Tamron 90mm focus issue

I've had a Tamron 90mm for a fair while now (I'm sure its out of warranty anyway), on my K20D. It lives on the camera in my camera bag.

Took it out today and it just would not focus, it wasn't seeking, it would just make a tiny motor noise and then the hexagonal I-can't-focus-on-anything icon flashes in the viewfinder.

After some examination, I found it was just refusing to focus on anything beyond a certain distance, because the lens has reached the end of it's travel.

I haven't dropped it, or misused it, taken it out in the rain, sand, or anything dubious like that. It doesn't feel like anything other than it has reached a hard solid stop, just like it used to.

So instead of being able to focus on infinity, it stops on L, it won't turn as far as the infinity symbol which I'm sure it used to.

Close up it will focus all the way down to 0.29m on the gauge, which is the minimum distance, just fine. I'm not sure if it was always this way, but when it claims on the gauge to be focusing at 3m it's more like 1.5m, and 1m is more like 0.75m.

Taking the lens off the camera, it doesn't change it's behaviour so I'm sure there is nothing wrong with my K20D.

Got a feeling the lens has to go in for repair (is this expensive?), unless anyone has any suggestions?

TIA

does it focus all the way manually?

No, same length of travel whether manual or automatic. :/ On or off the camera.

It only goes as far as the "L"....Mine does anyway!,on limited it goes from 0.43 to L....on full from 0.29 to L!..."the hexagonal I cant focus on anything icon?".......What is that?....

If it can't focus the green hexagonal which is lit when focus is locked just flashes and you cant fire the shutter.

is it the older tamron or the di ?

I'd just never heard of it being called the "I can't focus on anything Icon!"..

If the hexagon has come on it must be nearly in focus,what was the light /contrast situation when you tried it?....

It's the Di.


Now that is interesting! I never noticed it didn't go any further than this, so I presumed as it didn't go as far as the infinity symbol (when my other lenses all do) that was a new thing. :/


I can manually focus on things nearer than 3 meters, and the automatic focus works fine on these distances. It just won't focus beyond that. :/

It isn't an issue with light or contrast, I can actually see in the viewfinder that it won't focus beyond that point. :/

I've got a 17-50mm Tamron in for repair at the mo, cost depends on fault. Labour is the big component for the skilled (I hope) tech to dismantle and repair. My current repair is just over £60.

They are calibrating the focus for the K-7, they even phoned to check today. I'll let you all know how it comes back as the 17-50s other folks have all seem to FF a little.

http://www.intro2020.co.uk/pages/service.htm

You post the lens.
They send you a quote.
You pay or reject.
They repair and return.

Very useful info, perhaps it could be made a "sticky"?

Vic.

I sent a support request to Tamron, and they forwarded it to Intro 2020 Ltd, same place that has yours. They said the same, I send it in, they give me a quote.

One thing to add to your information, if you do not wish them to repair the lens they charge you £9 to return it. So it's basically £9 + whatever it costs you to send it, for them to look at the thing. :/

This might be a stupid thing to say but you haven't got the focus limit switch set have you?

Mine has a "FULL" or "LIMIT" setting on the side of the lens that specifically limits the travel.

When set to limit it can either focus from 0.45m to Infi or from 0.29 to 0.4 m depensing where the lens was set when the linit switch is engaged.

If this is not incorrectly set then maybe this is the thing that is broken.

MZ

The travel is from 0.29m to L, it doesn't go as far as infinity, the limit switch does exactly what it should do. :/

Yes sorry, but its a reasonable cost I think. So basically to have the experts look at the lens will cost special delivery there and £9 back roughly £16 minimum.

Mine's back now in a pretty quick time scale. All sorted but I've not calibrated the focus yet. The notchy focus is cleared up. Pretty pleased.