Re: Orphaned Power Zoom Lenses
On Wed, 21 Sep 2005, Cotty wrote: On 21/9/05, Mark Erickson, discombobulated, unleashed: Power Zoom, of course! Waste of time!! And additonal weight. Kostas
Re: Orphaned Power Zoom Lenses
I've used the FA 28-105 and 100-300 on my Z-1 since they all came out. Loved and used the power zoom facility other than when I was trying to be more discrete (the whining noise attracts attention even before the mirror whack). However, I also used them on earlier models (e.g., SuperProgram and MX) before I went for the D. This meant that when I began shooting them on the D, I really didn't miss the zoom capability. I also realized how much of a battery drainer it is. 'Twould be nice to see it come back - but way down the list which primarily includes full K M capability as well as not having the 1.5 magnification effect. Larry in Dallas
Orphaned Power Zoom Lenses
The list has been consumed with passionate debates about green button wars and camera engineering, nobody has mentioned a MAJOR lack of support for a key feature that Pentax pioneered! What am I talking about? Power Zoom, of course! It was bad enough when Pentax released their new top-end MZ-S without supporting Image-Size Tracking, Zoom Clip, and Zoom Effect capabilities. Pentax did at least include Power Zoom contacts in the MZ-S so that the power zoom capability in certain FA and FA* zoom lenses didn't completely go to waste. Unfortunately, Pentax has fully abandoned their many FA and FA* power zoom owners with the *ist-D and *ist-Ds. Wouldn't it have been ridiculously easy to include power zoom contacts? So now I have two FA* lenses with Power Zoom motors that may never be exercised again. Am I the only voice crying in the wilderness, or does someone else out there miss Power Zoom?
Re: Orphaned Power Zoom Lenses
So now I have two FA* lenses with Power Zoom motors that may never be exercised again. Am I the only voice crying in the wilderness, or does someone else out there miss Power Zoom? I have the 28-105 and a PZ-1. Never used the PZ feature, so i don't miss it. The lens is great on the istD though Dave
Re: Orphaned Power Zoom Lenses
When I got my PZ-1 with two power zoom lenses, I thought it was pretty nifty and used it for a couple of years. Then I turned it off, and never used it again. The zoom size tracking never worked well, and the zoom clip and zoom effect features struck me as frippery. I don't miss it at all now that none of my most-used lenses have zoom motors (24-90, 80-320, 17-28). Rick --- Mark Erickson [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Am I the only voice crying in the wilderness, or does someone else out there miss Power Zoom? __ Yahoo! Mail - PC Magazine Editors' Choice 2005 http://mail.yahoo.com
Re: Orphaned Power Zoom Lenses
If nothing else, I like the retract-to-shortest size the lenses do when fully supported -- turning the camera off while power zoom is engaged not only shortens the lens to the zoom setting that keeps it to its shortest physical size, but also focuses the lens to infinity, also another measure that puts the lens at its shortest physical size. But even the MZ-S doesn't fully support this feature, only shortening the zoom without moving the focus to infinity. Some of the power zoom lenses don't change size at all when zooming, only when focusing, so this function is useless then, on the MZ-S. Thankfully, at least, the PZ-1/PZ-1p both support all these power zoom functions and features. Joe The list has been consumed with passionate debates about green button wars and camera engineering, nobody has mentioned a MAJOR lack of support for a key feature that Pentax pioneered! What am I talking about? Power Zoom, of course! It was bad enough when Pentax released their new top-end MZ-S without supporting Image-Size Tracking, Zoom Clip, and Zoom Effect capabilities. Pentax did at least include Power Zoom contacts in the MZ-S so that the power zoom capability in certain FA and FA* zoom lenses didn't completely go to waste. Unfortunately, Pentax has fully abandoned their many FA and FA* power zoom owners with the *ist-D and *ist-Ds. Wouldn't it have been ridiculously easy to include power zoom contacts? So now I have two FA* lenses with Power Zoom motors that may never be exercised again. Am I the only voice crying in the wilderness, or does someone else out there miss Power Zoom?
