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What is problem with first run DA* 16-50?

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ngap

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I just picked up a DA*16-50 and notice its serial number appears to be a first run version, 90* .

I also noted a lot people saying there was a fault with these. I was wondering what it is and how to test it?

Other than that I like the feel of the DA* pair of lenses and am looking forward to trying them out over the next few weeks,
 
Mine is fine. I carefully evaluated it via my usual lens quality test shots and am satisfied that it's better than my DA16-45. No, it didn't make me a better photographer, nor did I expect it to.
--
Jim King - Retired Colormonger - Suburban Detroit, Michigan, USA; GMT -4h (EDT)
Pentax user for over 45 years. Photo gear and collection listed in my profile.



* * * * *
A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject.
  • Sir Winston Churchill
* * * * *
The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits.
  • Albert Einstein
 
ngap said:
I just picked up a DA*16-50 and notice its serial number appears to
be a first run version, 90* .

I also noted a lot people saying there was a fault with these. I was
wondering what it is and how to test it?

Other than that I like the feel of the DA* pair of lenses and am
looking forward to trying them out over the next few weeks,
Click to expand...
--

There were some reports of issues with inaccurate focusing. I sort of think it wasa more of a quality control issue than anything else. Out of the box I was sort of on the edge of complaining, not sure whether I a lens problem or not. Part of the issue is that were are not used to encountering depth of field issues with wide angle lenses. with a slow wide angle lens such as the kit lens almost everything is in focus no matter what the autofocus does, but when you open up to F/2.8
things are different and you need to pay attention to it.

I ended up changing the default focus method from a screen average method
to a center weighted method, and that resolved my issues.

rvannatta
 
I have a first run DA* 16-50 and an early run K10D and had back focus problems at lower f stops around 40 to 50mm. I sent the lens into Pentax USA with photos to proove the problem and that my other lenses seemed not to have a back focus problem.

I was told the lens was OK and they needed the K10D camera body to fix the problem. Currently Pentax said they have adjusted the camera body and the problem is fixed and they are in the process of shipping the lens and body back to me.
BTW the K10D had the pop up flash failure problem too.
 
The reason that I (and I suspect the others) posted that we are not having issues with our DA*16-50 is to provide a little balance, so the OP understands that many users are satisfied. It's usually the minority who have issues who post replies to questions like that of the OP, and this can mislead the reader into thinking most copies of this lens are defective.
--
Jim King - Retired Colormonger - Suburban Detroit, Michigan, USA; GMT -4h (EDT)
Pentax user for over 45 years. Photo gear and collection listed in my profile.



* * * * *
A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject.
  • Sir Winston Churchill
* * * * *
The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits.
  • Albert Einstein
 
I had a lens with severe backfocusing which was sent to Pentax Norway, then to Pentax Europe and finally Pentax Japan. I got a new lens from Pentax Norway which have been OK. Last week they also sent me the first lens which finally returned from Japan. I have been using both the last week and the backfocusing is fixed.

Please note that they fixed the backfocusing without having my camera sent in.

Pentax has been very helpful in this situation and I have nothing to complain about.
 
but you've made several key assumptions in that decision:

1) the person asked for the %age of positive vs negative experiences (he did not)

2) the person cares what the likelihood of the problem is (he shouldn't- he already bought the lens- he just wants to test it)

3) adding you're experience some how creates a representative sample (we don't know that)

4) someone out there reads these threads and makes purchasing decisions on them in a knee-jerk and unintelligent fashion (surely there just as many easily-influenced forum visitors as perceptive visitors, but they will be influenced by countless other things- do you really expect to be the one to get to them?)

sorry though, not trying to be a jerk, just didn't see anyone answering his question.

Frank
 
RBellavance said:
RBellavance said:
I ended up changing the default focus method from a screen average
method
to a center weighted method, and that resolved my issues.
Click to expand...
Those are metering modes, and have nothing to do with focusing.
Click to expand...
Robert is talking about focus method, so probably meant centerweight AF instead of using all the focus points.

caveguru wrote :
RBellavance said:
but you've made several key assumptions in that decision:
3) adding you're experience some how creates a representative sample (we
don't know that)
Click to expand...
Addressing the question in general, is a big help for the rest of us, who might have the same thoughts. (Unless you want the same question asked over and over again).
RBellavance said:
4) someone out there reads these threads and makes purchasing decisions
on them in a knee-jerk and unintelligent fashion (surely there just as
many easily-influenced forum visitors as perceptive visitors, but they will
be influenced by countless other things- do you really expect to be the one
to get to them?)
Click to expand...
I’m a student, so purchasing a lens is a big decision for me; (buying the K10 I had to increase my bankloan). That other have chimed in, in previous discussions so as to show a more balanced view, has been a big help in the past. I’m sorry if you see this as us acting in an unintelligent fashion, but with less experience it is a bigger challenge to have a lens sent to Pentax, or take other measures to test a lens. This might prevent us from going for an otherwise interesting optic. We may not be as experienced or at ease with dealing with companies and how to act, but I’m sorry, if that makes us knee-jerk (not even sure what that means).

I don’t see Jim’s answer as being negative towards the OP. The OP has a valid question and presents it in good faith. For me, when I was new to the forum, I was easier put off when I was reading postings, and didn’t know who were trolls and who to rely on. I even bookmarked RiceHigh’s blog. I guess that makes me a knee-jerk.

--
Kind regards
Sune



“The K10D not only proves that Pentax belongs in the big league, it’s an all-star player.” Popular Photography & Imaging and American Photo. Jan 07
 
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