Re: More lens problems.
After speaking with Pentax USA and having no luck cleaning the contacts, I'm going to send them the *istD body and the FA 50, FA 100 macro, and the FA 135. Although it seems funny, they still think it might be the lenses even though they work on the MZ-S and the ZX-7. What really confused them was that the aperture wouldn't register AND the AF won't engage. I'll wait a week, however, so I can use the camera over the holidays (since it works with other lenses). Steven Desjardins Department of Chemistry Washington and Lee University Lexington, VA 24450 (540) 458-8873 FAX: (540) 458-8878 [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: More lens problems.
On Wed, 24 Dec 2003 10:13:03 -0500, you wrote: After speaking with Pentax USA and having no luck cleaning the contacts, I'm going to send them the *istD body and the FA 50, FA 100 macro, and the FA 135. Although it seems funny, they still think it might be the lenses even though they work on the MZ-S and the ZX-7. What really confused them was that the aperture wouldn't register AND the AF won't engage. I'll wait a week, however, so I can use the camera over the holidays (since it works with other lenses). Steven Desjardins Department of Chemistry Washington and Lee University Lexington, VA 24450 (540) 458-8873 FAX: (540) 458-8878 [EMAIL PROTECTED] That's a lot of gear to send. May I caution you to have everything insured yourself before you send it, with something like an all-risks policy. Pentax USA screwed me out of an thousand-dollar A* 200/4 Macro several years back. I sent it for repair, I never got it back, and Pentax in Colorado refused to file a claim with UPS. Luckily for me this lens was covered by my State Farm all-risks policy, which paid off immediately, or else I would have been left holding a very empty bag. I should have took my own advice recently. I sold a piece of gear on ebay, sent it uninsured because the guy declined to pay for the insurance, he now says he did not get it, and it looks like I will be out my gear and having to pay a refund. Rats. -- John Mustarde www.photolin.com
Re: More lens problems.
AFAIK, it was possible to identify MZ-S bodies that are affected by entering Serial # at the following URL on Pentax Homepage: http://www.pentax.co.jp/japan/news/information/20010619-s.html I did try it two years ago when I bought MZ-S. Return info was that my MZ-S is clear. The unfortunate part of this is that, obviously, page is not available anymore. So this won't help you much, I'm afraid. Maybe somebody can still find out the corresponding page somewhere else on Pentax pages. Matja It looks like this link will do the job. http://www.pentax.co.jp/japan/news/information/20010619-s.bak Andre
Re: More lens problems.
I am not certain. Try to avoid loading the film too further in. If that doesn't work, it must be checked by service centre. Yours regards, Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan Thanks, the MZ-S I'm after (the seller has the flu, deal is delayed) has been bought in Taiwan. I'll ask about this. Was there a cure for this problem? _ The new MSN 8: smart spam protection and 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail http://join.msn.com/?page=dept/bcommpgmarket=en-caRU=http%3a%2f%2fjoin.msn.com%2f%3fpage%3dmisc%2fspecialoffers%26pgmarket%3den-ca
Re: More lens problems.
AFAIK, it was possible to identify MZ-S bodies that are affected by entering Serial # at the following URL on Pentax Homepage: http://www.pentax.co.jp/japan/news/information/20010619-s.html I did try it two years ago when I bought MZ-S. Return info was that my MZ-S is clear. The unfortunate part of this is that, obviously, page is not available anymore. So this won't help you much, I'm afraid. Maybe somebody can still find out the corresponding page somewhere else on Pentax pages. Matja Some MZ-S purchased in asia had winding problem as well, and those units were purchased after the MZ-S had been released for 2 years. Some experienced auto rewind when the film was not finished. Alan Chan Thanks, the MZ-S I'm after (the seller has the flu, deal is delayed) has been bought in Taiwan. I'll ask about this. Was there a cure for this problem? Andre
Re: More lens problems.
Some MZ-S purchased in asia had winding problem as well, and those units were purchased after the MZ-S had been released for 2 years. Some experienced auto rewind when the film was not finished. Yours regards, Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan The only problem reported in the MZ-S was in the first units shipped. There was a frame overlay problem which appeared from time to time. It was solved in those early production cameras by a firmware fix applied in Pentax service centres. It affected only the early adopters of the camera, some PDML members among them. _ Protect your PC - get McAfee.com VirusScan Online http://clinic.mcafee.com/clinic/ibuy/campaign.asp?cid=3963
Re: More lens problems.
- Original Message - From: Alan Chan Subject: Re: More lens problems. Some MZ-S purchased in asia had winding problem as well, and those units were purchased after the MZ-S had been released for 2 years. Some experienced auto rewind when the film was not finished. I find it interesting that almost all of the complaints generated by Pentax cameras relate to electronic problems. Everything from the LX ISO resistor to the ist D crashes are problems with the electronics. The fully mechanical cameras seem to generate very few problems, as is proven by the number of screw mount cameras still in use. William Robb
Re: More lens problems.
