| Author: | | Loyal Site Supporter Registered: November, 2010 Location: San Rafael, CA Posts: 806
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: December 16, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $900.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Sharpness, Bokeh, Construction, Value | | Cons: | None (a bit pricey but you get what you pay for) | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 6
Bokeh: 9
Autofocus: 5
Handling: 9
Value: 7
New or Used: New
Camera Used: K20d, K-01, K5, K5IIs
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After seven years of ownership, I'm revisiting my review.
This lens has been my daily driver for most of the last seven years. I bought it with my K20d, I've used it on my K5, my K-01 and my K5IIs. Throughout the years, I've had a long standing love/hate relationship with this lens. My love is I still think this is a very good lens, and it's very sharp, great bokeh, easy to use. My hate is that there is a lot of CA (I mean a lot more that I would have expected for a lens of this quality), and the SDM motor has failed, twice! (Really Pentax! Can't you make an SDM that will hold up? I refuse to purchase another SDM lens just because of that issue). So I use it as a manual focus lens only. Which, is fine because I shoot mostly landscape and architecture with this lens. And I always use a tripod. So I don't mind taking the extra time to get the focus correct.
I also have found that I shoot about 95% at 16mm with this lens, which has me thinking about switching to the HD Pentax-DA 15mm F4 ED AL Limited as my daily driver.
So the revisited bottom line is that I still really like this lens, and I still recommend it  , even with the SDM failures (I got over them). And I can deal with the CA in Photoshop (though I'd rather not have too). The image quality for this lens is very good, even before post processing. And I'm very familiar with this lens. And even if I switch to another daily driver, I don't think I'll ever let this one go.
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The name of this lens is quite a mouth full but fully warranted because this lens just about does it all - and does it fantastically.
I’m not going to go into the specifications on this lens, that information is already available. I’m going to discuss my personal experience with this lens and why I feel it is the lens to have.
I have owned and used this lens for more that 18 months. When I bought my K20d way back in 20 aught 8, I punted on the kit lens option and decided to buy a lens worthy of the camera. I did a lot of research and decided on this lens, the Pentax SMC DA* Series 16-50mm f/2.8 ED AL (IF) SDM Wide Angle Zoom Lens.
First things first - this lens is not for amateurs (the point and shoot crowd who are now upgrading to DSLRs and using the Auto feature only), it is made for photographers, professionals, people who really know how to use their cameras and take advantage of its subtle nuances.
When I first got this lens I went out and shot some landscape photos, they were nice but not as great as the hype – at least in my opinion. I loved the range of the 16-50mm zoom, I loved the lens’s ability to capture light but I was not happy with the overall quality of images, I was expecting more, especially since it is not a cheap, lens, much more on the pricier side.
And more is what I got. As soon as I started pushing myself, really learning my camera (and not being lazy by relying on all the auto features), this lens started producing results that were beyond my expectations. The images are amazingly sharp, the bokeh is excellent, the focusing speed is good, not the fastest or the slowest but I have not found any difficulty with it. This lens has become my “daily driver” and I rarely go to my other lenses these days unless I’m doing something specific like macro or fisheye photography. I really enjoy the size of this lens, it is pretty large but very easy to handle. I’m a big guy and I like a larger lens to hold. Definitely does not feel like a toy lens.
I really have no negatives to say about this lens. I have read them from other reviews (to heavy, to big, slow focus,) but I do not or have not found any of those items to be an issue. When you buy a lens (any lens), you have to learn how to use it, and the camera too – RTFM dudes!
Based on my personal experience, I highly recommend this lens to anyone who is serious about photography.
| | | | | | | New Member Registered: March, 2009 Location: Dominican Republic Posts: 2 | | Review Date: December 3, 2010 | Not Recommended | Price: $630.14
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | excellent image quality | | Cons: | SDM motor broke | |
Excellent lens while it worked, I bought mine February 26, 2009. Unfortunately it fell victim to the SDM curse, so now I'm looking for a place to get it fixed  | | | | | Loyal Site Supporter Registered: March, 2008 Location: N. Calif Posts: 3,652 | | Review Date: November 4, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $775.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Sharpness, SDM | | Cons: | None so far | |
I was lucky to find a great copy. Replaced my Sigma 17-70mm HSM a few months ago. The IQ is a lot better - comparable to its bigger sibling and my other favorite - the DA* 50-135mm f/2.8. It seems pricy but the advantages are SDM (I have had no issues with my SDM lenses), optics and weather resistant build.
