APS-C standard zoom lenses

Been a while since I used APS-C but I've just bought myself a K3ii predominantly for weddings with the Sigma OS 70-200mm on but I'm also liking how smaller and lighter it is compared to the K1 so may look to get a cheap standard zoom lens.

Pentax
16-45mm
17-70mm
16-45mm
16-85mm

Sigma
17-70mm

So many choices!

Is the 16-85mm the one to look at or should I drop down to the 16-50mm or ditch early SDM all together and get the 16-45mm?!

The 20-40mm looks very nice but not really keeping the pennies down!

I can recommend the 16-85 as a great all round lens. Colour rendition and sharpness are first class as is it's close focus abilities.

This may add to the confusion but, Sigma 17-35 DG and Pentax F 35-70. Both at home on APS-C and FF.

I really like my Tamron 17-50/f:2.8. Great IQ from my copy, and cheap as chips.

I have a Sigma standard lens for sale in the classifieds.... (hint, hint...)

You haven't mentioned the 18-135mm, a very versatile and pretty good lens, with the added bonus of WR.

I have the 18-135mm and the 16-85mm. My personal habit, the 18-135mm sits on the shelf, I pick the 16-85mm every time. It's better across the whole frame, much better and, I like the extra mm on the wide end. Two important differences when I find myself more at the landscape side of photography.
If I want more reach I take my 55-300mm as well. The two lenses cover just about everything.

If you don't need speed then the 16-85mm is superb. It's my favourite landscape lens as it's very versatile and renders better than most primes.

The Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 is another option. It's a really great lens with a special rendering that somehow brings out a subtle magic in many images.

Depends on what you want to use it for. I was very happy with the 16-45mm except for one thing: too often found myself wanting to change lens because 45mm was too short. Eventually got the 16-85mm rather than any of the others because I really like 16mm and a mm or two at the short end makes a significant difference. And while the 16-85mm isn't f4 across its whole range, it is from 16 to 45mm so no losing out there. As Nigelk says, the 16-85mm and 55-300mm make a good pair for general use and are what comes with me if I don't have a specific reason to take another lens.

Steve

For focus speed and accuracy plus image quality, you could also look at the new DA*16-50. Only if you have deep pocket. It nearly bankrupt me and cause a divorce!!!

Another vote for the 16-85 for the reasons already mentioned.
I use other lens but invariably return to it as the versatility and sharpness are excellent

17-70mm f4 Pentax or Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4 are very good and fairly cheap, although 16-85 could prove a bit more versatile due to slghtly more range on each end but sacrificing a bit on aperture range , only a problem in some specific situations.

The Sigma 17 - 70 was my " walkabout " lens a few years ago, versatile, sharp and not to obtrusive.

Agreed! +1

Cracking shot