PDML user Leon Altoff just come back from the Melbourne PMA show and shared his impressions of Pentax DA* 16-50mm F2.8 lens:
The lens focusing was, as far as I could tell in the noisy environment, completely silent. I don't think it focussed much faster than the DA16-45 that I am used to, but it was certainly smoother and quieter.
The lens was smooth all round in terms of use. The zoom and manual focus feel were good and from what I could see through the viewfinder was nice and sharp. I did press the shutter and an image appeared on the LCD but then came the message "No card in camera".
The rep behind the counter did say that a firmware upgrade would be necessary to use the new lenses, but exactly what will work and not work without the upgrade I don't know. They were rather swamped with people - many with K10D's around their neck - and I couldn't monopolize too
much of their time.I looked at the 60-250 mock up through the glass and also handled the Sigma 100-300f4 which is my other option for that range of zoom. The Sigma is much larger, particularly wider and I like to travel reasonably light so I think I'm going to save my pennies for the release of the 60-250.
...
The 645D was also a mock up, unfortunately.
