Originally posted by Mistral75 Same as @Kunzite: because of focus by wire, which is made necessary by the pulse linear motor.
Theoretically it could have an LCD screen on the barrel, right?
---------- Post added 05-18-20 at 02:39 AM ----------
Originally posted by MegaPower I used to love the original DA*16-50 a lot.
This new one looks ugly but very similar to a tamron outlook.
Eh, personal preference I guess? I was never a fan of the "ribbed" rubber rings of the older DA lenses, the new one looks closer to the old K/M/A lenses so it's a win in my book. The new (well, since the 18-135/16-85 more or less?) designs are also more understated and sober which I like; the names in gold around the distance window looked a bit tacky IMO.
EDIT: I'm, curiously, not a huge fan of Tamron's new barrel aesthetics. They are very sleek and "modern" looking, but somehow the Pentax lenses look more rugged, they give off the impression of being serious workhorses.