DA* 16-50 Purchase

fewing1 · 01-22-2013, 01:26 PM

Hi there, I am looking for some advice, I have read thorugh the reviews of the DA* 16-50 lens and am somewhat concernced about purchasing this lens. I am wondering if anyone has used this lens for night photography and how they have made out with it. Thanks

panoguy · 01-22-2013, 02:09 PM

What is concerning you? The SDM motor? The optical quality for low-light?

fewing1 · 01-22-2013, 02:16 PM

The SDM motor some, I figure if I bought extened warranty for 3yrs I should be good to go. but ya the quality in low light, more specifically taking star pictures at 16mm.

**jatrax** · 01-22-2013, 02:29 PM

Not sure how to answer this, low light I think has more to do with the camera / sensor than the lens. It is an f/2.8 so that is about as good as you are going to get in a zoom. At 16mm it does have some distortion, which is easily corrected in Lightroom using the lens profile. I think anything at 16mm is going have some distortion on the edges.

In general it is a good lens, though heavy. It has a lot of detractors, especially those that had SDM troubles and are understandably upset with it. For image quality it is good, maybe not great. Sigma and Tamron both have 17-50 f/2.8 lenses that are similar. Pentax has stated that lenses made in 2012 or later have an updated SDM mechanism, and so far I have not seen any complaints on something proven to be made after that date.

Here is a comparison review: DA* 16-50mm vs. Sigma and Tamron 17-50mm F2.8 Comparison - Introduction - PentaxForums.com

bigdog104 · 01-22-2013, 02:50 PM

Originally posted by jatrax

Here is a comparison review: DA* 16-50mm vs. Sigma and Tamron 17-50mm F2.8 Comparison - Introduction - PentaxForums.com

Good stuff, wish I had seen this when I was looking into buying a lens in this range. I ended up getting the Tamron and have been happy with it. Someone might want to look at updating the prices in the article though, the DA* has really jumped in price.

fewing1 · 01-22-2013, 02:51 PM

thanks for the information, I decided to take the plunge and have purchased it, I got it for half the price that B&H is listing it new for, Ironically Henrys in canada has it listed for $1100 instead of $1495. Hopefully I have made the right decsion

. How do I tell when the lens was made?

**EricBrown** · 01-22-2013, 03:21 PM

I just picked a used copy on the Pentax Forum site and have been using it for a month. I am very happy with this lens. I went to Luray Caverans, in very low lit conditions. It worked really well and fast. It did hunt a few times, but that is normal for any lens in that environment. I took this lens because of the good wide angle and weather sealing since it was very wet and water dripping. Also, no SDM problems and pleased with the sharpness.

Enjoy the lens!!

fewing1 · 01-22-2013, 03:48 PM

Looking forward to it..hoping mother nature will soon cooperate and the northern lights get active again

LFLee · 01-22-2013, 04:09 PM - **1 Like**

I know many people complaint about this lens, reg 'soft' on the 50mm end. I am pretty happy about it at 16mm lens f2.8, as it allows me (along with K5) to take starry night pics.
Here are few (hopefully they help convince your purchase...)

stormtech · 01-22-2013, 04:20 PM

Originally posted by fewing1

Hi there, I am looking for some advice, I have read thorugh the reviews of the DA* 16-50 lens and am somewhat concernced about purchasing this lens. I am wondering if anyone has used this lens for night photography and how they have made out with it. Thanks

"16-50" - Search Results - PentaxForums.com

frank · 01-22-2013, 06:50 PM

Since it's pretty easy to de-SDM it, I don't see it's a big deal even the SDM stops working. Just go for it.

I've used them all (Sigma 17-50, 17-70, Tamron 17-50, Pentax 16-50, 17-70), and to me the DA*16-50 is the best (built quality and IQ).

fewing1 · 01-23-2013, 11:14 AM

Very nice pictures LFLee, I cant wait until I get mine and can get out with it

snofox · 01-23-2013, 06:14 PM

Originally posted by frank

Since it's pretty easy to de-SDM it, I don't see it's a big deal even the SDM stops working. Just go for it.

If you de-SDM it, you end up with a very expensive manual focus zoom, don't you?

LeDave · 01-23-2013, 06:31 PM

Originally posted by snofox

If you de-SDM it, you end up with a very expensive manual focus zoom, don't you?

What he meant is altering the 16-50 to not use SDM but rather screw-drive. So technically yes de-SDM, but enabling screw-drive. So it does not mean it won't autofocus.

01-22-2013, 01:26 PM	#1
fewing1 Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Alberta Photos: Albums Posts: 37	*DA 16-50 Purchase** Hi there, I am looking for some advice, I have read thorugh the reviews of the DA* 16-50 lens and am somewhat concernced about purchasing this lens. I am wondering if anyone has used this lens for night photography and how they have made out with it. Thanks

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01-22-2013, 02:09 PM	#2
panoguy Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Washington, D.C. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,327	What is concerning you? The SDM motor? The optical quality for low-light?

