DA* 50-135mm 2.8

Hi guys,

I'm thinking about buying the DA* 2.8 50-135mm zoom for my K10D.

Can anyone tell me how the "instant" switch from auto to manual focus works?

Mike

There is simply a switch on the side of the lens. AF/MF.
Works just like the one on the camera, so I don't see much point in it. Maybe it is more convenient for some??

If it works like other DA lenses, with the lens set to AF you simply turn the focus ring to focus manually. So if the camera thinks it's focused, but you can see it's not, a quick turn of the focus ring sorts it out. No need to switch between AF and MF.

Dan

using either af/mf switch to mf though will allow you to shoot even when out of focus.

Yes, but I would have thought that the "instant" switch to MF refered to was the one I mentioned. And, as long as the camera has 'focused', and you've kept the shutter release half-pressed, I believe it will fire even if you then unfocus it (assuming you want to spend £500 on a lens with which you can take out-of-focus photos ).

Dan

Total bollocks having spent the morning rechecking what I wrote apart from switching to MF on the lens I'm at a loss as to what it's for.

Well, tried my DA*300 out with my K10D, and if you switch the lens to manual focus, it does indeed overide the switch on the body, so not sure why you're experiencing anything different Brian. You are using the SDM aren't you?

So as far as I can see there are two ways of 'fast-switching' to MF, either by the 'quick-shift' method, where the lens is autofocused, but then you turn the focus ring to alter the focus, and as long as you keep the shutter release half-pressed it will still fire, or by using the switch on the lens to control the focus mode (which certainly works with my K10D, DA*300, using the SDM focusing).

Dan

Hi Dan

I agree with your statement, I just didn't write it very well.

What I was alluding to this morning was that I thought that if the body was set to MF and the lens set to AF the lens would still AF when you half pressed the shutter button or use the dedicated AF button, this is of course total rubbish on my part.

Having played with the various AF/CF/MF settings and the DA*50-135 most of the day I fail to see what the lens switch is there for, it's not even convenient for zooming as your hand supports the lens on the focus ring (which has quick shift), maybe funtionality for future bodies ??

Well, I used it Thursday night when I was photographing hedgehogs. Lit by a tungsten modeling light in my flash, sometimes the AF would lock, sometimes not. The quick shift wouldn't be any use in this respect, as the AF has to lock on first, and as I had my hand on the lens, and to minimise movements that could spook the hedgehog, I used the switch on the lens to go to MF rather than the switch on the body.

I suppose some future low-end bodies might have the body switch removed, but the higher end ones give the option of AFC or AFS, which obviously isn't catered for on the lens.

Dan

This is only true if you have the focus with half press set to ON, I have this set to OFF and use the dedicated AF button set to ENABLE, you can then release the shutter without having to be in focus.

Ah, yes, that's true. I don't do that so didn't think of it.

Dan

Thanks for yours replies guys.

Not as simple as I thought!

I'm going to have a look at a lens in a LCE shop next week, so I'll see what they tell me.

Mike