K5 or lens problem ?

I took the K5 out with the sigma 100-300 today. (May be wrong but I think this is the first time I've used this lens on the K5)

Whilst shooting seagulls using AFC the camera locked up, all lit up, focus point stayed on in viewfinder but nothing happening. Even turning it off didn't work. So I had to take the battery out to reset it.

Later on the Sigma 100-300 started to play up focusing, it would sometimes focus, then when trying to lock onto something else the lens/camera would just make a focusing noise. Sounds like something spinning as if the screwdrive isn't engaging properly. (my interpretation which could be way out)

Now I thought the problem was the lens, that was until I got home and tried it on a K7 and a GX20 (should sell this really) which it works fine on.

I have updated the firmware, cleaned the contacts, ensured set to Autofocus (lens and camera)yet it still doesn't work on the K5. Other screwdrive lens seem fine (sigma and pentax)

The K5 is still in warranty but the lens is not, in some ways I'm hoping its the camera thats faulty.

If anyone has a K5 in sheffield that I could try the lens on that would help to narrow it down to either lens or camera.

Any thoughts ?

Regards

George

hi
where abouts in sheffield are you
neil

Hi Neil,

Ecclesall Road area, not far from Halllamshire Hospital/Botanical Gardens.

Regards

George

Just in case anyone was wondering the outcome.

I've been in contact with Sigma who have looked at the lens, unfortunately they only have a K10 top test it on, which it works with as it does with my GX20 and K7 !

I'm sending the camera to them with the lens as they believe the lens just needs adjsusting to work on the K5. Something to do with the autofocus pin having a poor contact on the K5 due to the tolerence levels involved in the manufacture of the lens and the K5. Only cost £39 so fairly happy with that as long as it gets fixed ok in time for silverstone!

Regards

George

Strange, my 100-300mm worked fine on the K-5.

Suppose my lens/camera tolerance level was better than yours.


Postage is going to cost a pretty penny for that lot though .. did you buy the lens new?

No doubt the lens will come back untouched, the K5 on the other hand will be full of screws with rounded heads, finger marks all over the innards and gaffer tape holding it back together, on the up side it will work perfectly with that lens

Mike raises an interesting point, if you bought the lens new it may have been easier to take it back to the shop with the K5 in tow.

I know that there was a problem with Sigma lenses and the new Sony DSLR's and Sigma fixed those for free if the owner had proof of purchase.

Kudos to Sigma then.

Cost me £9.90 to send the lens RMSD with increased insurance. Probably another £15 to send lens and camera.

Lens was new from SRS, spoke to them first and they told me to contact Sigma as unaware of any problems. Unfortunately(?) I live in Sheffield so a trip to SRS is not really viable, also Sigma hadn't started doing the 3yr warranty until later in the year otherwise it would have been covered.

Will post it Monday and await return. It is a fantastic lens though so fingers crossed it gets fixed ok.

Regards
George

With the Sony problem I don't think it mattered how old the lens was but the problem was with every one of them. I suppose as this is not just down to a Sigma problem they can charge.

Quite agree, is probably one of the best lenses no longer available for Pentax. I sold mine a few weeks ago along with the 2x converter

In case anyone was wondering...

The 100-300 has finally been returned with a new part for the autofocus and works on the K5 fine.

Sigma did ring me and expressed concern over the lenghth of the Autofocus shaft on my K5 as it doesn't stick out as far as the K10 and other pentax cameras they've seen and feel this may have caused the problem by slipping when trying to focus. One to speak to SRS about.

Regards

George

I had this problem with my K5, and Pentax 100mm macro lens combination, if I got to close to the subject the lens would hunt a couple of times, then the K5 would go into lock up, needing the battery to be removed to clear.

But now ensuring I don’t exceed the lens range, (ie, not getting to close to the subject), I have not had the problem return.


Take care.

Having compared my Z-1 from the '90s and my K-5, the screwdriver sticks out by a similar amount (approx. 1mm) on both.

Having also compared my F50/1.7 & Sigma 70-300 APO Super lenses, the screwdriver socket rotates in opposite directions towards infinity, presumably due to the different focus directions (I had assumed this would have been compensated for by gearing in the Sigma lens):

F50/1.7 socket goes anti-clockwise when focussing to infinity.
Sigma socket goes clockwise.