The 16mm end gets the width you need. A few users have complained about the size of this lens. Imagine carrying multiple lenses instead - a 16mm f/2.8, 28mm f/2.8, 35mm f/2.8, 50mm f/2.8 and a 70mm f/2.8. Granted that prime lenses are supposed to be better - but with IQ of this lens you have nothing to complain about. Its a no-brainer and I am kicking myself for not getting this sooner.
| | | | | Senior Member Registered: October, 2009 Location: Thunder Bay Posts: 184 | | Review Date: September 29, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $700.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | weathersealed (and tested). build, resolution | | Cons: | weight, price | |
This lens is fantastic. i love using it, in-fact i sold most of my pentax gear once I purchased this lens because it did what i had wanted all my other lenses to do. i am amazed at how nice this piece of glass preforms. no sdm issues, and the lens works even after it's been dunked in the lake (by accident) and then covered in mud... and then washed in the lake. I shot a whole day in a thunderstorm with the k20d and had no issues (with the camera or lens)
love it
if you are thinking of getting one and need this range... get it
| | | | | | | Veteran Member Registered: February, 2007 Location: Sterling, VA, USA Posts: 6,275 | | Review Date: September 14, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $800.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | sharp, constant aperture, weather sealing | | Cons: | nagging fear of SDM failure | |
The ONLY reason I took a chance on this lens was to get the weather sealing. I have a DA 16-45 which I absolutely love, but I was always worried about using it out in the weather. So far I like the lens. Its sharp and the AF is fast and precise (so far). Despite my nagging fears of potential SDM failure I decided to take a chance and would recommend this lens. Hopefully Pentax has worked out the SDM issues because this lens deserves a good rep.
| | | | | New Member Registered: October, 2009 Location: Perth Posts: 1 | | Review Date: September 2, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $900.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | sharp, excellent rendering, colour, clarity | | Cons: | autofocus often slightly off, barrel distortion at 16mm | |
I have been really happy with this zoom. Bought it to replace the DA 16-45 which I did not really like. The difference is like night and day. I find it to be sharp from 2.8 (I've heard its not great at the edges at this aperture but haven't noticed as I'm usually shooting portraits / close ups at 2.8 and these are great.) From f 5.6 it is extremely sharp. More importantly it just seems to take really pleasing photos, in focus areas have a real pop to them and the transition to out of focus is nice. I find it hard to precisely describe the characteristics of a lens that lead to this, its more than sharpness and smooth bokeh and seems to lie in between the the two in this vague characteristic people seem to refer to as rendering. Anyway this lens has it to an extent I've never seen in a zoom before. Build quality is fantastic.
Now for the minuses, focusing is not very reliable with my K10d which often prompts me to stop down to get a larger depth of field than I otherwise would like. (I acknowledge that this is probably mainly to do with the camera but it seems more of an issue with this lens than some others I've used) Also there is fairly significant barrel distortion at 16mm.
All in all I think this is an excellent underrated lens. I wasn't expecting it to be nearly as good as it is after reading reviews and opinions online.
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: April, 2008 Location: USA Posts: 1,901 | | Review Date: August 24, 2010 | Recommended
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Image quality, beautiful build, near silent AF | | Cons: | Heavy and big | |
I got this lens used off craigslist at quite bargain and sent it in to have it cleaned and adjusted and still came out well.
Anyway, my first thoughts were "Wow ". This is the first DA* lens I have owned so the constuction and silent SDM really impressed me. It is a little big ( 77mm filter ) and heavy ( 600g ) but I love the smooth finish and feel. I have never really had a situation that the IQ was a question either. It is sharp in the center at all apertures. NO, its not a prime but in combination with the colors and contrast this versitale zoom renders beautifully. I love the weather seal also living here in Seattle because I can get out in times I normallly wouldn't with another lens.
| | | | | Site Supporter Registered: April, 2010 Location: Calgary, AB Posts: 4,884 | | Review Date: August 15, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $800.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | image quality, colour rendition, sharpness | | Cons: | somewhat heavy, weakest at 16mm and f2.8 | |
There are plenty of reviews dissecting the pros and cons of this lens, I just wanted to share what it is like to use, ideally for landscapes, street scenes and indoor shots.
