIF data and applies the measurements learned over testing the exact combination of lens and body. It can even correct the "mustache" distortion that lens designers use to get as close to a straight line at the edges as they can. As I said, it's magic. And slow.

05-01-2009, 06:10 PM	#12
cpopham Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Auckland Posts: 553	Originally posted by Canada_Rockies The decenter claims are based on corners that are not equally sharp (or unsharp). The top right is softer than top left or vice versa. Yes I know - what I was attempting to say, rather unclearly is that I can't help but suspect that a fair few of the dissatisfied people actually had fine 16-50s, but thought the normal corner softness that it exhibits wide open was a defect, and thus returned them.

05-01-2009, 06:20 PM	#13
arpaagent Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Raleigh, NC Photos: Gallery Posts: 803	I just purchased a new one from B&H. received it today. Looks good to me so far, but I have only taken a handful of shots with it. The SDM seems slower than I expected, especially in dimly lit areas (not sure why that would matter vs. screw drive). Although I think that the K200D doesn't have as much juice to send to the SDM motor as the K20D...but I might be mistaken on that.

05-01-2009, 06:25 PM	#14
Rondec Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Gladys, Virginia Photos: Gallery Posts: 27,652	I got a new one in March from Prodigital2000. Seems to be an excellent lens. Very soft on the corners at 16-18 mm and f2.8, but definitely no decentering and very sharp otherwise. To me, the lens seems to auto focus fairly quickly, but I am comparing it to the 50-135 and the DA 35, neither of which are speed demons.

05-01-2009, 09:35 PM	#15
Canada_Rockies Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Sparwood, BC, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,385	Originally posted by cpopham Yes I know - what I was attempting to say, rather unclearly is that I can't help but suspect that a fair few of the dissatisfied people actually had fine 16-50s, but thought the normal corner softness that it exhibits wide open was a defect, and thus returned them. I am sure that many of the lenses that were returned were fine. Many do not realize just how difficult it is to make a 16mm lens, let alone a zoom, and particularly a zoom with f/2.8 aperture. Originally posted by arpaagent I just purchased a new one from B&H. received it today. Looks good to me so far, but I have only taken a handful of shots with it. The SDM seems slower than I expected, especially in dimly lit areas (not sure why that would matter vs. screw drive). Although I think that the K200D doesn't have as much juice to send to the SDM motor as the K20D...but I might be mistaken on that. The shorter the focal length, the harder it is for the lens to focus. There is not as much difference as it moves. I have the same trouble manually focusing wide lenses. Originally posted by Rondec I got a new one in March from Prodigital2000. Seems to be an excellent lens. Very soft on the corners at 16-18 mm and f2.8, but definitely no decentering and very sharp otherwise. To me, the lens seems to auto focus fairly quickly, but I am comparing it to the 50-135 and the DA 35, neither of which are speed demons. These are my results as well. Outside in daylight, it seems quite snappy to me. In my music room with tungsten lighting ....