New HD 16-50 in August?

According to photorumors

Will be a lot of users quite pleased to see this lens I suspect.

I'm certainly very interested. Don't think I'll like the price but, I splashed out on the DA* 11-18mm and it does not disappoint so, if the DA* 16-50mm is made of the same stuff it will be tough to resist

If I start saving as of now , I expect by the time of the actual release I might have enough money for two new HD 16-50’s😜

Very appropriate post time!

Well noticed

I'll start saving. I've yet to find a "standard" zoom I'm happy with and the K-3iii deserves something good.

I struggled to find a standard zoom that I was totally happy with. Started out with the kit lens on a K20D which was poor. The edge quality was terrible so I got a DA16-45mm. I loved this lens but I found it flared too much in very bright sunshine (maybe the filter was dud!). I then tried the DA18-135mm but could not cope with the CA. It varied so much that I used to have three different LR settings depending on the focal length used. This was before LR had the automatic CA removal feature.
Then I got the DA16-85mm. My first copy was DOA. SRS sent me another and it was decentered. I got a third copy and I have been stunned by how good it is. My copy is as sharp as any prime I have used. Edge to edge at all focal lengths. I would not consider another lens now. I recommended it to my brother at the same time I got mine (on SRS sale a few years ago for £349). His died but was fixed under warranty. So all in all, it's a cracker of lens with iffy QC.

Another vote for the 16-85 and mine worked straight out of the box!!
Versatile and sharp lens and I almost leave it on the K3 permanently

My original kit lens for my K10D was surprisingly good. I bought a Sigma somethingorother when I got my K-3 but have never felt it was all that sharp. Mostly I now use primes, especially my 31mm, but there are times when I just want to carry a single camera/lens and a new version of the 16-50 would fit my needs nicely if the quality is up to spec.

just picked up a Pentax 17-70mm f4 and find that very good. My test is the tree tops of a wood over a mile away if that image comes out sharp i'm happy and it did with this lens . Like the max aperture through full focal range as well which i missed after breaking my original copy and used Sigma with variable aperture through zoom range. Re 16-50, had one but found 50 a bit too short.

I have the 16-85mm but it lacks the speed I want in a standard zoom, though I keep it for the range and WR. The Sigma 17-50/2.8 is absolutely superb but to have a good range, speed, WR and great optics (and a reliable focus motor) would really be something.

Apparently the price for the new 16-50 will be $1400 in the US, considerably more than I'd hoped for. It will also use the KAF4 mount so will only be compatible with newer DSLRs, the ones that can control the aperture electro-magnetically.

More info over at DPR: https://www.dpreview.com/news/7876832835/ricoh-announces-hd-pentax-da-16-50mm-f2...

A Pentax ambassador has had a pre-production one for a few weeks: https://www.mikemuizebelt.nl/pentax-hd-16-50mm-f2-8-ed-plm-aw/

I see that SRS have it on their site with a £5 pre-order deposit, and £1494 balance to pay later (OUCH!): https://www.srsmicrosystems.co.uk/dpt/lenses/pentax-hd-da-16-50mm-f28-ed-plm-aw-...

Looks like a lovely lens but I’m really struggling with how a price of $1400 USD translates to £1500 GBP. I doubt Ricoh will sell many in the UK at that price but I’m hoping it’ll settle down to something a little more realistic over time.