Infinity focus on 18-135

DaveN
Posted 26/10/2011 - 17:30 Link
My 18-135 WR can never focus at infinity (typically sky) even on a bright day.

If you have this lens can you confirm if this is the same for you?
Discovering the joys of photography with Pentax
johnriley
Posted 26/10/2011 - 17:40 Link
I can tell you the review sample I had showed no problem focusing on infinity. I wouldn't expect there to be a problem so you may have a faulty and/or damaged lens.
Best regards, John
DaveN
Posted 26/10/2011 - 17:59 Link
I wonder if others can confirm /refute what John said above.

It can focus on clouds, but if the sky is completely blue it won't focus.

Similarly, won't focus on a uniformly cream coloured wall 6-7 feet away.

Otherwise, I can't fault the lens.
Discovering the joys of photography with Pentax
Edited by DaveN: 26/10/2011 - 17:59
johnriley
Posted 26/10/2011 - 18:05 Link
It won't focus on blue sky or on a uniform cream wall and I wouldn't expect any AF lens to do so. AF needs contrast and detail to work.
Best regards, John
DaveN
Posted 26/10/2011 - 18:33 Link
Err

My DA 18-55 WR and Sigma 10-20 does, so did my DA*300
Discovering the joys of photography with Pentax
Edited by DaveN: 26/10/2011 - 18:33
bforbes
Posted 26/10/2011 - 18:44 Link
As John has said low contrast subjects are not the best to test the AF of a lens, at any distance. However I have a Pentax 50-135 away for repair at the moment that stopped locking on to focus at infinity. According to the repairer it worked fine on his calibration machine, but not on my K5 and K20. It has been returned again and is awaiting parts to adjust the calibration.
Gwyn
Posted 26/10/2011 - 19:19 Link
If you can wait until tomorrow I'll give mine a try. I can't say I have noticed any problems at infinity, but I tend not to try to focus on blue sky or blank walls.
sterretje
Posted 26/10/2011 - 19:30 Link
Hmm, I have noticed that some or all of my lenses don't focus on blue sky. I however never pay attention to it and just focus on something else that has a bit of contrast. Sorry, I don't have a 18-135 to test.
Pentax K10D + Vivitar 55/2.8 macro + Super Takumar 55/1.8 + SuperMultiCoated Takumar 85/1.8 + SuperMultiCoated Takumar 135/3.5 + SuperMultiCoated Takumar 200/4 + Super Takumar 300/4
Pentax K100D + DA18-55ALII + DA55-300
Pentax K5 + FA31Ltd + M50/1.7 + DFA100WR + M120/2.8 (+ DA18-55WR at occasion)
Edited by sterretje: 26/10/2011 - 19:31
ChrisA
Posted 26/10/2011 - 21:12 Link
DaveN wrote:
My DA 18-55 WR and Sigma 10-20 does, so did my DA*300
I'm amazed by this. I've never had a lens that will focus reliably on featureless anything at all, be it sky, wall, cloth, or anything else.

You're saying you actually get 'green hexagon' focus confirmation, pointing the camera at uniform, featureless, blue sky????

.
Pentax K-3, DA18-135, DA35 F2.4, DA17-70, DA55-300, FA28-200, A50 F1.7, A100 F4 Macro, A400 F5.6, Sigma 10-20 EXDC, 50-500 F4.5-6.3 APO DG OS Samsung flash SEF-54PZF(x2)
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Algernon
Posted 26/10/2011 - 21:36 Link
As long as it works the other way round..... from blue sky
to earth it should be OK!
Half Man... Half Pentax ... Half Cucumber

Pentax K-1 + K-5 and some other stuff

Algi
DaveN
Posted 26/10/2011 - 21:46 Link
Oops, actually they have a infinity hard stop which the 18-135 does not
Discovering the joys of photography with Pentax
ChrisA
Posted 26/10/2011 - 21:52 Link
DaveN wrote:
Oops, actually they have a infinity hard stop which the 18-135 does not
True, but you'll still find that with many lenses, the hard stop at the infinity end of the focus throw is actually beyond infinity.

The green hexagon at the bottom of the viewfinder is the only way of knowing whether the camera has confirmed that it has focused.
.
Pentax K-3, DA18-135, DA35 F2.4, DA17-70, DA55-300, FA28-200, A50 F1.7, A100 F4 Macro, A400 F5.6, Sigma 10-20 EXDC, 50-500 F4.5-6.3 APO DG OS Samsung flash SEF-54PZF(x2)
.
DaveN
Posted 26/10/2011 - 21:56 Link
Actually, I use my sigma 10-20 almost exclusively on MF and hard focused to infinity
Discovering the joys of photography with Pentax
Edited by DaveN: 26/10/2011 - 21:57
ChrisA
Posted 26/10/2011 - 22:26 Link
DaveN wrote:
Actually, I use my sigma 10-20 almost exclusively on MF and hard focused to infinity
Well yes, but the depth of field is enormous with extreme wide angle lenses.

If you're going to use a lens as a fixed focus lens and rely on DOF, you'd be better off setting the focus to the hyperfocal distance.

Not the same thing at all as actually being focused on infinity, and nor is turning the focus ring as far as it will go.
.
Pentax K-3, DA18-135, DA35 F2.4, DA17-70, DA55-300, FA28-200, A50 F1.7, A100 F4 Macro, A400 F5.6, Sigma 10-20 EXDC, 50-500 F4.5-6.3 APO DG OS Samsung flash SEF-54PZF(x2)
.
Edited by ChrisA: 26/10/2011 - 22:27
Dangermouse
Posted 26/10/2011 - 23:53 Link
Probably your best target for infinity focus would be the moon?
Matt

Shooting the Welsh Wilderness with K-m, KX, MX, ME Super and assorted lenses.

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