Re: Orphaned Power Zoom Lenses
Yes your are a lone voice crying in the wilderness, power zoom is probably the least missed functionality in any camera. Mark Erickson wrote: The list has been consumed with passionate debates about green button wars and camera engineering, nobody has mentioned a MAJOR lack of support for a key feature that Pentax pioneered! What am I talking about? Power Zoom, of course! It was bad enough when Pentax released their new top-end MZ-S without supporting Image-Size Tracking, Zoom Clip, and Zoom Effect capabilities. Pentax did at least include Power Zoom contacts in the MZ-S so that the power zoom capability in certain FA and FA* zoom lenses didn't completely go to waste. Unfortunately, Pentax has fully abandoned their many FA and FA* power zoom owners with the *ist-D and *ist-Ds. Wouldn't it have been ridiculously easy to include power zoom contacts? So now I have two FA* lenses with Power Zoom motors that may never be exercised again. Am I the only voice crying in the wilderness, or does someone else out there miss Power Zoom? -- When you're worried or in doubt, Run in circles, (scream and shout).
Re: Orphaned Power Zoom Lenses
On 21/9/05, Mark Erickson, discombobulated, unleashed: Power Zoom, of course! Waste of time!! Cheers, Cotty ___/\__ || (O) | People, Places, Pastiche ||=|http://www.cottysnaps.com _
Re: Orphaned Power Zoom Lenses
Rick Womer wrote: When I got my PZ-1 with two power zoom lenses, I thought it was pretty nifty and used it for a couple of years. Then I turned it off, and never used it again. The zoom size tracking never worked well, and the zoom clip and zoom effect features struck me as frippery. I bought a power zoom lens shortly after getting my PZ-1. Still have both the camera and the lens. Still use both. Never figured out how to use the zoom size tracking or the zoom clip or the zoom effect.
Re: Orphaned Power Zoom Lenses
Power zoom was an interesting concept but I never used it as much as I thought I would. Can't say I miss it on the DS Cheers, Brian + Brian Walters Western Sydney, Australia Quoting E.R.N. Reed [EMAIL PROTECTED]: Rick Womer wrote: When I got my PZ-1 with two power zoom lenses, I thought it was pretty nifty and used it for a couple of years. Then I turned it off, and never used it again. The zoom size tracking never worked well, and the zoom clip and zoom effect features struck me as frippery. I bought a power zoom lens shortly after getting my PZ-1. Still have both the camera and the lens. Still use both. Never figured out how to use the zoom size tracking or the zoom clip or the zoom effect.
Re: Orphaned Power Zoom Lenses
This is funny. One of the things that sets the better fixed lens digicams apart from the crappy ones is the availability of a manually controlled zoom on the lens... ;-) Godfrey
Re: Orphaned Power Zoom Lenses
i never found it useful except to impress the Nikon and Canon owners. Herb - Original Message - From: Mark Erickson [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: pentax-discuss pentax-discuss@pdml.net Sent: Wednesday, September 21, 2005 5:02 PM Subject: Orphaned Power Zoom Lenses So now I have two FA* lenses with Power Zoom motors that may never be exercised again. Am I the only voice crying in the wilderness, or does someone else out there miss Power Zoom?
Re: Orphaned Power Zoom Lenses
No, I have a PZ-1, and a MS-Z and recently gave my (now) daughter-in-law my old PZ-20. I use the power zoom all the time and think it the bee's knees, but most people think its a power hog and not much else. I never have used the functions for zoom tracking on the PZ-1 though. Tried it once and it didn't seem to work all that well. J.W.L. - Original Message - From: Mark Erickson [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: pentax-discuss pentax-discuss@pdml.net Sent: Wednesday, September 21, 2005 3:02 PM Subject: Orphaned Power Zoom Lenses The list has been consumed with passionate debates about green button wars and camera engineering, nobody has mentioned a MAJOR lack of support for a key feature that Pentax pioneered! What am I talking about? Power Zoom, of course! It was bad enough when Pentax released their new top-end MZ-S without supporting Image-Size Tracking, Zoom Clip, and Zoom Effect capabilities. Pentax did at least include Power Zoom contacts in the MZ-S so that the power zoom capability in certain FA and FA* zoom lenses didn't completely go to waste. Unfortunately, Pentax has fully abandoned their many FA and FA* power zoom owners with the *ist-D and *ist-Ds. Wouldn't it have been ridiculously easy to include power zoom contacts? So now I have two FA* lenses with Power Zoom motors that may never be exercised again. Am I the only voice crying in the wilderness, or does someone else out there miss Power Zoom?
