DA50-135, where's the problem?

Hi All

I used my DA50-135 on a location shoot for the first time last week, now, I've had this lens for a few months but have not really used it much in anger, when I have used it I've been as much disapointed as happy with the results, I put this down solely to me, the silent focus takes a bit of getting used to.

So back to the shoot, horrendeous not one of 80+ images is sharp (not comparined to my DA16-45 etc), now I know I can get things wrong just as much as I get them right therfore it would be a great help if I can get some feedback before I go and and make an a**s of myself at SRS.

I've uploaded all the shots to http://www.pbase.com/mcbrian/50135 All shots were taken hand held, selective focus on the eyes with minimal scene recomposure, the camera iwas set to continuous focus in the the shots where Charlie is walking towards the camera, if anyone wants to take a look at a PEF or two I will happily let you have them.

My DA*50-135/2.8 wasn't focusing accurately when I got it either. Unfortunately it was too short before a three week trip to Cambodja in order to have it looked at, so I tried to use it sufficiently stopped down for most of the time and it did great.

Back home I tested a bit more and I confirmed a back focus problem. I then took my K10D and DA*50-135/2.8 to the local service center and they fixed the problem. I'm still not sure what they did. The technician told me he fixed the lens and that he had to reset my camera settings to preform his tests. Another service center has informed another user (inspired by my post on the subject at dpreview) that changes to the lens as I would have required can only be done in Japan and that my K10D must have been adapted (it is said to have 4 or 5 memory positions for focus adjustments for a particular lens). However, another Pentax user has told me that he heard from a technician that the change on the lens is limited and easy to do... Hard to know what has actually happened (they fixed my stuff without paperwork, so there's no real trace of the work done)...

Sure enough I was pretty anxious when I put the DA*50-135/2.8 on my K20D. If they adapted the lens I would have no problem, but if they just adjusted the K10D, I would have to use the focus adjustments on the K20D, hoping they would be able to correct sufficiently.

It turned out that the DA*50-135/2.8 focuses perfectly with the K20D. But that doesn't mean anything... The DA21 which wasn't perfect on the K10D and for which no adjustment was ever made, focuses perfectly on the K20D too...

Anyway... Make sure it's not you body before you dump the lens. And if you can and they let you, have the body/lens combo checked at a service center. I know this can take time and most of us don't want to miss their cameras that long, but I was fortunate enough to be able to visit the service center personally and they helped me immediately. I was without camera for about 20 minutes...

Wim

Hi ishpuini

Many thanks for your reply, I wasn't sure if it was me having not heard of too many problems elsewhere with the DA*50-135's.

I've just been on the phone to SRS, James kindly had a look at the pics and agreed there is a problem, so off it goes for replacement

A quick follow up......

Another recommendation for SRS, my faulty DA*50-135 was replaced without question, many thanks Chris and the rest of the guy's at Watford

Initial tests last night look good, will do more over the weekend.