Pentax 18-135 not recognized

My Pentax 18-135 is not recognized by my camera and shows up in EXIF data as "unknown lens", and that happens also with the latest firmware update. I had read that others had the same problem, is that the case? I would assume that if it is not recognized, then also in-camera lens correction would not work, do you know if that is the case?

Is this lens actually made by Pentax? The fact that is not recognized + the unusual (for Pentax) filter size made me think about this. Any thoughts?

It was recognised just fine when I tested one, as you would expect a Pentax lens to be.

First, check the contacts are clean, with a soft dry cloth to polish them. If both mount and lens are then OK reseat the lens and try again.

If the fault persists, then it's a fault.

What are you using to read the exif data? I think it is probably this that is out of date.

The exif data only contains a unique code number for the lens and the exif reader software, on your PC not in the camera, has to look this up in its own database to give the displayed name for the lens. So for new lenses the exif software will not know what it is until someone updates it.

With the latest firmware on your camera I'm sure the on-board lens correction software knows exactly what lens it is .

Glyn

Just as an after thought if you are using the Pentax Digital Camera Utility software on your PC you need to have a version 4.21 or later for it to know about the DA18-135.

The latest version, V4.33 is available here although this is just an update and you will need to have a previously installed version or the install disc that came with your camera for it to work.

Glyn

Thanks John and Glyn, need to do some tests. I will try to clean the contacts, although this has happened since new. As to the SW, that makes sense, but I have updated Aperture today to the last update and still does not recognize the lens.

But I do remember someone else raising the same issue with this lens....

If you mount the lens does it ask you to input a focal length or not?
If it doesn't ask then the contacts are fine.

No, it does not. The lens seems to work fine in all respects, fast and silent AF, very nice color rendition, just great. That is why I concluded it was something else...

I don't have any experience of using Aperture. A quick hunt found some very old posts in the Aperture forum of people complaining about problems reading the lens type in the exif data but I can't find anything recent.

In my experience if you are having problems with the contacts on the lens it usually manifests itself as not knowing the F number, "F--" in the viewfinder display.

As I assume, using Aperture, that you have a Mac have you tried the Mac version of the Pentax Camera Utility? The latest version of this should correctly display the lens name and would enable you to focus the problem on either the camera or the the Aperture software.

The latest Mac version of the Pentax Camera Utility is here but again you will need the original install disc that came with the camera to use it.

Glyn

Just checked mine in Photome.

[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v188/Sockpuppetuk/2011-07-16_194702.jpg[/IMG]

Then i'm a bit curious how you concluded that your camera doesn't recognize the lens?

Mine isn't properly recognised either. In PhotoME I get ???? and 18 135 3.5 5.6, not the full name of the lens. Other EXIF readers - PE9, Irfanview, etc etc don't see it at all.

Just checked and in the Newer Beta version of PhotoME it is correct (as above) but in the older build 856 it is not recognised.

Thanks Mike. I don't have the Beta version so that explains that .

Thanks for all the suggestions, I am a bit slow in reacting as I am packing and leaving for a 3 wks holiday in Italy, early flight tomorrow. As usual one of the biggest challenge is deciding which lenses to take....

I will try with the Pentax utility, if that works, then it's a sw issue I suppose.

Wouldn't the DA18-135 be enough?