Re: Orphaned Power Zoom Lenses
So now I have two FA* lenses with Power Zoom motors that may never be exercised again. Am I the only voice crying in the wilderness, or does someone else out there miss Power Zoom? Well, I have only one Power Zoom lens - the FA* 80-200/2.8. I never power zoomed it on my LX's, and never power zoomed it on my DS. But, it doesn't sit still long enough to ever feel like an orphan... Fred
Power zoom lenses
Howdy! I'm noticing that Pentax states power zoom functions are not available on the *ist film camera (which I have) and the *istD. The ZX-60 and the *istDS literature makes no mention of this. Anybody know if these lenses work with the latter two cameras? -- Scott Loveless Born free. Taxed to death.
Re: Power zoom lenses
Scott Loveless wrote on 08.03.05 15:07: Howdy! I'm noticing that Pentax states power zoom functions are not available on the *ist film camera (which I have) and the *istD. The ZX-60 and the *istDS literature makes no mention of this. Anybody know if these lenses work with the latter two cameras? Yes they work. But power zoom function doesn't :-) -- Balance is the ultimate good... Best Regards Sylwek
Re: Power zoom lenses
On Tue, 08 Mar 2005 15:29:32 +0100, Sylwester Pietrzyk [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Yes they work. But power zoom function doesn't :-) Not the answer I was looking for, but an answer nonetheless. g Thanks! -- Scott Loveless Born free. Taxed to death.
Re: Power zoom lenses
AFAIK, the power zoom functions were only available on the PZ series bodies. I found them to be basically useful only as a gimmick even when I had a PZ-1p. Bill - Original Message - From: Scott Loveless [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: pentax-discuss@pdml.net Sent: Tuesday, March 08, 2005 9:56 AM Subject: Re: Power zoom lenses On Tue, 08 Mar 2005 15:29:32 +0100, Sylwester Pietrzyk [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Yes they work. But power zoom function doesn't :-) Not the answer I was looking for, but an answer nonetheless. g Thanks! -- Scott Loveless Born free. Taxed to death.
Re: Re: Power zoom lenses
From: Scott Loveless [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: 2005/03/08 Tue PM 02:56:15 GMT To: pentax-discuss@pdml.net Subject: Re: Power zoom lenses On Tue, 08 Mar 2005 15:29:32 +0100, Sylwester Pietrzyk [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Yes they work. But power zoom function doesn't :-) Not the answer I was looking for, but an answer nonetheless. g Thanks! As a guide, if the function is present in all parts of the system that require it, then it will function. E.g. if the body and lens can AF, then there will be AF. If one of them can't then it won't. If the body and flash can TTL, then the system will TTL. If one of them doesn't, it won't. And so on mike - Email sent from www.ntlworld.com virus-checked using mcAfee(R) Software visit www.ntlworld.com/security for more information
Re: Power zoom lenses
Scott, You can tell whether or not a body supports power zooming by looking at the lens mount (or a picture of the lens mount). Bodies supporting power zooming have two copper contacts inside the mount ring at about 5 o'clock. You can see them in the photos of a PZ-1p on eBay here: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemcategory=15240item=3878929492rd=1ssPageName=WDVW Rick --- Scott Loveless [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: On Tue, 08 Mar 2005 15:29:32 +0100, Sylwester Pietrzyk [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Yes they work. But power zoom function doesn't :-) Not the answer I was looking for, but an answer nonetheless. g Thanks! -- Scott Loveless Born free. Taxed to death. __ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com
Re: Re: Power zoom lenses
On Tue, 8 Mar 2005 15:05:03 +, [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: As a guide, if the function is present in all parts of the system that require it, then it will function. E.g. if the body and lens can AF, then there will be AF. If one of them can't then it won't. If the body and flash can TTL, then the system will TTL. If one of them doesn't, it won't. And so on I don't think I worded my question properly. I was wondering if the power zoom function would work with the ZX-60 or the *istDS. The description of the lens at BH stated power zoom was a function of the ZX series cameras (this is most likely a typo on their part). The Pentax literature specifically stated that there is no power zoom function with the *ist or the *istD. They conveniently left that part out in their description of the ZX-60 and the *istDS. Sorry for the confusion and thanks for the reply. On Tue, 8 Mar 2005 10:05:42 -0500, Bill Owens [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: AFAIK, the power zoom functions were only available on the PZ series bodies. The FA manual suggests that this functionality will work with the MZ-S. Page 18. The MZ-S manual indicates the same thing. Page 28 I found them to be basically useful only as a gimmick even when I had a PZ-1p. I wholeheartedly agree. However, what good is being enabled with a power zoom lens if you don't have a power zoom camera? vbg -- Scott Loveless Born free. Taxed to death.
