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. It also received poor reviews due to sub-par optical performance for a lens with the professional star rating. The lens was discontinued in late 2023.
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, officially product name announced on October 25, 2021, launched on July 15, 2021 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. 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 NoTechnical data Aperture (max-min) 2.8–32 Construction 15 groups / 12 elements 16 groups / 10 elements # of diaphragm blades 9 9 (rounded) Closest focusing distance 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 Maximum diameter Length Filter diameter 77 mm 77 mmAccessories Lens hood PH-RBJ77 PH-RBM77Retail information Release date March 2007 July 2021 MSRP $$749$1,399 Street price $$749$1,399
References
External links Specifications, KMP Specifications, Imaging Ressource Review / Test Report, OpticalLimits! HD PENTAX-DA★ 16-50mm F2.8ED PLM AW: A large-aperture standard zoom lens for APS-C, Ricoh Imaging Blog Product Page, Ricoh Imaging Europe Special Content Site, Ricoh Imaging Global