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Pentax

Pentax HD DA★ 16-50mm f/2.8 ED PLM AW

The 2021 replacement for the SDM 16-50: constant f/2.8 on APS-C (24-76mm equivalent), a fast, quiet PLM motor, electromagnetic aperture and AW sealing. 712g — the pro standard zoom for the K-3 III.

Starting from
£1299 new
Available at 2 retailers
Check price at Clifton Cameras
✓ Available at 2 retailers 🔒 No signup needed 📦 UK stock only
RetailerPrice
Clifton Cameras
Clifton Cameras
£1299
Check on Clifton Cameras →
Amazon
Amazon
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Prices are synced live from UK retailers. Not every product will be stocked by every retailer; older models may only be available second hand.
Core
Released
2021
Focal Length
16–50mm
Aperture
f/2.8
Compatible Mount
Pentax K-mount
Filter Size
77mm
Dimensions
84mm diameter × 117mm length
Weight
712g
Weather Sealed
Yes
Optics & Focus
AF Motor
PLM pulse (stepping) motor
Optical IS
None (relies on body IS if available)
Aperture Blades
9
Magnification
0.24x
Min. Focus Distance
0.3m

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GearScore™ — Suitability by Genre

Base score — computed from verified specs for an enthusiast shooting photo and video. Camera Match adjusts it for your skill level and priorities.

Portrait
6.9
Street
5.7
Travel
6.8
Wedding & Events
8.4
Vlogging & Video
5.8
Filmmaking
6.8
Documentary
7.1
Landscape
8.1
Casual
6.8
Food
6.0
Architecture
7.9
Astrophotography
6.7
Underwater
7.3
✅ Great For
💍
Wedding & Events 8.4 Strong on focal length, optical quality and autofocus.
🌄
Landscape 8.1 Strong on optical quality, focal length and weather sealing.
🏛️
Architecture 7.9 Strong on optical quality, focal length and filter compatibility.
⚠️ Not Ideal For
🌆
Street 5.7 Workable, but most alternatives do this better.
📝 How suitability scores are calculated GearScore™ genre scores are calculated from this camera's verified specifications — autofocus, sensor, weight, weather sealing and more — weighted by what matters for each type of photography. Where a spec sheet misses something (e.g. a manual-focus rangefinder for street), we apply a documented editorial adjustment. Scores are not based on customer reviews. See our full methodology →
Price History — HD DA★ 16-50mm f/2.8 ED PLM AW