I have owned this lens for a year and used it almost exclusively for most of that time. I still have another year on warranty but have decided that if the motor gives out beyond that point I would fix it. It is that good. I am often looking for optimum depth of field so I use this lens between f8 and f13 much of the time and it delivers. I do find it is weakest at 16mm so I am looking for a prime at the wider end. I know this lens has had quality control issues and I was really anxious when I bought it (it was the only "kit lens priced" option in stock when I bought my 20D) but every time I put this lens back on my camera I am glad I took the chance.
| | | | | Site Supporter Registered: February, 2010 Location: Salt Lake City, UT Posts: 1,912 | | Review Date: August 12, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $651.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | great focal length, pairs well with the 50-135, fast glass, sharp | | Cons: | Possible sdm failure, not full frame | |
The only reason this lens isn't getting a 10 is that mine had an sdm failure. The repair under warranty round trip took less than a week, and was mostly painless.
What's not to love about this lens? It's almost as sharp at f4 as the DA 15mm Limited. It's weather sealed, it feels solid, and overall I've been very happy with it.
The color rendition, build quality, IQ, and bokeh are all on par with the other DA zooms.
If you buy this lens, (and it doesn't have an SDM failure), you'll be happy with the results. If somehow mine was destroyed, I'd buy it again tomorrow and hope for no SDM issues.
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: November, 2008 Location: Oregon, USA Posts: 681 | | Review Date: July 13, 2010 | Not Recommended | Price: $750.00
| Rating: 4 |
| Pros: | General quality, weather sealing, sharpness | | Cons: | Fringing, slow AF, weight (sorta), zooming issues, SDM FAILURE | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 6
Bokeh: 8
Autofocus: 4
Handling: 6
Value: 6
New or Used: New
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I bought this lens to replace my kit 18-55 and I am glad I did. However, the focus speed when coupled to my k200d isn't as fast as I had hoped for when I shelled out $750 US.
The focus is near silent which is nice.
I was really disappointed to see blue fringing in show up rather glaringly in a recent shoot with a client. Luckily the I had lots of other shots that were fringe-free.
I shoot mostly around f4-f8 with this lens.
The 2.8 aperture is really nice in indoor situations.
Here is Part 1:
[YT]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FeNw5OlcZ8&feature=related[/YT]
Part 2(Image samples):
[YT]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwGMMFpboYU&feature=related[/YT]
UPDATE 3/11: I've had this lens for over a year now and I have some disappointing news. My zoom ring got stuck at 35mm right before a shoot with a client and I was forced to use my backup camera the entire shoot. After being in the shop twice to get it fixed (thankfully it was still under warranty) they weren't able to restore it to like new status. The lens now zooms the entire range but it will get caught randomly. I can always jiggle it free but this should never happen. If you need a lens in the zoom range and can forgo the weather sealing I would suggest looking at the Sigma and the Tamron.
I am still recommending this lens for those of you that do need the weather sealing because overall this lens is great. It's just that for most people, the weather sealing is not enough to justify the price.
UPDATE 2: 11/11
Lens is back in the shop. Zoom ring busted again. Also, Autofocus just stopped working. I'm thinking the SDM bug finally caught me. Talked to the lady at the shop and she was telling me that she has seen a lot of Pentax 16-50s come through. Needless to say that I'm rather frustrated. I really need that weather sealing and I don't think there are any other alternatives right now. I don't want a rain cover. Not practical and I bought the Pentax specifically for the sealing. I knowingly chose the sealing over the slightly higher quality of the sigma. I no longer recommend this lens.
