Hi Stu

Yes - I understood that from your first post. The point is - in my experience - with the 17-70 - focus can look fine with the camera indicating focus is locked in, but if the SDM is not quite right - camera will not fire

Yours may be a completely different issue Stu but what you describe happens with mine and what I described fixes it for me.

Good luck

Carl

H Stu

Assuming you have done the obvious and cleaned the connections and had the same settings on the body for the 55-300 - it may be part of the lazy SDM issue these are known for.

With my 17-70 - if I have not used it for a couple of weeks - sometimes - but not always - and more so in cold weather - the SDM becomes lazy and I can get a 'false' in focus reading but the camera will not fire.

Is the front ring moving freely when you change the focal length? If not - I 'exercise' mine gradually by manually moving the ring very slightly with one finger and keeping my finger lightly on the ring - press the shutter half way - gradually by repeating this - moving the ring further each time , I start feeling the motor 'bite' properly. After a few repeats at various lengths - mine always 'wakes up - focuses properly and fires -

Good luck

Carl

OK - so having not picked up a camera for months - found a couple of free hours so headed to Richmond falls traveling light with just the K3, DA 17-70 and travel pod

A long time favourite spot, photographed many times, Here are a few from the day - have to say I was feeling quite rusty and was struggling a bit with the K3 - not sure whether it is just my copy but I find the 3 much harder to get the exposure right on than the K511s

Nothing original but as always C+C welcome

Carl

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Nicely done Ted - I think you should go and pick up your daughter more often if this is the result

Carl

Ted, Stan, Stu and Bill - thanks for your comments, recommendations and welcome backs - good to hear from you all.

Carl

Thanks for all of the tips Rob, Keo, Barrie and Andrew - looks like I should have booked the cottage for a month !

Good to be back guys - for the first time in a long time - got up this morning - sun shining - and thought - grab the gear and get out!

Carl

Thanks Tim - good to be back!. Llanfair looks like the sort of place my 6 year old son will certainly enjoy - he loves going down mines and caverns. Cwm Bychan looks perfect, I think I did the Rhinogs many years ago during a 3 day trek around Snowden - that one may be a bit much for me at the moment as I am recovering from a knee injury.

Cheers
Carl

Hi All

I have not been around much for the past 5 months, Due to a run of family crisis and 'work/ life balance' seeming to be a utopian dream - I have not had a day out with the gear since the Whitby Goth Fest last October, Things have started to improve of late an have managed a few local shots - but am finding it very difficult to get my enthusiasm back.

Anyway - long story short - returned home from working away on Thursday evening and thought 'sod it' I need a break - somewhere not visited before, not too far away, that will keep the kids entertained and allow me to get some camera time in. This was proving tricky until I suddenly realised - there is a big chunk of the Welsh coast that I have missed between Porthmadog and Aberwstwyth, so have booked a cottage for the week at the end of May in Barmouth.

So - obvious question - any tips from those familiar with the area - any must see places beyond the obvious?
Harlech Castle is already on the agenda as well as the Fairbourne narrow gauge steam gala.

Thanks
Carl

Nicely done Gary - had no idea there was any snow in Richmond otherwise may well have taken a drive up there myself.

Carl

WoW - wish I had been at North Pier with you Stan - suspect I would have filled a card trying to get one like that

Carl