Decentred lens

I am having some trouble with my DA*16-50. It is now out of warranty and seems to have developedg a really bad decentring problem but only from 20-40mm. At the extremes where I use it most of the time it seems to be fine.

I have done a lot of testing and it is definitely quite bad. About 1/4th of the frame is out of focus. The AF cannot compensate for the decentred section. It has caused me a huge headache tonight as I was going to do some shooting.

Anyone know where the best place to get the lens realigned is (UK)? Any idea if the sealing will still be fine after such a repair?

Why not contact Pentax, the DA*16-50 is a pro grade lens so you should expect it will be build a lot better then a budget lens...

Pentax service centre in the UK is run by a 3rd party. There is no real Pentax to contact here.

It is my most used lens. Not my favourite, that falls to the 50-135, but still used all the time.

EDIT: Actually just realized, shouldn't I have posted this in Troubleshooter Forum?

But they act as representatives right?
You can always contact Germany, somehow the services seems to be better there...

JP Solutions is the authorised repair centre for Pentax - follow the details on the Pentax.co.uk website or Google them.

They will quote you for repairing your lens back to its factory state.

I've had a K10D repaired by them and the repair was exemplary, albeit rather slow.

The 16-50 does have a bad reputation for decentering problems. In fact this has been suggested as a possible reason why the 16-50 (at least a year or two ago) seemed to have more SDM problems than other DA* lenses (ie the decentering putting more stress on the motor).

I wonder if we should define "decentering" at this point - it is a construction error in lenses where the central axis of each element does not precisely line up. This reduces the resolution figures of that sample. Obviously few lenses have zero decentering, although it is possible if you're lucky.

You're the second one i hear about and i'm only here and on the dutchforum so not the biggests of forums.

Lens is with JPSS awaiting repair. Should be back with me at the end of next week.

It is a good sharp lens, just a shame one side wan't quite right. Can't wait to get is back fixed!

I do wish that DA* lenses were a priority and had better turn around though as it is going to be about 3 weeks. At least I didn't have anything urgently requiring the lens otherwise I would have needed a rental.

Insurance would have covered rental if needed and should cover the repair.