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: February, 2008 Location: Waterloo, Ontario Posts: 4,461 | | Review Date: June 19, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $900.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Sharp, great colour/contrast, build | | Cons: | heavy, barrel distortion at 16mm, price | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Autofocus: 8
Handling: 9
Value: 7
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Given all the QC issues that surround this lens I was reluctant to buy one and put off purchasing for some time. In fact I seriously considered the DA 14/2.8 or DA 15/4 as a substitute. However, given the fact this lens filled a big gap at the wide-angle end of my collection and the convenience of a zoom I eventually bit the bullet and bought one. I’m glad I did. After a couple of months I think I have a good copy and I’m quite pleased with it. As many others have stated above the colour/contrast of this optic are great. It is very well built and focus is fairly fast. It is pretty soft at the edges at 2.8 but this can be a bit of a bonus when shooting portraits. Things sharpen up dramatically in this area when stopped down. I like the lens hood and the fact it can be reversed for easy storage in the bag – a nice touch. The hood also features a removable tab that permits the use of a circular polarizer – again another nice touch. On the down side this tab is almost certain to be lost the minute one removes it.
The lens also has a few cons. It is a hefty lens and there are some CA issues as noted above. Barrel distortion is pronounced at 16mm and although I was aware of this issue the degree of distortion was greater than expected. Not that I use it often but the popup flash is rendered useless due to severe vignetting with the lens hood. These flash issues disappear with a shoe mounted flash. Others above have noted “zoom creep” as a problem. My copy is pretty stiff in this regard, especially around 28-35mm, but I’m sure it will loosen up with greater use but I'm pretty sure this won't be a problem area for me.
These issues aside this is the best zoom lens I have ever used and it has assumed a permanent place in my bag.
| | | | | Site Supporter Registered: December, 2007 Location: Montreal Posts: 1,249
3 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: June 8, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $700.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | sharp, contrasty, WR, silent (SDM) | | Cons: | barrel distortion @16mm, big and heavy, zoom friction around 28mm | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 8
Autofocus: 8
Handling: 7
Value: 6
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This lens had a bad reputation due to a lot of bad copies but its performance is fantastic when you get a good copy.
One of the complaint about this zoom is the relatively poor performance at f/2.8. Actually it's already quite sharp in the center, borders need about f/5.6 to get very sharp.
Optically, the only real complain I could do about this lens is the heavy barrel distortions @16mm. I know you can correct them by software (or even in-camera starting with the K-7 and K-x) but it's another step and you'll loose borders meaning that you don't get your full 16mm.
Build construction is great in general (and much better than lenses costing more like the Canon 17-55 IS). The only thing I don't like is the friction when zooming at around 28-35mm. The mechanism never feels as smooth as the excellent DA* 50-135mm.
The big downside for me regarding this lens is the size and weight. I think it doesn't balance well on my K-7 if I'm not using the external grip.
Pictures taken with the DA* 16-50mm | | | | | Pentaxian Registered: June, 2008 Location: Holy Land Posts: 1,165 | | Review Date: May 23, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $600.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Sharpness, colour, contrast, bokeh, weatherproof, silent | | Cons: | slow SDM AF | |
I've got a good copy, it's very sharp, fast and silent, color rendition and bokeh is great. A minor issue is the AF could be a bit faster, but otherwise it's fast enough for me.
I think it's the perfect zoom lens.
| | | | | New Member Registered: September, 2008 Location: Cork, Ireland Posts: 19 | | Review Date: April 21, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $600.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Fast, quiet, excellent in low lighting conditions | | Cons: | A little pricey and there seem to still be some quality issues on some units (mine works perfectly) | |
Nice Lens overall. I returned the first one I got as it was a little off balance but the second one has been working fine for the last couple of years. It's fast to autofocus and is easy to fine-tune the focus when necessary. The weather-resistance is also reassuring although I wouldn't push the limits on it.
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: June, 2009 Location: Minneapolis - St. Paul Posts: 3,067 | | Review Date: February 28, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $750.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Superb build quality, sharp wide-open, quiet and fast SDM focusing | | Cons: | None | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 8
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 9
New or Used: New
Camera Used: K-5
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Awesome lens, no problems with it. Nowhere near as soft as people say it is wide-open, in fact it's quite sharp.
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