Author Topic: Pentax 16-50mm SDA lens - anybody using one? (Read 5547 times)

hrhportia · « **on:** December 11, 2008, 18:10 »

I'm considering a purchase of the 16-50mm Pentax SDA lens for wide-angle work and wondered if any of you out there have used it and what you think. I'm currently using the came-with-the-camera 18-55mm DA and while it's not a bad lens, sometimes it ain't all that great, either.

Any input would be great - thanks!

Regards,

hrhportia

Phil · « **Reply #1 on:** December 12, 2008, 15:04 »

thankfully this not a pentax site

IMO buy the tamron 17-50, it is at least as sharp with less ca etc but you lose sdm. The qc of the 16-50 lens is appalling (the joke is 16 in 50 chance of getting a good one), there are complaints of qc problems all over the net / forums. I had a couple and gave up, I know a guy who had 6 of them before giving up. I also had 2 16-45's (which has huge ca) die on me within 12 months of not overly heavy use. I opinion now is pentax for primes (or voigtlander

but tamron for the zooms.

Phil

hrhportia · « **Reply #2 on:** January 13, 2009, 08:34 »

Thanks a lot, Phil - I appreciate your candor. I actually have been looking at the Tamron you suggested, too.

Kind regards,

Susan

epixx · « **Reply #3 on:** January 13, 2009, 11:34 »

Quote from: clearviewstock on December 12, 2008, 15:04

I opinion now is pentax for primes (or voigtlander but tamron for the zooms.

Phil

I agree. The Tamron is just great, and so are the Pentax primes, particularly the Limiteds. Best of each world does it

hali · « **Reply #4 on:** January 13, 2009, 11:52 »

Quote from: epixx on January 13, 2009, 11:34

Quote from: clearviewstock on December 12, 2008, 15:04
I opinion now is pentax for primes (or voigtlander but tamron for the zooms.
I agree. The Tamron is just great, and so are the Pentax primes, particularly the Limiteds. Best of each world does it

i am watching this topic with eyes wide open,
as some of you know, i have graduated from a 7MP olympus to a 14MP k20d.
actually because of some of what you wrote here before when i asked about the k20d. i love the camera, although it's a bit more complicated to use then the e300 but definitely a much better workhorse.
i submit my work now with almost no post processing . and the difference in image is stunning.
i shoot with the stock zoom, but i shoot at various f stop to find a sweet spot. and then choose the best results. it works for me.
and for alamy, upsizing a little is so much easier than before.

one question though, (excuse me, not a tech expert, so i rely on you ppl here... )
what's LIMITED? epixx, clearstock... "the primes.. particularly the Limiteds".
can you explain?

thx again all.

CofkoCof · « **Reply #5 on:** January 14, 2009, 03:22 »

Pentax Limited lenses are one of the best lenses out there. They can easily be compared with Canon's L(uxury) series (however there aren't as many out there, some were discontinued). You also get stabilization on those primes, since Pentax has in body stabilization.

It's an old article, but might help:
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/columns/sm-02-05-02.shtml

hali · « **Reply #6 on:** January 14, 2009, 20:26 »

Quote from: CofkoCof on January 14, 2009, 03:22

Pentax Limited lenses are one of the best lenses out there. They can easily be compared with Canon's L(uxury) series (however there aren't as many out there, some were discontinued). You also get stabilization on those primes, since Pentax has in body stabilization.

It's an old article, but might help:
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/columns/sm-02-05-02.shtml

CofkoCof, Hey you rule ! Thx again for your Pentax expertise !