The perfect kit

I don't own one so I can't really comment on the quality, but it's a reasonably quick (constant f2.8 ) general purpose (moderate wide to moderate telephoto) walkaround lens that happens to feature silent fast focussing and weather sealing - what's not to like?

Hopefully the optics justify the 'star' designation, too.

Though I've not heard people raving about the optical qualities of the thing the way they do with the earlier star lenses (and indeed with the DA 50-135). For me this is a bit of a worry, I have to confess.

I'd love to have the F2.8, but paying nearly £500 for lens, it needs to be a bit special.

I have one of these and am very happy.

Optically, it is not up to the standards of the FA Limiteds, but how could it be. Basically, it's optically pretty good; the speed is useful; the range is very convenient; the focussing is lovely; and the weather-sealing a major plus (if like me you live in a place where typhoons alternate with hurricanes).

I don't regret buying it one whit.

G

PS: I think the 24-90 is slightly better optically, but the 24-90 is probably Pentax's best-ever zoom lens. The 16-50's other qualities, however, and particularly the range, make it a better bet as a general purpose lens. If I could only have one lens, it would be this.

Ok, so in pure optical terms, the Limiteds are better than the Stars?

And the Stars are better than everything else?

I'm just trying to get an idea of what to expect from the thing, since it is quite likely to be my next lens (well, that or the 55-300). I can imagine the non-optical qualities very easily, but never having had a top-notch lens I find the optical qualities a lot harder to gauge without an expensive experiment.

Is your impression that its 'pretty good' is as good as earlier stars?

Limited primes will be much better than Star zooms. Limited Primes and Star primes are much closer, generally the Star primes are long where as the Limited primes are wider.

I love my 16-50, it is very very sharp at 50mm across the whole frame. Softer at 16mm and has some focus curvature (soft corners) but that is normal for a zoom of its kind.

I can post some 100% crops later that show some of the amazing detail it picks up.

I'd be grateful if you could, especially any that show its wide-open capability.

I seldom find myself being amazed at how good the 16-50 is (happens all the time with the Ltds, and did sometimes with the 24-90 and a few other lenses).

But I don't find myself being disappointed either. It's as good as I had expected, whilst the 31 and 77 were better than I had hoped.

So my advice is to steal for a 31, kill for a 77, and borrow for a 16-50.

G

Let's hope your burglar alarm's working...

Chris, just an idea, but why not PM someone in the 'Hands on Help offered' thread https://www.pentaxuser.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7985?

I may be close enough for you to try some of these out, at least it won't be an expensive experiment (apart from cost of petrol and a beer!)

Very good idea. You're not too far away.. I may well take you up on that at some point. Thanks.

I have the DA*16-50 and FA 24-90..

I was bemoaning the fact that when I bought my MZ-S I wasn't getting quite crisp images with my Sigma 24-70 EX as I was with it on the Z-1p, then I bought the FA what a transformation.

The 16-50 on the K10D, what a combination

Top 5 currently owned?

Well... I don't have 5 lenses I'd bother to carry everywhere... but hopefully by the end of the summer it'll be :

Sigma DC 10-20 EX f4-5.6 (current)
Pentax FA 35 f2 (ordered)
Pentax DA* 16-50 f2.8 (ordered)
Pentax DA* 50-135 f2.8 (current)
Pentax DA* 300 f4

and when the Pentax SDM TC comes out, it'll probably replace the 1.7x I have now... (hmm.. should probably sell it before the new one is announced...)

Actually, is there any news on what (and when) the SDM Converter is supposed to be?

Hmmmmm, just five eh, it’s a difficult when you admit to LBA, here goes my top five of all time, well to date that is.

smc PENTAX-A 1:1.2 50mm
smc PENTAX-A* 1:1.4 85mm
smc PENTAX-A* 1:1.8 135mm
smc PENTAX-A* 1:4 300mm
smc PENTAX SHIFT 1:3.5 28mm

As you can see from my sign off signature, not long changed to digital, so I make no excuse for my still enjoying my fast older manual glass.

You and I probably have the only two 28 Shifts in Scotland - my favourite lens of all time, no contest.

Ken

Hey Gartmore, we need to start a sad shift club