Digital SLR Reviews Blog

Posts Tagged ‘Quick Shift’

Pentax SMC DA Series 16 50mm f 2 8 ED AL IF SDM Wide Angle Zoom Lens for Pentax Digital SLR Cameras

Designed for exclusive use with Pentax digital SLR cameras, the Pentax DA* 16-50mm f/2.8 wide-angle zoom lens is a terrific choice for landscapes, portraiture, and just about any other application. The lens features a tightly sealed, weather-resistant and dust-resistant construction to enhance durability in rainy or dusty conditions. The lens’s three aspherical elements and two special optical glass elements, meanwhile, help compensate for chromatic and spherical aberration, producing images with superior contrast, clarity, and edge-to-edge sharpness. And thanks to the lens’s Pentax-original Quick-Shift Focus System, you can easily and instantly switch from autofocus to manual focus.

Specifications

• Focal length: 16-50mm
• Maximum aperture: f/2.8
• Minimum aperture: f/22
• Lens construction: 15 elements in 12 groups
• Angle of view: 83 to 31.5 degrees (when used with Pentax digital SLR camera body)
• Number of diaphragm blades: 9
• Metering system: TTL open-aperture metering
• Minimum focusing distance: 0.3 meters
• Maximum magnification: 0.21x
• Filter size: 77mm
• Corresponding AF mounts: Pentax KAF2
• Dimensions: 3.3 inches in diameter and 3.9 inches long
• Weight: 19.9 ounces (without hood)
• Warranty: 1 year

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Stunning lens
It’s too bad there are bad copies out there because the only thing thing I can say about my copy is “stunning.” Well, there are other adjectives but you get the idea;)

I’ve had mine for a little over a month now and it’s by far my favorite lens. Crystal clear sharpness, incredible colors, great bokeh, and wonderful contrast. For me it’s the perfect walkaround lens–although I wouldn’t mind getting my hands on a 31mm Limited!

As for the bad copies, I know there are bad copies out there and you should always test your lens but make sure you test it correctly. The WRONG way to test it is to make a test board, open up the lens to 16mm, 2.8 and get close to the board so that it fills or nearly fills the frame. I guarantee the edges will be hugely out of focus. The reason is the edge is 40% farther from the lens than the center of the picture. So it’s better to back away and take several shots by focus locking on the target and then moving your camera so the image is on the various edges of the frame.

My copy does have very, very slight vignetting at 16mm at 2.8 but it’s never been annoying, but it can be easily PP’d out if need be. I didn’t mark it down for this because it is so slight and is actually pleasing to the eye, imo.

One thing, however, is you should buy it from a reputable dealer with a good return policy so if you do get a bad one it won’t be a hassle to return it. I have to say, though, that this lens is so good it’s worth taking the risk.

5 Stars Great Lens!
I’ve been using the Sigma 18-50mm f2.8, and upgraded to the Pentax because of the SDM, the wider wide angle, and the Weather Resistance, and I don’t regret it. The Sigma isn’t a bad lens, considering it costs ~60% as much, but this lens is far superior.

Initially, I thought it was broken – when I pressed the shutter button I didn’t hear *anything*. Then I realized that it had focused, and was amazed. It’s much faster focusing than my other short zooms, nearly silent, and very precise. Contrast is great, bokeh is very nice. It also focuses closer than I expected – down to around four or six inches. Not a Macro, but definitely useable for lots of close-ups.

The images I’ve gotten from it in the days I have had it are extremely sharp and contrasty. The Sigma I have tended to underexpose by about half a stop; this one seems dead on.

This thing is huge, too. It’s probably 30% bigger than the Sigma, and much heavier. Prepare to spend money if you want to put filters on this baby. Make sure you have a good strong back before strapping this thing on your camera, too!

Pentax continues to amaze me with the quality they produce at such low prices. If you’re one of the people that just snorted when I said “Low prices”, I suggest you go check the price on the Nikkor or Canon equivalent of this lens (L series in Canon lenses). Then report back.

2 Stars I sent the first two back
They are still having problems with quality assurance. This lens arrived and it looked great. I took several test images of a large 2 foot square black-on-white ink line drawing. It had sharply defined ink pen lines all over it, all the way to the edges. The images showed that the focus was unacceptably out of alignment from left to right and also a bit out from bottom to top. Looking at the test images over all, it seems like it might be a good lens if they can get me one with the alignment right.

Ammended 9/24 2009

The replacement arrived I tested it today using the same method and the alignment on this replacement lens was out of alignment in roughly the opposite direction by a similar amount, making the left edge significantly less sharp focused than the right. I returned it for replacement. We shall see what we get on the next try. I really would like to to get a properly aligned example of this lens that can provide images with a consistent focus left and right and top and bottom.

Ammended 9/29/2009

Amazon declined to send a third lens, offering simultaneously that getting two defective examples was very unusual, and strangely that, were they to ship a third, it would likely suffer the same defect. They volunteered to refund my shipping cost and purchase price, and recommended I contact Pentax. I will post clips from the center and each of the two extreme edges of the test image on this site.

It was very easy to alert Amazon and initiate a return. I really would still like to get a good one of these lenses. Apparently you do need some amount of luck to accomplish that.

My advice to anyone wanting one of these is, be prepared to test what you get, and do not order it a week before your big vacation trip expecting to have one arrive at the last minute that is good enough to use.

5 Stars A bargain…just buy it!!!
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 then 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 zoom glass you can get other then 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).

5 Stars This is the lens to buy
Stellar! If you’re buying a new camera, don’t buy the “throw away” lens that comes with the camera for a hundred bucks (you get what you pay for), save the money and apply it towards this lens. If you have the camera body already and are looking for a top notch lens, this is it. The 16mm-50mm f2.8 is great for shooting indoors and outdoors. It is excellent in low light situations, especially where you don’t want to use a flash. One of the best lenses I’ve seen in a long time. Well worth the price at full price through Pentax, Amazon has been giving this lens away, so even better.

Buy/More Info

PENTAX DA 18 55mm f 3 5 5 6 AL Weather Resistant Lens for Pentax Digital SLR Camera

Featuring high quality, weather-resistant and dust-resistant construction, SDM autofocus, and extra low dispersion glass, the smc PENTAX DA Star 18-55mm F3.5-F5.6 ED (IF) SDM, exclusively for PENTAX digital SLR cameras, is a versatile telephoto zoom lens for photographers who demand flexibility and the highest quality from their glass. The tightly sealed, weather-resistant and dust-resistant construction enhances durability for use in both rainy and dusty conditions, making this lens a perfect companion for the weather-resistant PENTAX DSLR bodies. In addition the PENTAX-original Quick-Shift Focus System allows instant switching from autofocus to manual focus operation. Dimensions – 2.7 x 2.7 Weight – 8.1 oz without hood; 9.0 oz with hood Includes – Case, Hood, Lens Cap, and Rear Lens Cap

Buy/More Info