Pentax SMC DA 16 50mm F2 8 ED AL IF SDM Review | 54 Data compared

The SMC Pentax-DA* 16-50mm f/2.8 ED AL [IF] SDM is a weather-sealed, constant f/2.8 premium standard zoom for APS-C cameras, featuring good center sharpness, pleasing bokeh, and Quick-Shift focus. However, user reviews highlight significant issues, most notably the unreliable early-generation SDM motor, along with corner softness at f/2.8, heavy barrel distortion at 16mm, and noticeable chromatic aberration.

The Pentax DA* 16-50mm f/2.8ED AL [IF] SDM is a weather-sealed, constant-aperture standard zoom for Pentax APS-C DSLRs, offering robust construction and quiet, fast SDM autofocus. While providing a practical 30cm minimum focus distance and solid center sharpness, the lens suffers from significantly soft edges at the maximum f/2.8 aperture, requiring stopping down to f/5.6-f/8 for optimal performance across the frame. Pros: Excellent weather-resistant build, quiet SDM focusing, and outstanding center sharpness. Cons: Poor edge performance at maximum aperture, requiring stopping down to achieve high-quality results across the frame.

This review of the SMC Pentax-DA ★ 16-50 mm f/2.8 ED AL [IF] SDM lens highlights its position as an intrinsically versatile, weather-sealed (AW) standard zoom for APS-C cameras, offering a useful 24.5-76.5mm full-frame equivalent focal range. The tester notes that the lens delivers exemplary build quality with a metal bayonet and highly comfortable handling, complete with a convenient "Quick Shift" manual focus override and a non-rotating 77mm filter mount. In terms of performance, the zoom produces sharp, high-quality images with faithful colorimetry, particularly in the center of the frame and when stopped down past the maximum constant f/2.8 aperture. It proves highly practical for everyday landscape, street, and portrait photography, while its 0.30m minimum focusing distance allows for decent close-up capabilities. However, the lens suffers from notable optical and mechanical drawbacks, leading to an overall rating of 78/100. On the optical side, the review points out heavy vignetting at larger apertures, clear sensitivity to chromatic aberrations and flare at wide angles, and an extremely significant, irregular barrel distortion at 16mm that makes it poorly suited for precise architectural photography....

The Pentax SMC-DA 16-50mm f/2.8 ED [IF] SDM* is a professional-grade standard zoom lens tailored exclusively for APS-C DSLRs, offering a full-format equivalent field of view of 24-75mm. Reviewed by Klaus Schroiff for OpticalLimits, its standout pros include an exceptionally high build quality complete with rugged weather-sealing, very smooth rubberized control rings, and a non-rotating front element thanks to internal focusing. It is also highly cost-effective, priced significantly lower (around 600-700 €/US$) than its direct competitor lenses from Canon and Nikon. Furthermore, it features a specialized Super Protect (SP) coating to repel debris and elements, alongside a dual-drive system that utilizes both a quiet Supersonic Dynamic Motor (SDM) and an old screw drive for legacy DSLR camera support. However, the lens suffers from notable cons, primarily centered around its autofocus performance and manufacturing consistency. Despite featuring an ultrasonic motor, the autofocus is described as mediocre in speed and lacking accuracy, displaying a severe back-focus problem at the 50mm focal length during testing. Furthermore, quality control is a substantial issue within the Pentax community. The reviewed item was the third sample...

The What Digital Camera review of the Pentax DA* 16-50mm f/2.8 ED AL IF SDM lens concludes that while it boasts high-end specifications on paper, it ultimate fails to fully realize its potential relative to its high price tag. On the positive side, the lens features a premium design marked by a signature gold ring, robust weather protection against inclement elements, and a constant f/2.8 maximum aperture that ensures comfortable handling and a balanced build on DSLR bodies. Additionally, the lens exhibits well-controlled distortion that is never a major concern, offers a generous manual-focus ring with a rapid 60° throw, and delivers vastly improved sharpness across the frame when stopped down by just a single f-stop or closed completely down to f/22. Conversely, the review highlights several prominent flaws in performance and real-world image quality. Despite the inclusion of an internally smooth and quiet SDM autofocus mechanism, the overall focusing speed is criticized as being sluggish, leaving a lot to be desired when tested on a K200D body. Shooters looking to take advantage of the wide-open f/2.8 aperture will find...

The Pentax 16-50mm f/2.8 ED AL IF SDM SMC DA* is a professional-grade standard zoom lens explicitly optimized for Pentax APS-C digital SLR cameras. Delivering a versatile 35mm-equivalent focal range of 24.5mm to 76.5mm, it serves as a highly adaptable tool for landscape and portrait photography. A major pro of this lens is its advanced optical layout, which integrates two ED (extra-low dispersion) elements and three aspherical elements to successfully control chromatic and spherical aberrations. It also boasts a highly resilient, weather- and dust-resistant construction, making it an excellent match for rugged bodies like the Pentax K10D. Additional operational strengths include a supersonic motor (SDM System) for quiet autofocusing, a Quick-Shift Focus System for instantaneous manual-focus override, and a protective fluorine SP coating that effectively repels dust, water, and grease from the front lens element.

The PentaxUser review of the smc Pentax-DA* 16-50mm f/2.8 ED AL [IF] SDM highlights its robust, weather-sealed construction and 600g, well-balanced design, making it suitable for bodies like the K-5 IIs. Key advantages include quiet SDM autofocus, internal focusing (IF), and excellent sharpness when stopped down, marking it as a premium, versatile tool. Conversely, the review identifies significant weaknesses, notably poor edge-to-edge sharpness at the maximum f/2.8 aperture, with soft corners. Additionally, while focusing is internal, the physical lens barrel extends during zooming.