| Latest Review Posted | SMC Pentax-DA* 16-50mm F2.8 ED AL [IF] SDM
Having read so many bad reviews of this lens I kept my Tamron 17-50mm for nearly four years when I decided I had to try this lens myself. Lens was bought from a fellow forum user.
When I bought this lens I factored in teh cost of an SDM focus repair, touch wood mine has been fine so far, as has my four year old 50-135mm.
The build quality of this lens is awesome, it just feels quality and is bigger to hold than the 50-135mm which is also a lens of beauty.
The lenz is heavy with a 77mm front element and feels a lot heavier than the Tamron. I have read many times that the Tamron's IQ is up there with the 16-50mm as a user of both I can categorically state it is NOT. The Tamron is good value but not as good as the Pentax quality wise. The auto focus on the 16-50mm I have found to be faster and more accurate than Tamron too which tended to hunt rather a lot, the Pentax does not except under extreme conditions.
The lens profile for lightroom makes some strange distortions at 16mm, usually dragging into the corners, I have made my own adjustments to the profile which seems to work better as can be seen in the final image below.
So how sharp is it???
at f/2.8 natural light
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8495/8399896368_f0b815d83c_c.jpg
Portraits and AF in a dimly lit club at f/5.6
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8538/8651769375_00acf56593_c.jpg
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8405/8652869208_d18a792333_c.jpg
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8523/8622393894_8... |
