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72 of 73 found the following review helpful:
 Tremendous lens, a bargin compared to...Nov 25, 2007
By Hiram Grant
"just call me Sam"
If you've read my previous reviews, you know that I'm a retail camera salesperson. I get to use a wide variety of equipment, but I'm a bit picky on what I buy myself. I own this lens.
I couldn't be more pleased with this lens for my K10D. The images are crisp at all focal lengths and apertures. The focusing is both fast and smooth. (Note: it will require updating to firmware version 1.3 for the K10D to autofocus properly.) Build quality is top-notch, and the weather-proofing is nice, although I doubt I'll test that often.
Pentax has also equiped this lens with the older drive system, so that it can be used on older digital cameras, but the noise level goes up, and the AF performance, while decent, goes down.
This is an amazingly good deal compared to either the Canon or Nikon lenses in the same range. The Nikon has about the same build quality, but costs considerably more. The Canon has the IS system built into the lens (not necessary with Pentax); therefore, it costs about the same as the Nikon. A very good lens, it still doesn't have the build quality "feel" of the Pentax nor Nikon. Additionally, the 16mm makes the Pentax a bit wider, a big advantage for my type of shooting.
Simply put, without this lens, I'd be shooting Nikon.
31 of 33 found the following review helpful:
A bargain...just buy it!!!Mar 30, 2009
By Bruno Passigatti
For Pentax K20D users:
(Older model owners: upgrade already, you're missing all the fun, what are you waiting for? ;-)
I reviewed tons of sites before purchasing this lens. Here the lowdown after some extensive K20D (real world studio with people, not charts) testing:
-"Famous urban Internet legend" QA issues: Are done and over with. Blast from the (2008) past. All current lenses in stock do not have any issues anymore (in case you heard).
-Sharpness/Focus: Much, much better then lower grade zooms, especially if you stop down an f-stop or two (which you really should anyhow). It really shows all the (detailed) glory of your sensor. Do not settle for a third party lens (Sigma, Tamron, etc.) if you can have the real thing.
-AF: Way more accurate then kit/consumer lenses. Dead-on 95% of the time (versus non * lenses: More like 50%-70%). And in case you're comparing: Yes, it's better then the 17-70mm Pentax.
-A real bargain compared to Nikon/Canon glass: you would have to pay over a grand for the same quality.
-Bottom line: the best zoom glass you can get other then the (new digital) * primes. Even there, I think you would have a hard time to see a difference.
And yes, I do this for a living (shooting, not reviewing, that is).
I'm just flabbergasted how professional Pentax has become: The Nikon D300 with any glass shoots like a Coolpix in comparison (yes, I own an entire Nikon outfit).
17 of 18 found the following review helpful:
EXCELLENT LENS TO OWNMar 28, 2008
By JOHN HONG
"TOKUSHI"
Best walk around lens to own. With a K10D, you can have a weather proof combo for around $1,350. Where else can you find this kind of deal? If you add on a DA 50~135 with them, you can have an award winning camera with lenses range from 16~135 f2.8 for $2,100.
Both of these lenses have EXCELLENT SHARPNESS and BOKEH. DA 50~135 has "cleaner" picture though.
These are my 2 favorite lenses now. period.
If you want to buy something that is worth every penny, the combo I have listed above will do!!!
16 of 17 found the following review helpful:
 sharp and smoothJan 04, 2008
By Dan_A
"dxgxa"
The built quality is exceptional. sharp, smooth and fast AF. Be sure to update your k10D firmware to v 1.3 before using this lens, so you wont be like me at first scratching my head wondering why a lens this expensive is noisy and vibrates. The lens is made in vietnam-nothing wrong with that, for some reason I was under the impression it was made in Japan.
7/16/11 Update
This lens did not last, been repaired/replaced twice already because it quit autofocusing. Used it from k10 to K5. Changed my star rating from 4 to 2
12 of 13 found the following review helpful:
Great all-around lensApr 27, 2008
By D. Gallot
Pros:
- Build quality is excellent
- Weather sealed
- Very sharp from F/4 across the entire zoom range
- Great colour rendition
- SDM works as advertised: fast and quiet
Cons:
- A tad soft at 16mm F/2.8
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