01-22-2013, 02:16 PM	#3
fewing1 Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Alberta Photos: Albums Posts: 37 Original Poster	The SDM motor some, I figure if I bought extened warranty for 3yrs I should be good to go. but ya the quality in low light, more specifically taking star pictures at 16mm.

01-22-2013, 02:29 PM	#4
jatrax Site Supporter Join Date: May 2010 Location: Washington Cascades Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,991	Not sure how to answer this, low light I think has more to do with the camera / sensor than the lens. It is an f/2.8 so that is about as good as you are going to get in a zoom. At 16mm it does have some distortion, which is easily corrected in Lightroom using the lens profile. I think anything at 16mm is going have some distortion on the edges. In general it is a good lens, though heavy. It has a lot of detractors, especially those that had SDM troubles and are understandably upset with it. For image quality it is good, maybe not great. Sigma and Tamron both have 17-50 f/2.8 lenses that are similar. Pentax has stated that lenses made in 2012 or later have an updated SDM mechanism, and so far I have not seen any complaints on something proven to be made after that date. Here is a comparison review: DA* 16-50mm vs. Sigma and Tamron 17-50mm F2.8 Comparison - Introduction - PentaxForums.com

01-22-2013, 02:50 PM	#5
bigdog104 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: South Carolina Photos: Gallery Posts: 289	Originally posted by jatrax Here is a comparison review: DA* 16-50mm vs. Sigma and Tamron 17-50mm F2.8 Comparison - Introduction - PentaxForums.com Good stuff, wish I had seen this when I was looking into buying a lens in this range. I ended up getting the Tamron and have been happy with it. Someone might want to look at updating the prices in the article though, the DA* has really jumped in price.

01-22-2013, 02:51 PM	#6
fewing1 Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Alberta Photos: Albums Posts: 37 Original Poster	thanks for the information, I decided to take the plunge and have purchased it, I got it for half the price that B&H is listing it new for, Ironically Henrys in canada has it listed for $1100 instead of $1495. Hopefully I have made the right decsion . How do I tell when the lens was made?

01-22-2013, 03:21 PM	#7
EricBrown Site Supporter Join Date: May 2011 Location: Arlington, VA USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,060	I just picked a used copy on the Pentax Forum site and have been using it for a month. I am very happy with this lens. I went to Luray Caverans, in very low lit conditions. It worked really well and fast. It did hunt a few times, but that is normal for any lens in that environment. I took this lens because of the good wide angle and weather sealing since it was very wet and water dripping. Also, no SDM problems and pleased with the sharpness. Enjoy the lens!!

01-22-2013, 03:48 PM	#8
fewing1 Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Alberta Photos: Albums Posts: 37 Original Poster	Looking forward to it..hoping mother nature will soon cooperate and the northern lights get active again

01-22-2013, 04:09 PM - 1 Like	#9
LFLee Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Southern California Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,292	I know many people complaint about this lens, reg 'soft' on the 50mm end. I am pretty happy about it at 16mm lens f2.8, as it allows me (along with K5) to take starry night pics. Here are few (hopefully they help convince your purchase...)

01-22-2013, 04:20 PM	#10
stormtech Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: In the boonies (NW Penna) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,744	Originally posted by fewing1 Hi there, I am looking for some advice, I have read thorugh the reviews of the DA* 16-50 lens and am somewhat concernced about purchasing this lens. I am wondering if anyone has used this lens for night photography and how they have made out with it. Thanks "16-50" - Search Results - PentaxForums.com

01-22-2013, 06:50 PM	#11
frank Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Singapore Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,202	Since it's pretty easy to de-SDM it, I don't see it's a big deal even the SDM stops working. Just go for it. I've used them all (Sigma 17-50, 17-70, Tamron 17-50, Pentax 16-50, 17-70), and to me the DA*16-50 is the best (built quality and IQ).

01-23-2013, 11:14 AM	#12
fewing1 Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Alberta Photos: Albums Posts: 37 Original Poster	Very nice pictures LFLee, I cant wait until I get mine and can get out with it

01-23-2013, 06:14 PM	#13
snofox Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Fredericton New Brunswick Canada Photos: Albums Posts: 334	Originally posted by frank Since it's pretty easy to de-SDM it, I don't see it's a big deal even the SDM stops working. Just go for it. If you de-SDM it, you end up with a very expensive manual focus zoom, don't you?

01-23-2013, 06:31 PM	#14
LeDave Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Minneapolis - St. Paul Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,067	Originally posted by snofox If you de-SDM it, you end up with a very expensive manual focus zoom, don't you? What he meant is altering the 16-50 to not use SDM but rather screw-drive. So technically yes de-SDM, but enabling screw-drive. So it does not mean it won't autofocus.

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