Re: Power zoom lenses
On Tue, 8 Mar 2005 07:21:14 -0800 (PST), Rick Womer [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Scott, You can tell whether or not a body supports power zooming by looking at the lens mount (or a picture of the lens mount). Bodies supporting power zooming have two copper contacts inside the mount ring at about 5 o'clock. You can see them in the photos of a PZ-1p on eBay here: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemcategory=15240item=3878929492rd=1ssPageName=WDVW Rick Woohoo! That's exactly the information I was looking for. Now if I could only figure out how to ask the question properly. 42, anyone? g -- Scott Loveless Born free. Taxed to death.
Re: Re: Power zoom lenses
I wholeheartedly agree. However, what good is being enabled with a power zoom lens if you don't have a power zoom camera? vbg You can use in in manual zoom and enjoy the optical quality and build. John
Re: Power zoom lenses
*ist-Ds has no power-zoom contacts. ZX-60 is a bargain body, so probably not. OTOH someone else may know for sure. Power-zoom is a dying technology as far as Pentax is concerned. The lens will work as well as on any other bodies however, just no power zoom. Scott Loveless wrote: Howdy! I'm noticing that Pentax states power zoom functions are not available on the *ist film camera (which I have) and the *istD. The ZX-60 and the *istDS literature makes no mention of this. Anybody know if these lenses work with the latter two cameras? -- I can understand why mankind hasn't given up war. During a war you get to drive tanks through the sides of buildings and shoot foreigners - two things that are usually frowned on during peacetime. --P.J. O'Rourke
Re: Power zoom lenses
- Original Message - From: Bill Owens [EMAIL PROTECTED] AFAIK, the power zoom functions were only available on the PZ series bodies. I found them to be basically useful only as a gimmick even when I had a PZ-1p. The MZ-S is also on that list, IIRC. Jostein
Re: Power zoom lenses
You can tell whether or not a body supports power zooming by looking at the lens mount (or a picture of the lens mount). Bodies supporting power zooming have two copper contacts inside the mount ring at about 5 o'clock. You can see them in the photos of a PZ-1p on eBay here: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemcategory=15240item=3878929492rd=1ssPageName=WDVW It's a little more complicated than that. Yes, those two copper contacts do indicate that the body in question has a Kaf2 mount, and thus, that it supports power zooming. But that's all you can be sure of. Power zoom lenses also have zoom-clip and auto-zoom functions, which are dead unless the lens is mounted on a PZ-1p, PZ-1, PZ-20, or (I think) PZ-10. The ZX-5n I own does support power zooming, but doesn't support the additional PZ-esque features such as zoom clip. I can use an FA28-70f/2.8 on the ZX-5n, and it will even power zoom when I turn the zoom ring to activate the power zooming. But it won't perform those other tricks. Honestly, I never missed those other features. I've used the PZ-1p plenty, and only ever used the zoom-clip features to see what they do, not in any actual serious use.
