Is the 16-50 Da a dud

Hi everyone out there. Well, just bought myself a 16-50mm, after a disastrous shoot in Vietnam with my kit lense. haven't had that much time to test it out yet, or print some shots out at least, but can someone tell me out there....seeing that it doesn't seem to be a defective model, is it all that it is cracked up to be? I need pro quality and versatility in a lense, so i got this lense. I hope that the results show that it was worth it.

Think you may get some replies if you are more detailed about what information you are asking for and which lens you are referring to, as far as I know Pentax are not producing a 16 - 50 DA at the moment so perhaps it is a different make you are asking about.

If you require pro quality I would have thought you would have asked about the lens and tried before you bought, but I could have misunderstand what you are asking so please be more precise, I can see no reason why you would ask if it is a dud surely you want to know how good it is.

You could also tell us what body you are using this lens on and what sort of images you are trying to take.

Just found a Pentax DA* 16 - 50mm is this the one to which you refer and if so why do you think it is duff?

I've got a DA* 16-50 as have many people on this site and it's a superb lens.
david

Superb lens, one of the best (note the spelling of lens - not lense).

Agreed.

Maybe this was a question to ask before you bought the lens, not after! Now you have it in your possession, why not try taking some pictures to see if you like it? It certainly sounds like a good un! I'm jealous.

18-55mm kit lens a 'disaster'? I know that a lot of people have 'upgraded' to more expensive glass, but on the other hand most people seem to think it's a reasonable performer. So I'm surprised it has performed so badly for you - what was the problem?

I agree, I've always been very happy with my Kit lens. Certainly I haven't found it to be a disaster.

Why I asked for more detail, if this member has found two lens unacceptable then perhaps it is a problem with the body. We are not told what the problem is or shown any examples so perhaps the OP wants to know when he does get round to using it if he is going to be pleased or not.

Seems strange to criticize two lens without even trying them or checking other equipment or for operator error.

I have just got the DA*16-50 and early indications are it is a very good lens. It did get a mixed review when it first came out from one website, and it is fair to say it obviously had quality control issues when first manufactured which have led to a more than average number of returns.

However, I was swayed by those who owned it (including a number on this forum), and so far they have been proved right.

My reasons for purchase over the 18-55 kit lens were:
1. Wider max aperture, not just for DOF, but also as I use a split-prism focus screen and wanted to avoid "black-out".
2. Better image quality at wider apertures.
3. 16mm as opposed to 18mm

The kit lens itself is certainly no "disaster", and in the right conditions performs very well. If you can stop down to f8 on the 18-55 you can get excellent images.

I too have just bought one of these, but not had much time to play yet.

Word on the street seems to be they can produce top quality images but have some limitations, and there was a quality control issue.

Another thought - have you found a lens which does work well with your camera? Maybe the camera is at fault.

If your Vietnam pictures were a "disaster", the fault almost certainly lay just behind the camera, not just in front of it.

Sell the 16-50, and practice with the kit lens until you are capable of producing good pictures.


G

Matt,
take a look here https://www.pentaxuser.com/forum/topic/smc-DA-1650mm-F28-ED-AL-IF-SDM-Lens-12937
But I also wonder what the issue was with your 18-55?

Cheers

hi there everyone, sorry for the late reply. A great surprise to see everyone so involved in my query. Well, interestingly enough I have been out and given the lense a good test and the results are spectacular. Sharpness and tones are at pro level. My only criticism is the slight lag in focus, but overall I am really satisfied.

To answer a few of your q's out there, I am using a K10 with the lens and with the software update it is a marriage made in heaven, the issue with the 18-55 overall was the slight lag in focus spead and backfocusing issues, but overall not a bad lense for a kit.

My initial problem with the 16-50 was that after i purchased the item i found comments all over the net stating that there were dud's in a selected few numbers which concerned me. I don't know how true this is, but so far with mine, I think it is a winner. Can't wait to get some long exposure morning shots down on the beach to test it out further.

Thanks for all your feedback guys...even the negative

Didn't the 16-50 win "zoom lens of the year" this/last year :

Yes it did, in AP.