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Bhutan with Pentax SMC DA* 16-50mm F2.8 ED (IF) SDM
Photo: The mighty Pentax SMC DA* 16-50mm f/2.8 ED [IF] SDM
20th February 2014, Singapore – Launched in 2008, the Pentax SMC DA* 16-50mm f/2.8 ED [IF] SDM has never aged. In fact this wonder lens is still current and very much relevant to Pentax photographers. Created as a DA* lens, this lens is under Pentax’s professional line of optics. Equivalent to 24-75mm on 35mm format, the 16-50mm is no doubt the best lens for all its digital SLR cameras. Fully compatible with all new Pentax DSLRs & all the back-run camera bodies, this is a very affordable lens that promises excellent images and interesting colors.
A weather proof lens, the lens build is of excellent quality and it seems like the lens can take lots of heavy uses (& abuses too). The SP coating (Pentax Super Coating) further proves that this lens was designed for outdoor too as it repels dusts, dirt, water dews and even grease. The SDM (Silent Drive Motor) are another point worth mentioning. The focusing is extremely fast and near total silence when in operation. To compare blankly, the SDM is as fast, as quiet & as efficient as Canon’s USM, Nikon’s SWM & Sony’s SSM.
Picture: A local Bhutanese processing the rice grains.
Picture: Took a shot of my wife while she shoots the padi field with her Pentax Q. This lens is great for portraits too.
The Pentax 16-50mm produces contrasty and sharp images with no loss of details. Use it with the creative filters in most Pentax cameras, your next set of travel photos can be exciting like mine too.
Picture: A shy monk stand watch while I took the shot.
Photo: A giant Buddha overlooking the city of Paro, Bhutan.
Internally, Pentax 16-50mm creates beautiful bokehs with its 9 blades aperture and I was really hoping that Pentax will release a F2 version so that at 50mm, this lens can double up as a big aperture portrait lens. Pentax spared no effort on the optics too, this mid sized lens has 15 elements in 12 groups, among the glasses, and there are 2 Aspherical elements and 1 SD element, impressed? No? Well with all the goodies included, this lens only weights a mere 565g – light enough for shooting in any situation & anywhere.
Picture: A monk walking down Tiger Nests Temple, Bhutan. Shot at 50mm
Picture: Colorful Bhutan with Pentax Colors. Shot at 35mm
I took this lens to Bhutan a couple of months ago for my honeymoon and have it paired to a Pentax K-30. The Pentax K-30 is also a weather-sealed DSLR so it is perfect to have the 16-50mm on it. I used this lens 90% of the time while I was at Bhutan and I find that there isn’t much need to switch lenses although I have with me a fisheye & a 35mm. This lens performs well and I have most of the focal range covered seamlessly. Do check out the photos in this article that I had shot at Bhutan with the Pentax 16-50mm.
To summarize, the Pentax SMC DA* 16-50mm f/2.8 ED [IF] SDM is an excellent walkabout & travel lens. Covering from wide angle landscape to mid tele for street portraits and zooming in to architectural details, this lens does it all. So if you are looking to purchase a tough Pentax walkabout lens, get this lens!
Ed.
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About Pentax Ricoh Imaging Company, Ltd
PENTAX RICOH IMAGING CORPORATION was originally founded in 1919 under the name Asahi Optical Joint Stock Co. In the 1950s, launched the first SLR camera, the Asahiflex I, and the company haven’t stopped since. From the Asahi PENTAX single-lens reflex camera to the Spotmatic and to our most recent K-5IIs and incredibly tiny Q10, Pentax empowers and inspired photographers around the world.
For information on Ricoh, click here.
About APDS (Exclusive Distributor for Singapore)
Audio & Photo Distributor (Far East) Pte. Ltd. formerly known as MHE Consumer (S) Pte. Ltd was founded in 1973.
Since its inception Audio & Photo has had been the distributor of many well-known international consumer brands such as Konica cameras from Japan, Kenwood and Nakamachi hi-fi products from Japan, and Metz flash and accessories, Rollei cameras and Jos Schneider enlarging/professional lenses from Germany, to name a few.
Currently Audio & Photo Distributor is the sole distributor of Pentax & Ricoh cameras from Japan . With over 35 years of marketing experience and history, Audio & Photo has developed a strong network of dealers located islandwide in Singapore with whom it enjoys close rapport and support.
Audio & Photo Distributor (FE) Pte Ltd bides by its belief that it exists because of the customer, and therefore it will always strive to serve the needs of its customers with full dedication and commitment.
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