Re: Power zoom lenses
Some cameras, like several in the MZ/ZX series, support _some_ power zoom functions but not all. The MZ-5n and MZ-S, for instance, support the basic 3-speed power zooming, but not the zoom clip, size tracking and other fancy functions. Also, these cameras do provide the retract-the-lens-to-its-shortest-physical-length feature via power zoom when the camera is turned off, a nice feature, although unlike the PZ-1/PZ-1p, this feature on the MZ cameras doesn't also turn the lens focus to infinity when the camera is turned off, which would make the lens as short as possible. Joe - Original Message - From: Bill Owens [EMAIL PROTECTED] AFAIK, the power zoom functions were only available on the PZ series bodies. I found them to be basically useful only as a gimmick even when I had a PZ-1p. The MZ-S is also on that list, IIRC. Jostein
Re: Re: Power zoom lenses
Quoting Scott Loveless [EMAIL PROTECTED]: On Tue, 8 Mar 2005 15:05:03 +, [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: As a guide, if the function is present in all parts of the system that require it, then it will function. E.g. if the body and lens can AF, then there will be AF. If one of them can't then it won't. If the body and flash can TTL, then the system will TTL. If one of them doesn't, it won't. And so on I don't think I worded my question properly. I was wondering if the power zoom function would work with the ZX-60 or the *istDS. The description of the lens at BH stated power zoom was a function of the ZX series cameras (this is most likely a typo on their part). There's a difference between power zoom and power zoom functions that may clarify this. If I recall correctly from when my ZX-5n used to work, the power zoom could be used on that camera but the power zoom functions -- zoom clip, image- size tracking and the other one (whatever they were, can you tell I never mastered them in nine years of owning a PZ-1 and a power-zoom lens?) didn't work on the ZX-5n. The Pentax literature specifically stated that there is no power zoom function with the *ist or the *istD. They conveniently left that part out in their description of the ZX-60 and the *istDS. Sorry for the confusion and thanks for the reply. On Tue, 8 Mar 2005 10:05:42 -0500, Bill Owens [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: AFAIK, the power zoom functions were only available on the PZ series bodies. The FA manual suggests that this functionality will work with the MZ-S. Page 18. The MZ-S manual indicates the same thing. Page 28 I found them to be basically useful only as a gimmick even when I had a PZ-1p. I wholeheartedly agree. However, what good is being enabled with a power zoom lens if you don't have a power zoom camera? vbg What good ... ? Because they're perfectly serviceable zoom lenses. Like I said, I've had one for nine years and I don't use or miss the power zooming. :-) ERNR
Re: Power zoom lenses
although unlike the PZ-1/PZ-1p, this feature on the MZ cameras doesn't also turn the lens focus to infinity when the camera is turned off, which would make the lens as short as possible. The 28-105 does on both my MZ-3 and ZX-5n. John
Re: Power zoom lenses
Maybe it's just the MZ-S, then? I thought I remembered this odd dropped partial feature on the -5n as well. Joe although unlike the PZ-1/PZ-1p, this feature on the MZ cameras doesn't also turn the lens focus to infinity when the camera is turned off, which would make the lens as short as possible. The 28-105 does on both my MZ-3 and ZX-5n. John -- Joe Wilensky Editor, Cornell Chronicle Cornell News Office 312 College Ave. Ithaca, NY 14850 mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] (607) 255-3630 phone/voice mail (607) 255-5373 fax http://www.news.cornell.edu/Chronicle.html
Re: Power zoom lenses
Hi Joe Had to check, my memory is not what it used to be. When powered off the 28- 105 zooms back to 55mm approx. and infinity on the focus. If the power zoom feature is not engaged, well then it stays were it was left on the zoom ring, ditto when switched to manual focus. I'm curious now about the MZ-s, not that it would bother me at all. Checked with the ZX-5n. John -- Original Message --- From: Joe Wilensky [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: pentax-discuss@pdml.net Sent: Tue, 8 Mar 2005 13:43:30 -0500 Subject: Re: Power zoom lenses Maybe it's just the MZ-S, then? I thought I remembered this odd dropped partial feature on the -5n as well. Joe although unlike the PZ-1/PZ-1p, this feature on the MZ cameras doesn't also turn the lens focus to infinity when the camera is turned off, which would make the lens as short as possible. The 28-105 does on both my MZ-3 and ZX-5n. John -- Joe Wilensky Editor, Cornell Chronicle Cornell News Office 312 College Ave. Ithaca, NY 14850 mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] (607) 255-3630 phone/voice mail (607) 255-5373 fax http://www.news.cornell.edu/Chronicle.html --- End of Original Message ---
