slide_scanner wrote:
> I'm looking for the sharpest wideangle lens that I can get in
> Pentax mount. I currently have the 16-45, but despite its good
> reputation, I can't help but be disappointed by its sharpness at
> 16mm, even stopped down.
>
> My main question is whether or not the DA 14mm would be a
> significant improvement -- this lens seems to have a mixed
> reputation. I know the 12-24 and upcoming 16-50 would likely show
> an improvement, but they are a little larger than I was hoping for.
>
> I'd like to see some 100% crops of the 14 in action to help me
> decide. I'd also be open to looking at some 100% crops (especially
> corners) of the 16-45 at 16mm -- maybe I just have a bad copy of
> the lens. (I've searched the forum and pbase, but mostly have found
> web-size samples -- not very useful for determining sharpness).

Here are some full size K10D JPEGS (converted from Raw) of boring, but useful, brick wall shots of the DA14, DA 12-24 @ 12mm & 24mm and the DA 16-45 @ 16mm & 28mm. All were shot at f4.0.

They are about 2.4MB each. I hope they help.

DA14 @ f4.0
http://www.zen70100.zen.co.uk/jpgfiles/lens%20tests/DA14@f4.jpg;
DA 12-24 (12mm) @ f4.0
http://www.zen70100.zen.co.uk/jpgfiles/lens%20tests/DA12-24@12f4.jpg;
DA 12-24 (24mm) @ f4.0
http://www.zen70100.zen.co.uk/jpgfiles/lens%20tests/DA12-24@24-f4.jpg;
DA 16-45 (16mm) @ f4.0
http://www.zen70100.zen.co.uk/jpgfiles/lens%20tests/DA16-45_16f4.jpg;
DA 16-45 (28mm) @ f4.0
http://www.zen70100.zen.co.uk/jpgfiles/lens%20tests/DA16-45@24_f4.jpg;

The DA 12-24 is by far and away the sharpest of them all, also at smaller apertures too. It's a very good lens, probably the best of all the current DA zooms. The DA 16-45 does fall off at the very extreme cornerss at f4.0, but improves rapidly at f5.6 and is excellent at f8.0.

The DA 14 never seems to get as sharp as the DA 12-24 f stop for f stop. I personally wouldn't consider one myself, the DA 12-24 is more useful on all counts except for the extra stop.
--
Richard Day - 'Carpe Diem!'
Gloucester UK