[kales]

Now I am convinced that FF is no the only way for Pentax to go, since K-5 is APS and WR and has bette ISO and AF, isn't it a good time to improve the 16-50/2.8 that matches K-5?

A new 16-50/2.8 should have:
More powerful and reliable SDM, ring type
WR
eliminate screw drive

That would be tempting to me
actually I don't care about size, if I want real compact, I will choose sony TX series pocket camera

or we could say what we say when mentioned DA35/2.4 prime as a excuse

you don't need fast lens given good ISO performance blablablabla
kit lens is fast enough for most of the shoots blablablabla
you gonna to stop F2.8 down to F4 considering the IQ blablablabla

[bodhi]

yes, I would like to see an updated version of this lens too. Will wait till Photokina and see if Pentax will improve the SDM, if not will buy a Tamron 17-50/2,8 which price is nearly 1/3 of the DA* 16-50 price, but with no WR and SDM.

[kevinschoenmakers]

A new 16-50/2.8 should have:
More powerful and reliable SDM, ring type
WR
eliminate screw drive

1. There are reasons to believe this has already happened, quietly.
2. The current DA*16-50 has WR
3. The current DA*16-50 isn't compatible with screwdrive

A new 16-50/2.8 should have:
...
WR

kales, are you aware that the DA* lenses have weather shielding and that's allegedly perhaps even better than the one cheaper WR lenses have?

More powerful and reliable SDM, ring type

1. There are reasons to believe this has already happened, quietly.

Kevin, I know some very vague rumors suggest this and that some members believe it has happened, but is there really any reliable evidence? Until there is, I won't buy one single SDM lens.

[kevinschoenmakers]

Kevin, I know some very vague rumors suggest this and that some members believe it has happened, but is there really any reliable evidence? Until there is, I won't buy one single SDM lens.

I recall reading a thread about someone turning his DA16-50 in for repairs, and that it came back with a different SDM motor of some kind. Also, it has been quite quiet recently about failures (although admittedly, I don't keep track).

[tomtor]

I recall reading a thread about someone turning his DA16-50 in for repairs, and that it came back with a different SDM motor of some kind. Also, it has been quite quiet recently about failures (although admittedly, I don't keep track).

The problem is not reliability for me.
My 50-135 SDM focus is slow. Not a major issue for me but if pentax improves continuous af speed one would need lenses to match.

[kales]

kales, are you aware that the DA* lenses have weather shielding and that's allegedly perhaps even better than the one cheaper WR lenses have?

Yeah, but I am not sure whether it's up to K-7/K-5 WR standard.

the DA*16-50's WR is for K10d I think, and K10d seems have a lower WR standard than K-7

[fearview]

1. There are reasons to believe this has already happened, quietly.
2. The current DA*16-50 has WR
3. The current DA*16-50 isn't compatible with screwdrive

Kevin.. i dont know about information number 3. i always thought the only non screwdrive lens is DA 17-70?

please enlight me..

[kales]

1. There are reasons to believe this has already happened, quietly.
2. The current DA*16-50 has WR
3. The current DA*16-50 isn't compatible with screwdrive

Kevin,
Thank you for posting what you know.
for point 1, maybe pentax is doing some modifications quitely, but what I refer to is some structural change. I once saw a Sigma AF70-200HSM focus video, which impressed me alot. you could feel there's different speed configurations in the Sigma HSM motor, which is a ring type. What I know is DA*16-50's SDM is not ring type, and my assumption is that it still have gears to transfer the torque of the motor. Please correct me if I made mistakes on this.

point 2, as I said, pentax isn't priting WR on the lens, which make me concern it's lower grade than K-5/K-7 body. If so, it will be wasting to mount it to a better WRed body.

point 3, haven't heard it. could anyone confirm

[thibs]

As for 3/ I think we should have known already (I mean it would have made some noise).

[kevinschoenmakers]

Kevin.. i dont know about information number 3. i always thought the only non screwdrive lens is DA 17-70?

please enlight me..

Now that you mention it, I think you're right indeed.

[kevinschoenmakers]

point 2, as I said, pentax isn't priting WR on the lens, which make me concern it's lower grade than K-5/K-7 body. If so, it will be wasting to mount it to a better WRed body.

point 3, haven't heard it. could anyone confirm

They don't put WR on the lens because the DA* line is WR by default.

As for point 3, I was wrong, actually.

[ogl]

DA*16-50/2.8 is NOT SDM only. But dual SDM and screw drive lenses can't work properly if SDM failed. No ability to choose the focus mechanism.
Dual focus lenses can work with cameras without SDM support.

DA17-70 and DA*55 are SDM only. They have no AF at cameras without SDM support.

[kales]

I am not comparing DA*16-50 with higher priced Canikon 17-55/2.8, but Canon mentioned on its spec says they used ring-type USM on their 17-55, nikon didn't mention it.

I will choose DA*16-50 tobe pure screw drive and lower price, or with a powerful top-grade ring-type SDM motor. Not like the current version, with poor SDM increased the complexity and cost.