Originally posted by RGlasel Ricoh can price this lens at whatever price they want, but if they want to sell any, it has to be less than what the 18-135 is selling for today. We have a comment from a Ricoh executive that the 16-85 is being marketed as better than the kit lens, which is the 18-55 WR screw drive lens which sells for $200.
I believe the statement by the Ricoh executive was about "kit lenses", not "kit lens". The 18-135mm is the kit lens for the K-3. I believe a stripped down L version is (will be?) the new kit lens for the K-50. I expect the 16-85 will cost more than, and outperform, the 18-135mm.
If the 16-85 was an f4, I would definitely have bought one, but at 3.5-5.6, I'm not feeling much pull. Especially since I own the 16-45 and 18-135, and a Sony a6000. There's a Sony Zeiss 16-70 f4 that is really appealing in every way but price ($999). If it goes on sale for Black Friday, I will buy one, which means it's highly unlikely I will be further tempted by the 16-85.
DA 17-70mm f/4
485 g (1.07 lb)
75 mm (2.95″)
94 mm (3.68″)
Filter thread, 67mm
DA 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6
405 g (0.89 lb)
73 mm (2.87″)
76 mm (2.99″)
Filter thread, 62mm
SZ 16-70mm f/4
308 g (0.68 lb)
67 mm (2.62″)
Filter thread, 55mm
75 mm (2.95″)
Surely Pentax could have made a16-85 f/4, slightly larger than this Zeiss?