Noisy 100mm DFA F2.8 Macro - is it normal??

Hi,

Just received this lens after buying off eBay - seller seems reputable with lots of good feedback.

Item here:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110512911919

Two issues:

1. It is an ex display model, not brand new (but it is in perfect condition)
2. The auto focus mechanism sounds like a plane taking off!

It is the first macro lens I have ever used, and so the focusing mechanism is completely different to what I am used to on my DA* 16-50 (and limited use of other fixed focus lenses). So, is it normal for the macro focussing to be really noisy? It als seems to clunk quite hard when it gets to either extremity (fully in, or fully out).

Some help on this would be great!!

Early shots indicate the lens is optically spot on.

Thanks, James

Yeah it can be pretty noisy
It's noisier then the DA18-55 at least, the DA*16-50 use an SDM motor so you hardly hear that.

btw about noisy, the teacher at the photoclub explained the sound of the K10D shutter as a Kalashnikov, found it a nice comparison.

Thus begins one of my major gripes with Pentax and Sigma. I would dearly love a HSM/SDM macro lens in the 150mm to 180mm range. Pentax don't seem to think it worthwhile and Sigma did the unthinkable - a beautiful 150mm HSM Macro but the odd one out mount isn't Pentax but Four Thirds.... Also the 180mm has been discontinued.
I have the 50mm macro, but it gets so little use as the 1:1 close focus distance is much too close.

C

Obviously never heard a Z1-p in action then

Probably not but he had an old Pentax camera though

There was a similar post to this some weeks back. Don't worry; they're all a bit noisy!

Here's the previous post link

That one isn't about the noise though

Have you got the parking brake on?

It's the lever on the side that locks the lens, when in the up position the lens should be reasonably quiet.

Mine is the noisiest lens I own, but as it's almost always focussed manually it hasn't bothered me at all.

I have had family members jump slightly at the noise of the DFA 100 - but then they let me off because they love the resulting shots (on the rare occasions my limited talent matches up to the lens's capabilities )

I think its important to remember that the noise is probably a side effect of the fantastic length of rotational travel the focus mechanism has on this lens.

Many more recent lenses have a much smaller length of travel for their focus range, probably to speed up the auto focus. Consequently these are much harder for the manual focusing that I think can be a real benefit in macro work.

I was a late comer to the DFA100 but its one of my favourite lenses and has produced some of my best efforts. I love it .

Glyn