Buy Pentax SMC DA* Series 16-50mm f/2.8 ED AL IF SDM Wide Angle Zoom Lens for Pentax Digital SLR CamerasPentax SMC DA* Series 16-50mm f/2.8 ED AL IF SDM Wide Angle Zoom Lens for Pentax Digital SLR Cameras Product Description:
- High performance, wide angle zoom lens
- SDM system creates smoother, quieter auto focus
- Weather resistant and dust resistant body
- Quick-shift Focus System for instant switching from auto focus to manual
- Pentax SP coating protects the exposed lens elements
Product Description
L9) PENTAX DA 16-50 F2.8 ED LENS
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
75 of 78 people found the following review helpful.
Tremendous lens, a bargin compared to...
By Hiram Grant
If you've read my previous reviews, you know that I'm a retail camera salesperson. I get to use a wide variety of equipment, but I'm a bit picky on what I buy myself. I own this lens.I couldn't be more pleased with this lens for my K10D. The images are crisp at all focal lengths and apertures. The focusing is both fast and smooth. (Note: it will require updating to firmware version 1.3 for the K10D to autofocus properly.) Build quality is top-notch, and the weather-proofing is nice, although I doubt I'll test that often.Pentax has also equiped this lens with the older drive system, so that it can be used on older digital cameras, but the noise level goes up, and the AF performance, while decent, goes down.This is an amazingly good deal compared to either the Canon or Nikon lenses in the same range. The Nikon has about the same build quality, but costs considerably more. The Canon has the IS system built into the lens (not necessary with Pentax); therefore, it costs about the same as the Nikon. A very good lens, it still doesn't have the build quality "feel" of the Pentax nor Nikon. Additionally, the 16mm makes the Pentax a bit wider, a big advantage for my type of shooting.Simply put, without this lens, I'd be shooting Nikon.
35 of 38 people found the following review helpful.A bargain...just buy it!!!
By Bruno P.
*****2012 Update: Used it on a K7 for over 2 years now. Still the best zoom lens ever, would buy it again in a heartbeat. On par with the Nikon 17-55mm 2.8 (which is ancient, double the weight and twice the the price). Way to go Pentax!For Pentax K20D users:(Older model owners: upgrade already, you're missing all the fun, what are you waiting for? ;-)I reviewed tons of sites before purchasing this lens. Here the lowdown after some extensive K20D (real world studio with people, not charts) testing:-"Famous Urban Internet legend" QA issues: Are done and over with. Blast from the (2008) past. All current lenses in stock do not have any issues anymore (in case you heard).-Sharpness/Focus: Much, much better then lower grade zooms, especially if you stop down an f-stop or two (which you really should anyhow). It really shows all the (detailed) glory of your sensor. Do not settle for a third party lens (Sigma, Tamron, etc.) if you can have the real thing.-AF: Way more accurate then kit/consumer lenses. Dead-on 95% of the time (versus non * lenses: More like 50%-70%). And in case you're comparing: Yes, it's better than the 17-70mm Pentax.-A real bargain compared to Nikon/Canon glass: You would have to pay over a grand for the same quality.-Bottom line: The best Pentax glass you can get other than the (new digital) * primes. Even there, I think you would have a hard time to see a difference.And yes, I do this for a living (shooting, not reviewing, that is).I'm just flabbergasted how professional Pentax has become: The Nikon D300 with any glass shoots like a Coolpix in comparison (yes, I own an entire Nikon outfit).
20 of 21 people found the following review helpful.
sharp and smooth
By Dan_A
The built quality is exceptional. sharp, smooth and fast AF. Be sure to update your k10D firmware to v 1.3 before using this lens, so you wont be like me at first scratching my head wondering why a lens this expensive is noisy and vibrates. The lens is made in vietnam-nothing wrong with that, for some reason I was under the impression it was made in Japan.7/16/11 UpdateThis lens did not last, been repaired/replaced twice already because it quit autofocusing. Used it from k10 to K5. Changed my star rating from 4 to 2
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