I did a resolution test of the DA* zoom lenses and compared them to various other lenses.

Here are my conclusions:

Overall the DA* 50-135 appears to be better. But this is probably simply due to the fact that it is easier to construct a 50-135 mm lens than a 16-50/2.8.

Center sharpness is basically about the same for all lenses. We are reaching the sensor limit here probably.

The DA* 16-50 shows a bluish CA color fringe, whereas all other lenses show a more brown-reddish fringe.
The DA* 50-135 shows basically no CAs. Very good!

Quantifying the resolution values roughly, one can say that the DA* 16-50 is about 15% weaker than the Tokina 28-70, due to the worse corner sharpness.
On the other hand, the DA* 50-135 is about 10% better than the Tokina, also contrast is better.
Compared to the fixed focals the DA* 16-50 falls off about 20%, the DA* 50-135 about 5%.


Here are the facts:

I have compared the two DA* zooms with the following lenses:

- Tokina 2.6-2.8/28-70 (one of the best zooms ever)
- DA 21
- FA 35
- DA 70
- DFA 100
- K 135/2.5

Experimental:
USAF testsheets, ca. 3-5 m distance, focus array with 10 images, MLU, tripod, all lenses measured fully open.

http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/5182/vergleichdastar21mmdb7.jpg

http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/1641/vergleichdastar28mmup0.jpg

http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/6610/vergleichdastar35mmlh9.jpg

http://img409.imageshack.us/img409/5251/vergleichdastar50mmgp2.jpg

http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/5158/vergleichdastar70mmaa2.jpg

http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/7274/vergleichdastar100mmvj3.jpg

http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/8347/vergleichdastar135mmfd0.jpg
--
blende8
'Good hunters are silent and fast: PENTAX SDM'
(from the new K100D Super catalogue)