PENTAX DA 16-50mm Review 

Mate, this is one of the best reviews for a lens I've ever seen. You talk about the size, the build, how it feels and what it's like to use. You don't go into specifics of IQ other than saying it's excellent. This is how reviews should be done. I was umming and aahing about getting this or the Sigma for a wedding in June, and you've sold me. Keep up the good work!

DA 18-55 and DA* 16-50 optically equal?! The DA* 16-50 might not quite deliver the IQ (especially edge sharpness) that one would expect for the price, but I've never heard anyone claim that it's on the same level as the kit.

From what I'm reading, apparently the SDM is failing on this lens when people try to grab the focus ring while the SDM is doing it's thing. It's causing friction which is putting pressure on the screw and it's causing the mechanism to lock. I must admit, I have 31mm F1.8 Limited and I sometimes grab it while auto-focusing. Just wanted to throw that out there because all these SDM failures might not be Pentax's fault, some of this could be on the user. And if you happen to be one of the people whose SDM has locked, you can always revert back to the original screw mechanism which makes a lot of noise, but at least you still get to use the auto-focus.

There is absolutely no way that the 16-50 can be described as being optically on the same level as the 18-55 kit. No way.

I always enjoy your videos, thanks. I've recently bought Pentax K-3 II with DA 16-85 and DA 55-300 lenses. What do you think about this lenses and do you own one? Would be just great to hear some reviews from you regarding this lenses!!!

My friend shoots a Pentax K-5 and I shoot a Sony A-55. The Sony is not a bad camera for it's price. In hindsight I probably could have got a better camera for the same price from Canon at least. However, I saw the options on this camera itself and the fact that it is weather sealed for only $200 more than what I paid to get my Sony. I am very impressed and I hope to purchase a K-5 sometime soon. Thank you for the review and hope all is well.

if ever, go for the newer K-5 II and if you're truly technically inclined too, consider the K-5 IIs. the K-5 II is about the same price as K-5 (only around 50$ more costly) but offers a few more useful options too. the K-5 IIs doesn't come with the anti-aliasing filter, which means sharper yet somewhat more troublesome photos. for those who know how to handle such issues in post, that would not be a problem at all.

Will Zeiss lenses work with the Pentax K3?

Is it a full frame lens? Will it work on my k-1 without cropping.

does the 16-50 have a screw drive built into it in case the sdm stops working

I've got the cheap kit lens 18-55 DA L version. I want a better all around lens I can just keep on the camera. However the 15mm interests me. Would you just keep the kit lens and buy the 15mm limited or dump the kit lens and 15mm for the 16-50mm?

the 18-55WR is not a bad kit lens, but the 16-50 must be (or at least it should be) better optically than the 18-55. I've been thinking on buying the 16-50 myself, but man, now you scared me lol. Can you give me your opinion?

I had the lens for 2 plus years, and never had a problem with it... i took my best pic with it but i had to change system cause the autofocus at night was killing me, over all a great lens and a great system ..... love pentax k-7 with a 16-50mm more than my nikon d3 and 24-70mm ...

Get the 16-50 the weather sealing will be useful.

is 18-55 WR kit lens really comparable to the DA* 16-50 optically? :D

nice little vid my dear Pentaxian friend, pointing out useful features of the Pentax cameras and lenses. but i have a little criticism on your comparison of a full frame Canon lens (or any brand for that matter) with a Pentax APS-C size lens. not so fair as the APS-C is smaller anyway and you have mentioned it yourself too.

Which one do you think is the better lens? The 16-50 or 18-135, in terms of cost and quality? Thanks!

What's the difference between this and the 18-55? Which one is better for non-professional photography?

So how is your 16-50 at this time? I just bought a new one and it is not totally silent. I may be sending it back. Is yours totally silent?

If you think the 18-55 is as sharp as the 16-50 why is the 16-50 $800.00 vs $150.00 for the 18-55mm?I usee the 18-55 for landscapes and it does a good job but I noticed the 18-55 was soft in the corners even a f22.I was thinking of getting the 16-50 but didn't want to spend $800.00 for the 16-50mm.

thank you :)

the SDM on my lens failed.. it sucks.

It's easier to take the hood off than mess with that slide out piece to turn a polarizer.

these two lenses aren't exactly the same at all really. but the DA 18~55mm WR lens is a truly decent one considering its price as well as its being a weather resistant lens, for that price. the 16~50/2.8 has at least one major advantage over the other one: it comes with a 9-blades aperture, meaning nice bokeh at all apertures, while the former one has only 6 blades, leaving fine bokeh to open apertures only. and the differences don't end just there really ...

This is the lens that will replace my tammy 17-50 2.8 in the (near) future :D - PentaxSource

only mistake they made on this lens is the fact they are using the 2.8 full frame standard. In this short of focal range you need an f2 or better to get good bokeh on a crop sensor. You will notice Sigma has figured this out and is capitalizing on it. They have the best pro offerings available at this time for crop camera's in there new ART series.

comparable "enough" at least! 18~55 is decent indeed though: WR, lightweight, cheap yet good! and it's only half stop 'darker', which is not that important but the DA* 16-50 offers other advantages that a pro truly needs: better bokeh, quicker as well as quieter AF. imagine shooting many photos of a wedding inside a church, where artificial lighting and flashes aren't allowed and the procession requires utter silence! add to that K-5's ultra-quiet shutter/mirror mechanism too. great combination.

@robilove AF at night never made sense to me...seems to suck equally across brands. Then again, I've only shot with a T1i, 40d, D3s, D5100, K-r, K-5 and Alpha 55...Perhaps I'm too much of a perfectionist to use AF in non-optimal conditions though. MF at night is better IMO.

SDM stands for silent defective motor

You have so many amazing lenses! What do you do for a living?

et si vous me le faite en français !!! moi je dis ça je dis rien;

I enjoyed your video but have to tell you shooting weddings in a church, being silent is paramount. The screw drive system may work well but far too noisy for ceremonies.

either one's good for non-pro photography but no one says a non-pro photographer doesn't have the right to enjoy high quality photo gear! :) consider your budget first: if you can afford top of the line cameras, lenses and other stuff, go for it! if anyone criticized you for being extravagant or anything, give them my name and address! ;-)

@ghanashyamghimire No. Not at all. More Vignetting, Chrom. Ab., Flare and less Sharpness on the 18-55. Damn good kit lens though, 3x as sharp as Nikon's offerings - And Canon's kit lens is just plain awful...Sony is on Par thiugh.

Screw-drive; too noisy for my taste.