| Latest Review Posted | HD Pentax-DA 16-85mm F3.5-5.6 ED DC WR
Not enough reviews of this lens in my view, just adding my experience.
Bought the DA16-85 in Paris to replace or compliment the older DA18-135. Couldn't be happier with this lens after a month of testing during vacation period. The lens is quite sharp, monstrously so, the handling is tight and balanced and the bokeh even surprised me for a 3.5 max aperture lens. In fact, on a K-5iis, this lens is perhaps not well-adapted to portaits due to the resolution capacity which pulls out all the details and imperfections (Tip - don't shoot your wife with this lens). Part of this is due to the K-5iis lack of AA filter, granted, but even on the K-30 the lens is clearly superior to the DA18-135 in termes of detail and resolution.
As for the limited focal length of 85mm max, I have not been inconvenienced or hampered for general vacation photography. The cropping potential is there for the distant subjects and the wide 16mm end is a welcome and very useful improvement as compared to the DA18-135. Autofocus seems/feels very quick and accurate, no qualms there.
Not sure if my copy is good or average, but the lens is performing extremely well and I absolutely do not regret acquiring this lens new even at Euro pricing levels. |
