Vintage Digital… This Old Lens/Father & Son Gallivanting: Pentax-DA 16-45mm f/4… $70 lenses are not supposed to be this good. Right?
Seriously, what the heck Pentax?
Ok. let me back up.
The motivation.
Have recently become smitten with an inexpensive Pentax DSLR. The K-x.
Up to this point I had two lenses, a 50mm and 100mm, and I wanted a wider focal length than a 75mm full frame equivalent.
That is when I found this lens that I never knew existed.
This is a $70 lens that is good enough to justify purchasing a camera. The run down:
- Constant f/4 aperture.
- This is the biggest surprise. This is a tiny lens. I was quite surprised that this was not a variable aperture lens.
- DA means it was designed for APS-C.
- A great focal range.
- A 24-67.7mm focal range covers many purposes.
- Fast AF.
- Sharp.
- Great colors.
Team this with Pentax bodies having SR or IBIS in Pentax speak and it makes it even more flexible.
I could go on, but I will let the pictures speak for the lens.
The occasion.
Brought it along with as I went about life, including a bit of Father & Son Gallivanting.
The pics.
First test pic that let me know I may have stumbled upon something good, maybe even great here.
Out and about.
Thoughts.
…or thought. Wow.
I have spent far more money for lenses that have done no better. And some were not as good.
I could not ask for better performance at any price.
All from a $70 lens.
Nice.
Happy capturing.
-ELW
Eric L. Woods 