Re: Power zoom lenses
On Tue, 8 Mar 2005 19:06:34 +, John Whittingham [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I'm curious now about the MZ-s, not that it would bother me at all. Checked with the ZX-5n. John John, According to the FA manual, the power zoom lenses retract but do not focus to infinity with the MZ-S. -- Scott Loveless http://www.twosixteen.com
Re: Power zoom lenses
According to the FA manual, the power zoom lenses retract but do not focus to infinity with the MZ-S. Strange on such a high spec body, Pentax eh :) John
Re: Power zoom lenses
The MZ-S retracts the lens to minimum zoom length, but doesn't re-focus. John Whittingham mused: Hi Joe Had to check, my memory is not what it used to be. When powered off the 28- 105 zooms back to 55mm approx. and infinity on the focus. If the power zoom feature is not engaged, well then it stays were it was left on the zoom ring, ditto when switched to manual focus. I'm curious now about the MZ-s, not that it would bother me at all. Checked with the ZX-5n. John -- Original Message --- From: Joe Wilensky [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: pentax-discuss@pdml.net Sent: Tue, 8 Mar 2005 13:43:30 -0500 Subject: Re: Power zoom lenses Maybe it's just the MZ-S, then? I thought I remembered this odd dropped partial feature on the -5n as well. Joe although unlike the PZ-1/PZ-1p, this feature on the MZ cameras doesn't also turn the lens focus to infinity when the camera is turned off, which would make the lens as short as possible. The 28-105 does on both my MZ-3 and ZX-5n. John -- Joe Wilensky Editor, Cornell Chronicle Cornell News Office 312 College Ave. Ithaca, NY 14850 mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] (607) 255-3630 phone/voice mail (607) 255-5373 fax http://www.news.cornell.edu/Chronicle.html --- End of Original Message ---
Re: Power zoom lenses
John Whittingham mused: According to the FA manual, the power zoom lenses retract but do not focus to infinity with the MZ-S. Strange on such a high spec body, Pentax eh :) Not if you assume it's going to be used with IF lenses ... With most of my lenses the change of length with focus isn't all that great (even discounting the IF examples). But the change of length with zoom is much, much larger.
Re: Power zoom lenses
But are any of them power zoom lenses? I think most of the IF lenses replaced older power zoom designs. The 100-300 power zoom doesn't change size at all when zooming, only when focusing. Others, like the 28-105 power zoom, can change size nearly as much from close focusing as they can from zooming. It's just too bad half this feature is lost on the MZ-S, but it is a minor complaint, at best. Joe John Whittingham mused: According to the FA manual, the power zoom lenses retract but do not focus to infinity with the MZ-S. Strange on such a high spec body, Pentax eh :) Not if you assume it's going to be used with IF lenses ... With most of my lenses the change of length with focus isn't all that great (even discounting the IF examples). But the change of length with zoom is much, much larger.
Re: Power zoom lenses
Joe Wilensky escribió: But are any of them power zoom lenses? I think most of the IF lenses replaced older power zoom designs. The FA* 80-200 2.8 is both power zoom and IF. And I think the awesome 250-600 mm. is also both. Carlos
Re: Power zoom lenses
The 28-105 power zoom (the lens I mounted on my MZ-S to test) changes length by perhaps 4mm over the whole focus range. That's about 1/3 of the change in length due to the zoom. So the MZ-S loses closer to a quarter than half the potential benefit if it were to change the focus as well as the zoom. On my other two power zoom lenses, neither focussing nor zooming affect the length of the lens in any way at all. Joe Wilensky mused: But are any of them power zoom lenses? I think most of the IF lenses replaced older power zoom designs. The 100-300 power zoom doesn't change size at all when zooming, only when focusing. Others, like the 28-105 power zoom, can change size nearly as much from close focusing as they can from zooming. It's just too bad half this feature is lost on the MZ-S, but it is a minor complaint, at best. Joe John Whittingham mused: According to the FA manual, the power zoom lenses retract but do not focus to infinity with the MZ-S. Strange on such a high spec body, Pentax eh :) Not if you assume it's going to be used with IF lenses ... With most of my lenses the change of length with focus isn't all that great (even discounting the IF examples). But the change of length with zoom is much, much larger.
