Thank you Mike, that sounds reasonable.

Mike-P,
Yes it is 6.3. I understand what you are saying, but don't know why at f13 it would not "auto" focus. I am way over my head in the equipment I have...I try to learn, but forget so rapidly.

A and C

Thanks Barrie, I will play with it in brighter light.....

I am using a Pentax K10 with a Tamron 18-200 lens, and it works fine on automatic settings
I have a Bower MC 2X Pz/AF teleconverter, but when I added this, it did not seem to want to "auto" focus. I manually focused and got a great shot. Shouldn't it auto focus? (I was shooting through a window)

Thank you all for your input...I have decided to send the camera in for repair. I should get an estimate in a few days. Wish me luck. I really loved that lens....

John,
I do not want to post a photo to a website if it is a dud. I thought maybe I could put it in the forum, so only those wanting to help me with my problem could see it.

I see how to add to gallery...but not to forum alone so you can view my "out of focus" shot...

I tried the Pentax 18-250 on a Pentax K10, and it behaves the same.
Is it possible to add photos to this forum?

Well Carl, the cleaning didn't work. I don't feel good about sending it in for repair...in the meantime purchased a Tamron 18-200...but it doesn't seem to be quite as sharp as the Pentax. I read once where the Pentax 18-250 was basically a Tamron lens with a little upgrade...not sure if there is anything to that. Also found a site that compared the two lenses and there didn't seem to be much difference. Maybe some of it is in my head. I will try to learn to use the Pentax lens manually.

Do you have any further suggestions?

Thanks Much,

Georgia