[Lazar]

A guy from a frenchforum (megapixel.net) received his DA* 16-50mm f2.8 today (ordered in a "Phox" store).

Picture of the lens:



Pictures taken with the lens:
ImageShack - Hosting :: imgp4656uc7.jpg
ImageShack - Hosting :: imgp4661ke3.jpg
ImageShack - Hosting :: imgp4660kl2.jpg


More info here: Megapixel.net

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Last edited by Lazar; 07-26-2007 at 11:10 AM.

[Vil]

Its alive!

Thanks for the heads-up.

[and]

patiently waiting for users to get this and the 50-135 to see the iq compared to primes. will it be so good that there is no point in buying primes? interesting to see. its cheaper to buy the 50-135 than to buy 50, 70, 100 and 135mm primes.

[anomaly]

The 50-135mm HAS to be in someones hands somewhere, it was supposed to come out before this.

[AVANT]

patiently waiting for users to get this and the 50-135 to see the iq compared to primes. will it be so good that there is no point in buying primes? interesting to see. its cheaper to buy the 50-135 than to buy 50, 70, 100 and 135mm primes.

Bit optimistic there I think. I seriously doubt that a DA* will be able to replace good primes and still have equal or better IQ.

[mattdm]

Megapixel.net is French? I always thought they were Canadian.

[*isteve]

Bit optimistic there I think. I seriously doubt that a DA* will be able to replace good primes and still have equal or better IQ.

Actually there are several good zooms these days which are as good as primes for at least some of their focal length range. The Canon 70-200 F4 is an example. Computer design has made high quality zoom optics a possibility.

Primes can have a small speed advantage, sometimes better bokeh because they require less correction and better contrast/less flare because they have fewer elements, but in a lot of cases you would never notice in an actual print especially at F4 or smaller apertures.

Look at the MTF figures for the Tokina 50-135 on Photozone - it is unlikely you will find a sharper prime.

As much as I love the Ltds for their colour and bokeh, a lot of my work is done with zooms and its pretty close.

[Artymous]

If that first sample is any indication, the edge sharpness is practically non-existant.

I'd have to see a few more samples of course, but so far, no in the least bit impressed.

[tcom]

Primes can have a small speed advantage, sometimes better bokeh because they require less correction and better contrast/less flare because they have fewer elements, but in a lot of cases you would never notice in an actual print especially at F4 or smaller apertures.

Primes have another advantage over a zoom. They force me to move around the subject to find the best point of view and framing, while when using a zoom, I unfortunately just turn the zoom from where I am until I have the subject correctly in the frame.

IQ between primes and modern high quality zooms are similar, using primes gives at least for me more interesting photos.

[Jonson PL]

Looks nice

[Edvinas]

If that first sample is any indication, the edge sharpness is practically non-existant.

I'd have to see a few more samples of course, but so far, no in the least bit impressed.

Well, I may sound a bit harsh, but none lense and none camera will impress in hands of such photographer as this guy....

Regarding first sample... Well, picture is in very strange aspect ratio and looking at it I can't really understand where it is focussed to.

Let's wait for quality sample photos, not "P&S from my balcony" type photographs.

[Bart]

Isn't this a bit strange?
Release date for the 16-50 was supposed to be August 11th 2007 - in Japan.
Worldwilde around August 15th.
That would be quite something if the deliveries started before the announced dates now. A first, I presume?

[Lazar]

Megapixel.net is French? I always thought they were Canadian.

I don't know (and it's not important), but the guy is french and bought his DA* 16-50mm in France in a Phox store.
Another user from megapixel also saw a DA* 16-50mm in a different Phox store (also in France).

[Ishpuini]

Primes have another advantage over a zoom. They force me to move around the subject to find the best point of view and framing, while when using a zoom, I unfortunately just turn the zoom from where I am until I have the subject correctly in the frame.

IQ between primes and modern high quality zooms are similar, using primes gives at least for me more interesting photos.

Exactly Dominique!! That is the reason why I will always prefer primes. They make me work to get my images and thus drive me to higher levels. Zooms are too easy and make us too lazy. But sometimes they are the only option...

Wim

[Ishpuini]

Perhaps Pentax was playing safe with the announcement?

What's the reputation of these Phox stores? Could it be they're selling/showing pre-production sample copies? Remember we had members here tell us about there experiences with pre-prod samples too, perhaps this guy got one too, and not actually bought one?

However... somewhere down in the thread the OP writes:

Oui, c'est un fake ! Tu as deviné. J'ai corrigé des photos de mon 16-45 Laughing : pour cacher la supercherie, j'ai redimensionné comme ça, personne ne voit les détails du fichier !

Which roughly translates to:
Yes, it's a fake! You guessed right. I adapted photos from my 16-45. Laughing: to conceal the trickery, I resized it as such, so that nobody would see the details of the file!

It looks like a hoax?

Wim