Pentax DA* 16-50mm lens
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The DA* 16–50mm lens is a family of professional wide-angle lenses made by Ricoh Imaging. The current version, the HD DA* 16-50mm f/2.8L ED PLM AW, replaced the older smc DA* 16-50mm f/2.8 ED IF SDM lens in 2021.
smc DA* 16-50mm F2.8 ED AL (IF) SDM
The Pentax smc DA* 16-50mm F2.8 ED AL (IF) SDM was an advanced standard zoom lens for Pentax K-mount APS-C DSLR bodies, announced by Pentax on February 21, 2007. The lens suffered from frequent failures of the SDM autofocus drive motor due to design flaws[1]. It also received poor reviews due to sub-par optical performance for a lens with the professional star rating[2]. The lens was discontinued in late 2023[3].
HD DA* 16-50mm F2.8 ED PLM AW
The Pentax HD DA* 16-50mm F2.8 ED PLM AW is a professional standard zoom lens for Pentax K-mount APS-C DSLR bodies. Development was announced on 25th May 2020,[4] officially product name announced on October 25, 2021,[5] launched on July 15, 2021[6] and first shipped in August 2021. As a replacement for the poorly regarded earlier version, it featured a new pulse linear motor (PLM) focusing motor design and refined optical structure, largely alleviating issues with the prior version[7]. As a result of these changes the lens gained 147 grams and 18.5mm in length over its predecessor.
Specifications
| Attribute | smc ED AL [IF] SDM | HD ED PLM AW |
|---|---|---|
| Image |  |
|
| Key features | ||
| Full-frame compatible |  No | |
| ★-series |  Yes | |
| Macro | No | |
| Manual focus override | Yes | |
| Weather-sealing | Yes | |
| Lens-based stabilization | No | |
| Aperture ring | No | |
| Technical data | ||
| Aperture (max-min) | f/2.8–f/32 | |
| Construction | 15 groups / 12 elements | 16 groups / 10 elements |
| # of diaphragm blades | 9 | 9 (rounded) |
| Closest focusing distance | 0.3 m (0.98 ft) | |
| Max. magnification | 0.21× (1:4.8) | 0.24× (1:4.2) |
| Horizontal viewing angle | 74°-27° | |
| Diagonal viewing angle | 83°-31.5° | |
| Vertical viewing angle | 52°-18° | |
| Physical data | ||
| Weight | 565 g (1.246 lb) | 712 g (1.570 lb) |
| Maximum diameter | 84 mm (3.3 in) | 84 mm (3.3 in) |
| Length | 98.5 mm (3.88 in) | 117 mm (4.6 in) |
| Filter diameter | 77 mm | 77 mm |
| Accessories | ||
| Lens hood | PH-RBJ77 | PH-RBM77 |
| Retail information | ||
| Release date | March 2007 | July 2021 |
| MSRP $ | $749 | $1,399 |
| Street price $ | $749 | $1,399 |
