Hi Guys

This time is my term to ask your opinions after long discussions regarding the DA* 16-50 yesterday. OK, Lets start with my current set up. I have a FA 31m ltd, M 50mm 1.4, FA 77mm ltd and a DFA 100mm primes

I am happy with all these lenses in term of IQ. I am extremely happy with the sharpness produced by both the 31mm and 77mm. However the 31mm is a bit too wide for human portrait sometimes and the 77mm is a bit too narrow but I do prefer the 77mm for portrait since the bokeh is so creamy and nice. And I can use the bokeh effect to make the subject stand out which is something I can not achieve with the 31mm. I find my M 50mm 1.4 about the right focal length for portrait however I do look some something with auto focus ability now. I know that the FA 50mm 1.4 is the same thing as my M 50mm 1.4 and to me it feels really cheap and like a toy. I am looking for something with good IQ, bokeh as well as good build quality. So I short listed the FA43, DA*55 and the sigma 50mm 1.4 since they are about the same focal length +- 10% from 50mm.

What I really want is to create creamy bokeh effect while maintain sharp IQ for the subject when shooting wide open or large aperture in order to make the subject really stand out in the frame.

Anybody here has experience with these lenses and can make comment on them?

Thanks

How about DA 21mm?

Of course, landscape in taiwan is one of the best in asia.

Oh yes,

Just to agree with Fletcher8 about the 31mm

I am very happy with my FA 31mm Ltd. I use it whenever possible. It is a real level up from either the DA*16-50 or the sigma 18-50.

Thanks for everyone debating with me. I hope my comment did not upset anybody today.

Thanks

When I did the test I did focus on sharpness, both the sigma and pentax's contrast was good, colour the sigma seems a bit warmer than the pentax, hard to say which colour is better, bokeh the sigma is a little more creamy. But bokeh is hard to compare you know, everyone has different taste.

What lens you using instead of the 16-50 now then?

Ok George.

I seen many videos on youtube shows how water proof the pentax body and DA* lens are so I though I give it a go. And it failed after 30 mins. So I do not see pentax products as WR anymore. Now I will just take care of my gears better.

Going back to the IQ, yes the pentax is a good lens in most field conditions and if you think the price is fair then maybe we should put it this way the Tamron offer is a bargain.

Please let me point out, I do not mean to piss anyone off who own a DA*16-50 and I just want to point out to Japers45 that there are better offers out there in term of Price/Performance ratio.

At least now I got him to think again before spending £600+ for it while he might able to spend it the way I did, £150 for the 2nd hand sigma 18-50 and then add a 2nd hand sigma 10-20mm for around £200, Still £250 left, god knows where to spend. maybe a good tripod + a 35mm F2.4

you see I done alot with my £600 when I bought all these 2 years ago.

they look very good. look much better than when I first use flash.

No, I just borrowed my friend's. I done many test shots. Result is the IQ is they have the same IQ at F2.8, then my sigma performs better at f4-11. That is at the wide end. At 35 and 50mm the sigma performs the pentax at 2.8. But I have to say when both shoot at 2.8 the image produced by the pentax is brighter at the same shutter speed setting. That suggest the pentax might have a larger apeture then my sigma.

By the way my friend's Penatx DA*16-50 also had weather sealing problem under heavy rain.

Of course I never use my sigma in heavy rain condition so I can compare the weather sealing between the two.

Futhermore I tried the tamron 17-50 although on a Nikon d300 body but it perfroms way better than my sigma and the pentax.

Thanks

Good luck. and please post some samples as soon as you have the lens in your hand. Thanks