Anybody see the Samsung 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 Power Zoom ED OIS Lens yet?

Hey gang...

Just curious if anyone (anywhere) has seen this new Samsung 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 Power Zoom ED OIS Lens?

I know they are releasing it with newer NX models, but I've been wanting to check out this lens since it was released.  If the optics are at least as good as (or better) than Samsung's regular 18-55 OIS kit lens, then I'm in.  The 16-50 f2.8 is too much of a beast to put on my NX-300, and I'm thinking the more compact model would be ideal for the 300.  The inclusion of the 24 MM wide end makes things nicer.

So has anybody here in the US (or Europe and Asia) seen this lens start to filter into shops and/or online?

I've put it in my wish list at B&H, but it's showing as "new item, not yet in stock."

Thanks,

The 20-50 is an excellent lens, actually beats the 20mm F2.8 Prime at the wide end . I have two up on my DPR samples from the lens wideopen. I can`t see a compact Powerzoom coming close (the Panny and NEX ones are miles off) . I`m amazed you`ve not checked out this compact zoom, I know its not stabilized but the weather is glorious where you are anyway . Next doors shed is being re-built BTW

Samsung 20-50 wideopen .. the Gallery allows 100% viewing and dowbloading, Pixel peep for best results

Samsung 20-50mm at 20mm F3.5

Samsung 20-50mm at 50mm F5.6

The reason I never got the 20-50 is due to:

1.  I like a wider end - preferring the 24 MM equivalent on the wide end.

2.  I've become spoiled with IS/OIS/VR/VC (or whatever other terms various manufacturers use).  I like the convenience of this feature - big time.

The 20-50 lacks all of this.  Yeah, that new 16-50 f2 appears to a very, very nice lens, although some reviews don't give it as much credit as we would like.  But it's too large a lens when placed on the likes of the NX300.

1. I like a wider end - preferring the 24 MM equivalent on the wide end.

Me too when its not whacked out with blurry edges - the 18-55s I`ve used have been decentered , I`d hate to think what the hit rate on a 16-50 would be even if the edges are any good to begin with .

2. I've become spoiled with IS/OIS/VR/VC (or whatever other terms various manufacturers use). I like the convenience of this feature - big time.

Me too again so long as it works well and doesn`t compromise the optics . I thought I`d throw in the 20-50 as an option due its size and prime beating wide end (also I`ve never seen a dud one and I`ve used 5 or 6 both Mk1s and Mk2s) I`d rather live without the IS than have a lens like the 18-55 , hopefully Sammy's sample variation has improved on the budget IS lenses dramatically in the 16-50 .

jennyrae wrote:

laugh about shooting on cliff. do not worry, you not have to shoot on edge of cliff to get field of view on open area. I not know what concern of shot you need 16mm or how wide you need. 2mm additional is good, but must ask question if you need it that much or not. personally, I would get 12mm because of significant difference of field view over 18mm. very tight space, 2mm is not that big as 6mm difference. just sharing my view.

To be pedantic, it's technically a 3mm difference between 16mm and 18mm equivalent when you take the crop factor into account. 16mm being 24mm equivalent and 18mm being 27mm. So that's why the 12mm has such a huge difference in field of view, it's equivalent to 18mm on full frame, 9mm wider than the widest setting on the 18-55.

pictures I saw with S 16-50 suggests big corner sharpness stop down f2.8 at 16mm

I would expect that at the price , it was the cheap pancakes which Ben is after here ..

between 18-55 kit and 20-50 kit, I like 20-50 sharpness but I used 18-55 more often. AF speed and OIS are just very useful. if only 20-50 is fast AF, I use it permanently already over 18-55.

the 18-55 sits better on the NX10/20/30 style bodies too, I`ve not seen one which is any good at the edges or sharp at 55mm , if a good sample is as good as a top sample of the Canon 18-55IS it`d be good enough but I`d still use the 20-50 , it`s not only the wideopen sharpness but the lack of distortion vignetting and CA which makes this lens a gem , it really is like a 20mm Prime which zooms (though the rest of the range isn`t as good)

AdamT wrote:
..but Id still use the 20-50 , its not only the wideopen sharpness but the lack of distortion vignetting and CA which makes this lens a gem

I have just spent some time to correct distortion of 20-50mm at 20mm yesterday. It is just heavy. See: http://www.photozone.de/samsungnx/703_samsungnx2050f3556?start=1

If you shoot JPG or convert RAW in Lightroom you won't notice it due to software correction.

In any case, 20-50 is not suited for architecture and I suppose both the new 16-50s won't be for the same reason. There is no alternative to the NX 12-24mm in that regard.

I have just spent some time to correct distortion of 20-50mm at 20mm yesterday. It is just heavy. See: http://www.photozone.de/samsungnx/703_samsungnx2050f3556?start=1

I`m using Capture One 7 and was using V5 before that with the DNG converter so no lens correction unless dialled in on the former and none at all on the latter - After the G1X and some of the other mirrorless kit lenses (especially the PZ pancakes) , the 20-50 has excellent distortion characteristics, I`ve seen the test chart at Photozone but in reality I find most images don`t need any messing with unless architecture is involved and then no more than the best DSLR 18-55...... My sample Above has no correction at all .

The G1X like the small 1:1.7" compacts of the P330, S110 ilk are borderline Fisheye at the wide end - so much so that when PT lens does its trick you get a 25mm FOV from the G1X and more like 21mm from the P330 ! .

AdamT wrote:

unless architecture is involved

You said that.

the PZ is now available in stores and mine is ready for shipment and expected to be mounted on one of my NX by mid next week

Cheers, Tjobbe

Just seen 5 available from seller on eBay for $320/£190. Likely grey import but I've never had any problems with them.

Adrian

Adrian,

that is roughly the price I paid when ordering it bundled with the NX30 body at that dealers website.

I assume that after some time (and enough NX3000 on the market) the price will drop to that level easily

Cheers, Tjobbe

tjobbe wrote:

Adrian,

that is roughly the price I paid when ordering it bundled with the NX30 body at that dealers website.

I assume that after some time (and enough NX3000 on the market) the price will drop to that level easily

Cheers, Tjobbe

Wow Tjobbe, some deal. I'd assumed your previous post showed €349 just for the lens?

Adrian 😀

northlondon43 wrote:

tjobbe wrote:

Adrian,

that is roughly the price I paid when ordering it bundled with the NX30 body at that dealers website.

I assume that after some time (and enough NX3000 on the market) the price will drop to that level easily

Cheers, Tjobbe

Wow Tjobbe, some deal. I'd assumed your previous post showed €349 just for the lens?

Adrian 😀

correct, that is the official price that any dealer is supposed to charge initially (being the SRP) but I assume it will drop down as soon as the volumes go up and the NX3000 is avail in larger qty

tjobbe wrote:

northlondon43 wrote:

tjobbe wrote:

Adrian,

that is roughly the price I paid when ordering it bundled with the NX30 body at that dealers website.

I assume that after some time (and enough NX3000 on the market) the price will drop to that level easily

Cheers, Tjobbe

Wow Tjobbe, some deal. I'd assumed your previous post showed €349 just for the lens?

Adrian 😀

correct, that is the official price that any dealer is supposed to charge initially (being the SRP) but I assume it will drop down as soon as the volumes go up and the NX3000 is avail in larger qty

Sorry, I'm a little confused.  You say you paid 349 euros but the ebay purchase I referred to was 320 dollars, one heck of a cut in rrp