We wouldn't want to wander off topic, would we now?

Prieni

John,

good to see that someone pays attention to the history of German optics industry.

Prieni

I think spider is wrong, the SR wouldn't really decide by itself to rotate a bit just for fun. It's designed to keep the sensor in the position it had when the exposure started.

I do have the same problem, many shots are not level (sounds better than saying hardly any are straight at all). It could be a slight misalignment of the viewer or sensor. But most likely it is me not holding the camera straight.

rpk: It's #1 for me as well, lovely shot!

Prieni

Ken,
that's a shame, would have liked to see some arguments. I'm not dogmatic on this...

Prieni

I know what you mean. Personally I blame the praises that have been sung about the * lenses. This does raise expectations well above reasonable levels (and I have to blame myself for that mainly). Wide angle zooms (and 16 mm certainly is wide angle) without a certain level of CA are near impossible, I think. And even a * lens cannot defy the laws of physics. And as you say, CA can be dealt with in the raw converter.

I'm happy with the 16-50 but would have been even happier if I hadn't had too high expectations (but at the time I thought them not too high especially when looking at the price tag).

Prieni

I would say it is a good to great lens. What I am not so sure about is the value-for-money. I never had the 16-45, which got a lot of praise, not only in this forum. I had the old kit lens from the *istD (18-35/4-5.6) and that certainly is no contender for the 16-50. So the 16-45 might be better value-for-money even if it is a slightly inferior lens (but others have to judge that).

Recently I noticed (but haven't followed up) that I need to activate AF more than once to get the shot focussed. First AF action would stop with the centre (as I used centre AF point at the time) clearly out of focus (and no focus confirmation)). Second AF action then put that right.

The lens cap I don't like at all. Yes, it's centre pinch, which should be good. But the tips of the fingers don't find grip and it slides off the fingers.
That I could tolerate. But it is also sliding off the lens when I pull my camera out of the bag. Not always but quite often.

The SDM is a treat, of course.

Would I buy it again? Yes, I say with only a slight hesitation.

Prieni

You will find out in time

I don't remember exactly how many posts it takes, if I recall it right you may find out pretty soon...

Prieni

Apart from the Rolleis, Leicas .... what have the Romans ever done for us?

I don't see a problem with posts of pictures taken with other cameras. I agree that they shouldn't go in the gallery. I would think them ok in the weekly competition, though.

Gartmore: Somehow I feel a photo taken with Pentax body and 3rd party lens is more of a Pentax photo than one taken with 3rd party body and Pentax lens. At least for digital bodies that makes sense to me.

Prieni

Best of luck
Good job you have a fallback taken already...

Prieni

You did shoot with a Canon in the last week? How did that happen?

I'm glad you're cured!
If they were shot within the competition period and you have seen sense since using the Canon I think I could be tempted to let the shot in.
It's more work for me but with this flood of entries it hardly makes a difference

Prieni