77mm Limited Problem

So, having received my 77mm Ltd lens in black for an astoundingly good price, I checked it out thoroughly.

A) The A-lock button is kind of "sticky" and not as smooth as my other lenses. This is the same with the replacement lens, and I will be controlling the aperture from the camera, so no biggie.

B) I was really surprised to see that when I closed down the aperture blades completely to f22, one of them did not close down as much as the others. This affected the first photo I took of a burning candle in a dark room, so back to the shop the lens went. The aperture blade was noticeably out of whack at around f11, so by the time f22 is reached, the aperture has a "point" on it.

I noticed these problems .
I realized it HAD to go back .
Got the new one four days later (this is mail order) .
And now I'm sitting here at midnight sharing my experiences with the rest of the globe.

Photography this month has been a wash. Literally!!!
Vancouver has had 308mm of rain this November already. We are still on a water advisory to drink from bottles, and so on.

Anyhow, my subjects will be indoors, and I'll be using the AF540FGZ also, thanks to SWMBO and loved.

In summary, I am still surprised to have discovered these issues on a Limited lens.

Thanks for the heads up, Kcmadr. I'll be sure to check my 77 closely when it arrives. I agree, there shouldn't be issues like that on a high-calibre lens.

(Pentax Canada's current deal on the 77 is superb! Much better than Pentax USA's mail-in rebate).

I have had a black 77 for a whilr now and have had no problems with it al all. It sounds to me as though this is a one off rather than a generic problem.

Kim

I heard tha Pentax Canada only has ONE 77mmLTD left in stock... a silver one.
Did you just order yours Ijs?
Did you get the black or silver?
Just wondering if it was true what I heard

They are still readily obtainable in the US. http://www.pentaximaging.com/products/product_details/camera_lens--smc_P-FA_77mm...

Kim

I placed my order (/w k10d) a week and a half ago. I was going to call tomorrow to get an update. I figured, no rush since my local dealer didn't excpet its K10D delivery until the first week of December.

I'll have to consider buying the 77mm online from a US retailer if it's back-ordered in Canada. (I was hoping for black)

Inconvenient, to say the least.

The website www.cameracanada.com advertises that you must buy it quickly, i.e. right now, because Pentax Canada has only one left. In my eyes, this is a marketing strategy. Tell them there are a million people who want it, and there's only one left... the one they have for sale.

All I can say is make up your mind right now whether you want one or not, because indeed, once they're gone from retailers, they're gone for good.

No problem sharing my experiences. But to expand on this thought I have seen 2006 model Bentleys and Porsches with poorly fitting body panels and headlights that don't work. Now while the 77mm is not as complex as a Bentley or a Porsche, it clarifies the situation that imperfections are bound to occur with mass produced goods.

'Limited' lenses are made in limited numbers and are therefore not 'mass' produced but your analogy is otherwise sound. Even the finest engineered mechanisms can malfunction.

I really want a silver 77. Anyone know where can I get it in US? Even B&H seems to have only the black one.

I was told yesterday that my K10D should arrive Wednesday or Thursday this week. I can live with that.

However, there is no ETA on my 77mm. It has not reached Customs yet, and they have absolutely no idea when it wil arrive. They expect a five-day delay after it gets to Customs.

That means I'll have to buy a lens I don't want, to cover for the elusive 77mm, or mail order it from the US, or wait. (The other lenses I want are the new *'s in March).

At this point, I'm going to wait.

Things seem to have changed. Seems like only *yesterday* folks were clamouring for Black Ltds.......

Hiya,

'Limited' lenses are made in limited numbers and are therefore not 'mass' produced"

..Peter, I have to disagree. Any items which are produced in more than just a handful AND are produced on a mechanised production line, ARE by definition mass produced items. Just because the limited lenses are made in 1000's rather than tens of thousands does not make them any less mass produced items.

That is why the QC procedures are so important at the end of any production line.

cheers Steve.

Adorama are advertising the silver version.
http://www.adorama.com/PX7718AFA.html

Kim

I concede that technically you are quite correct since 'Limited' lenses are manufactured in a production line environment. That said, the 'Limited' is a reference to Pentax's capability to produce them, not to the optical or mechanical quality of the lens. Their attention to detail (normally) means that the production process is labour intensive rather than using faster robo-mechanical assembly.

Even in this environment there will always be the odd lens built on 'friday afternoon' that slips through the QC net.

Regards,