Focus Issues with 55-300mm and Circular Polariser

Hi all

I'm sure others have experienced the issues I am having at present. I often use polarisers, but have only recently bought a 58mm for my DA L 55-300mm. I have found it useless as the lens focus is so soft with the filter fitted that the pictures are not worth keeping. This worsens the longer the focal length gets. I've tried the filter on shorter lenses and it seems fine. I've also confirmed it is a circular polariser and not a linear one by dong the 'eye and mirror' test. The filter itself looks perfect when viewed with the naked eye (no blurring) it is only when on the 55-300 that issues occur.

Doe anyone have any suggestions for a reasonably priced circular polariser for the 55-300mm that works well without the focus issue?

Thanks in advance
David

Hi David. I have experienced exaxtly the same issue with this lens - and never had this problem on any other. Mine is fine up to around 150mm and then useless beyond.

I have tried 3 different CPLs on it with only marginal differences so have given up

Because it loses two or three stops of light, the maximum aperture of the lens at longer focal lengths no longer enables the use of AF.

I'm not sure why you feel the need for a polariser on such a long lens?

John

It's not the autofocus that isn't working. The autofocus still operates fine. The issue is that whether focussing is manual or auto, you cannot get an image that is sharp. All images are blurred, whether they are in critical focus or not. The polariser is having some sort of combined effect with the lens to produce this issue. The filter in itself is clear as a bell and works on other lenses.

With regard to the need for a polariser on this lens, I intend to use it sparingly, but I do sometimes take landscape shots with the 55-300mm and it would help to ensure the saturation in the skies is good and to empahsise cloud structures.

Regards
David

In that case David it looks as though the addition of a polariser has upset the optical configuration. I've never really used polarisers on very long lenses but I seem to recall that they are particularly suceptible to image degradation from filters. Perhaps try another polariser to see if that shows the same behaviour?

Thanks John, I've just ordered a Hoya to see if that makes any difference. If it's the same I think I'll give it up as a bad job, as the 55-300mm is very good without any help.

link

Regards
David

Hi David..Interesting subject..I have just recently purchased the same lens (not used too much yet)and i was thinking of getting P/L filter for mine..Already fitted a hood and U/V filter(Kenko)..Is it the Hoya PRO1 P/L filter you have ordrered?..If so i would be interested in the result..
Regards..Chris..

+1

Was flirting with the idea of picking up a CP for this lens... so any feedback you have on the Hoya etc would be great David!

Hi to Chris & Tim - of course I would be very happy to let you know how the Hoya goes on. I've done a bit of research since posting the thread and it seems that problems with Circular Polarisers and long zooms are not uncommon. I also tried the filter on my son's Sigma 70-300mm DG APO and suffered the same issues.

Regards
David

I am happy to report that the Hoya Circular Polariser works perfectly with the DA L 55-300mm, without any focus issues. I'm not sure why this circular polariser works whilst some others don't, but it does.

The Hoya is not the 'pro' version, it is just a standard one but the quality appears to be very good.

Hope this is helpful to those of you out there who may wish to fit a polariser on the 55-300mm lens.

Regards
David

PM sent...

Hi,

I have just got the same problem with my L 55-300mm. I have purchased 55-300mm lens together with my camera and basic 18-55mm lens. It was working fine with UV filter before. However after my last visit in London I have found that my lens is not focusing as sharp as it was before with or without UV filter. Only when I set up aperture at F32 (full depth) it focuses well, otherwise a picture looks blur and bad quality... I loved this lens for portrait pictures catching people unexpectedly. But now it is just useless. Any advices what have happened to my lens? Btw, what lens would you recommend for replacement? Good but not expensive? Or is it broken and might be repaired?

Have you tried it in manual mode? If it does not focus well in manual then it seems likely that the lens is defective. If it is still under warranty you should be able to have it repaired free of charge via your retailer.

If it is out of warranty there are a number of repairers e.g. Asahi Photo Ltd has a good reputation.

Just to clarify, I don't have any problems with my DA L 55-300mm lens. It only has issues when used with a circular polarising filter, not on its own or with a UV filter. It sounds as though your lens has developed a fault and you should get it checked under warranty if you can. As far as lens recommendations go, I cannot think of a better similar lens than the one you already have (DA L 55-300mm).

Regards
David

I hardly ever take the Hoya Pro1 CPL off my 55-300, and haven't come across any problems with the Kx nor K5.

Here's one taken on a recent holiday in Kos, K5 set to TAV f4.5 @ 1/500 170mm




Regards
Adrian