I do have 49 years of practice mind you

Croeso cynes :

O pa ran o Gymru fach?

Andrew
Like yourself, my main preference is landscape photography, and I also own the Sigma 10-20 (great lens).

However my main "goto" lens is the Pentax 16-85, and anything over 50mm I tend to prefer changing to the Pentax 55-300 PLM (both excellent performers).

My point is that for landscape photography, personally I have never felt that a 50mm prime would be an asset. Price wise I suspect that a used 50mm prime (such as DA50 plastic fantastic), would cost similar to a DA 55-300 (much more versatile).

I traded my DA 55-300 to get the PLM version, and the difference in focusing speed and noise (lack of), is massive.

Some recent examples taken with the 55-300 PLM link

A set with both 16-85 and 55-300 DA (I was amased at how well the 55-300 performed).
link

I also previously owned a Tamron 18-250, probably similar to your Sigma 18-300 ; basically a Jack of all trades. I sold this and got a Sigma 18-50 f2.8, great lens, and a DA 55-300.

A huge difference with this combo compared to the Tamron.

My conclusion would be to change the 18-300 for a standard zoom, such as the Pentax 16-85, Sigma 17-50 or Tamron (budget dependant of course).

If funds were still available, go for one of the 55-300 versions (on a K3ii the PLM version is compatible).

Apologies if I`ve gone off topic slightly.

Regards
Adrian

Thanks Steve; all images were taken within a short period of time, all with a 10 stop ND filter, plus a 0.9 soft grad. Experimenting with different exposure times, in what were not ideal conditions.

I never got to know what the issue was, but will advise later as to what was done to the lens.


I agree in that it is a stunning lens (I opted for this new over a cheaper used 16-50). It`s built like a tank, and thankfully in your experience, proved to be the case

Price of repair; the lens was out of warranty, but I managed to locate some examples illustrating the issue taken when the lens was still under warranty (EXIF confirmed this).

What I then did was e-mail SRS (from whom I had purchased the lens from), illustrating the issue with example images. I also expressed that under the terms of the Consumers Rights Act 2015, that the lens was not fit for purpose, and that I would expect a £500 lens to "last" longer.

Next day reply from SRS, asking that the lens be sent back to them and they would sort it.
Fast forwards a few weeks and SRS confirmed that they had received the lens back from Pentax France, and it would be back with me in a few days (which it was).

SRS treated it as a warranty repair, and the paperwork from John Pye Technical confirmed that the following work was carried out on the lens:
Calibrate and adjust focusing
Check focus movement
Check and clean body parts

The only cost to me was the initial postage to SRS; the level of service they provided here was incredible (all the superlatives I can think of still seem not enough).

If the lens is not right now, after this, as I commented previously, it never will be.

Taken on the same day, @16mm




Thanks all
Adrian

I recently had my 16-85 returned following a repair (right hand side of images blurry at certain focal lengths, original thread below).

link

It now appears to be okay (if not I doubt it ever will be).

Here are some local seascapes taken with it and the K3 (although not @ 16mm where the original issue was worst).

1



2



3



4



Regards
Adrian

The lens will be sent for inspection by John Pye Technical; I reckon on no more than £150 if it can be fixed.

I took a few test shots today using the Sigma 10-20; all good and sharp, what a great lens this is.

If fixable and financially viable, great; if not then going back to Sigma seems the most logical option.

Thanks
Adrian

Andy
I have noticed the blurry over the past months, however the image I posted of the bluebells was taken over two years ago, on a different body, and more annoyingly, whilst still under warranty.

If I were to spend more time trawling through the images taken with the lens, I could well encounter more?

Alan Marlow has confirmed that unfortunately he is unable to help at this time.

I1ll next drop an e-mail to John Pye Technical; my preference would be to get the lens repaired, if possible and within financial reason.

The lens is blemish free, never received any bumps or knocks (which makes it worse somehow).

Regards
Adrian

Hello Andy
Thanks for your feedback.

I'll get in touch with Alan, I might as well contact SRS (from whom I bought the lens new) ; they might be able to confirm whether it is repairable.

So frustrating having invested £500 on it, 3.5 years ago.

Perhaps a worst case scenario would be trying to get compensation from Ricoh, under the conditions of the sales of goods act I. E

You have six years to take a claim to court for faulty goods in England, Wales and Northern Ireland; in Scotland you have five years.

In fairness one would expect a £500 lens to perform better.

I 'upgraded' from a Sigma 18-50 to the 16-85, mainly for the weather sealing and extra 2mm. I loved the Sigma, and if I'm forced back into the market, I'd likely opt for a Sigma 17-50.

I agree totally that potentially it is a great lens, and it's been a pleasure to use.

I don't think that I'll be following your route of a K1, though, having only gone onto the K3 just over a year ago😏

Thanks
Adrian

I`ve recently started to notice that parts of images taken with the 16-85 are blurry

Mostly it seems to be at the widest range, and on the right hand side of the images (although there is one example where the left side is affected).

For example these two were taken minutes apart a few days ago, first @16mm and the second @23mm.
The third is a crop of the right side of the image, which appears all blurry.







@23mm seems okay.

The following was taken a few years ago, on the K5IIs (all the others K3).



To my eyes the left side of the following are "off" as well.





It seems that others have also encountered such issues e.g.
https://www.pentaxuser.com/forum/topic/16-85-issues-58761

Unfortunately my lens is out of warranty; is this fixable even?

I suppose my only option is to contact the official Pentax repairers for advice.

Has anybody else suffered from such an issue with the 16-85?

Thanks
Adrian

Pm sent