Re: Power zoom lenses
Carlos Royo mused: Joe Wilensky escribió: But are any of them power zoom lenses? I think most of the IF lenses replaced older power zoom designs. The FA* 80-200 2.8 is both power zoom and IF. And I think the awesome 250-600 mm. is also both. That is correct (although neither lens changes length when zooming).
Re: Power zoom lenses
I just tried my PZ 28-105 on the *ist-D and it was downright snappy in focusing at both ends of the zoom range. I wonder if there is some sort of problem with the AF coupling on the lens? Someone else commented that the PZ 28-105 does not focus to infinity on the Mz-S. My Mz-S is off for repairs, but I don't recall ever having that problem. I did note testing just now that when I focus the 28-105 to a distant subject, distance scale on the lens reads about halfway between 5m and infinity. But a few test shots with the *ist-D shows that this is indeed where it's in focus. I was on my back roof focusing on a telephone pole a block away , so I'd expect that to be infinity - but maybe the scale is off. - MCC - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Mark Cassino Photography Kalamazoo, MI www.markcassino.com - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Original Message - From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: pentax-discuss@pdml.net Sent: Tuesday, March 08, 2005 11:12 AM Subject: Re: Power zoom lenses All i know is the PZ 28-105 works on my PZ-1 with no problems however,no Power Zoom with the istD and it does not AF well at either end(full 28 and full 105)Its sporatic and just started.Kind of a humming noiise from the motor when trying to find focus. Take it off slightly from the to ends and it will focus. Dave Carlos Royo mused: Joe Wilensky escribió: But are any of them power zoom lenses? I think most of the IF lenses replaced older power zoom designs. The FA* 80-200 2.8 is both power zoom and IF. And I think the awesome 250-600 mm. is also both. That is correct (although neither lens changes length when zooming).
Re: Power zoom lenses
No, the comment wasn't that it doesn't focus to infinity, but that when power zoom is engaged, the camera doesn't automatically return the lens to infinity position like it does on the PZ-1/PZ-1p. It focuses to infinity just fine on my MZ-S! Joe I just tried my PZ 28-105 on the *ist-D and it was downright snappy in focusing at both ends of the zoom range. I wonder if there is some sort of problem with the AF coupling on the lens? Someone else commented that the PZ 28-105 does not focus to infinity on the Mz-S. My Mz-S is off for repairs, but I don't recall ever having that problem. I did note testing just now that when I focus the 28-105 to a distant subject, distance scale on the lens reads about halfway between 5m and infinity. But a few test shots with the *ist-D shows that this is indeed where it's in focus. I was on my back roof focusing on a telephone pole a block away , so I'd expect that to be infinity - but maybe the scale is off. - MCC - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Mark Cassino Photography Kalamazoo, MI www.markcassino.com - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Original Message - From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: pentax-discuss@pdml.net Sent: Tuesday, March 08, 2005 11:12 AM Subject: Re: Power zoom lenses All i know is the PZ 28-105 works on my PZ-1 with no problems however,no Power Zoom with the istD and it does not AF well at either end(full 28 and full 105)Its sporatic and just started.Kind of a humming noiise from the motor when trying to find focus. Take it off slightly from the to ends and it will focus. Dave Carlos Royo mused: Joe Wilensky escribió: But are any of them power zoom lenses? I think most of the IF lenses replaced older power zoom designs. The FA* 80-200 2.8 is both power zoom and IF. And I think the awesome 250-600 mm. is also both. That is correct (although neither lens changes length when zooming).
Re: Power zoom lenses
Got it - thanks for clarifying! - MCC - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Mark Cassino Photography Kalamazoo, MI www.markcassino.com - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Original Message - From: Joe Wilensky [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: pentax-discuss@pdml.net Sent: Tuesday, March 08, 2005 4:51 PM Subject: Re: Power zoom lenses No, the comment wasn't that it doesn't focus to infinity, but that when power zoom is engaged, the camera doesn't automatically return the lens to infinity position like it does on the PZ-1/PZ-1p. It focuses to infinity just fine on my MZ-S! Joe