So Zeiss was right? Well, at least it gave us the K-mount. -- Robert - Original Message - From: William Robb [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Sunday, December 21, 2003 8:09 PM Subject: Re: More lens problems. I find it interesting that almost all of the complaints generated by Pentax cameras relate to electronic problems. Everything from the LX ISO resistor to the ist D crashes are problems with the electronics. The fully mechanical cameras seem to generate very few problems, as is proven by the number of screw mount cameras still in use.
Re: More lens problems.
Some MZ-S purchased in asia had winding problem as well, and those units were purchased after the MZ-S had been released for 2 years. Some experienced auto rewind when the film was not finished. Alan Chan Thanks, the MZ-S I'm after (the seller has the flu, deal is delayed) has been bought in Taiwan. I'll ask about this. Was there a cure for this problem? Andre
Re: More lens problems.
- Original Message - From: Joseph Tainter Subject: Re: More lens problems. Is it just me or does it seem that there are a lot of defective starkistdees out of the box? We seem to have an unusual number of posts about problems with a new camera. I wonder about that myself, though so far mine has been flawless. A lot of the problems that I have read about are attributable to people not knowing what to expect with digital cameras though. There is also thr instant gratification factor. It's far easier to bitch about something minor than to actually do something about it. William Robb
Re: More lens problems.
Just not long ago many MZ-S had problems too. If you asked me, Pentax must do something about their QC, but obviousely they didn't. Yours regards, Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan Is it just me or does it seem that there are a lot of defective starkistdees out of the box? We seem to have an unusual number of posts about problems with a new camera. Assembled in the Philippines??!!?? _ The new MSN 8: advanced junk mail protection and 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?page=dept/bcommpgmarket=en-caRU=http%3a%2f%2fjoin.msn.com%2f%3fpage%3dmisc%2fspecialoffers%26pgmarket%3den-ca
Re: More lens problems.
- Original Message - From: Alan Chan Subject: Re: More lens problems. Just not long ago many MZ-S had problems too. If you asked me, Pentax must do something about their QC, but obviousely they didn't. Personally, I think their QC went to hell sometime around the introducion of the A series bodies. William Robb
Re: More lens problems.
And with all my 7 lenses that I have owned now, only 1 has been completely problem free. I'd say either I am very bad luck, or they have some serious QC issue. I got a feeling that even Pentax Canada was sick of me (and so am I). Yours regards, Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan Personally, I think their QC went to hell sometime around the introducion of the A series bodies. _ Help STOP SPAM with the new MSN 8 and get 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?page=dept/bcommpgmarket=en-caRU=http%3a%2f%2fjoin.msn.com%2f%3fpage%3dmisc%2fspecialoffers%26pgmarket%3den-ca
Re: More lens problems.
- Original Message - From: Alan Chan Subject: Re: More lens problems. And with all my 7 lenses that I have owned now, only 1 has been completely problem free. I'd say either I am very bad luck, or they have some serious QC issue. I got a feeling that even Pentax Canada was sick of me (and so am I). In your case, I think it is a combination of factors. You are attempting to buy top end equipment from a company that does consumer level QC. I suspect you are a much more demanding customer than the Pentax norm. Most people don't inspect their equipment as closely for defects as you do. William Robb
Re: More lens problems.
All the problem I have read so far were related to the winding mechanisms. Yours regards, Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan Just not long ago many MZ-S had problems too. Andre _ Protect your PC - get McAfee.com VirusScan Online http://clinic.mcafee.com/clinic/ibuy/campaign.asp?cid=3963
Re: More lens problems.
Steve, Do you have another ZX type body to try them on? I found that my FA 80-320 acted like it was not set to 'A' when I put it on the *istD. After putting it on the ZX-10 it behaved just the same. Pointing to a problem with the lens, not the body. After pressing and hold on the aperture ring right near the lens mount, it starts to read properly. Let go and it goes back to error. Also check for dirty contacts - body and lenses. Bruce Friday, December 19, 2003, 10:43:56 AM, you wrote: SD Obviously this is going to be a bad day The *ist D is not working with SD a few lenses. In particular: SD can't read aperature or AF w/ SD FA 50, FA 135, FA100 2.8 macro SD Works just fine w/ SD FA20-35, A50.17, Sigma 24-70 3.5-5.6 SD I'm assuming this body has just won a trip to Colorado. SD Steven Desjardins SD Department of Chemistry SD Washington and Lee University SD Lexington, VA 24450 SD (540) 458-8873 SD FAX: (540) 458-8878 SD [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: More lens problems.
I'm going to bring in my zx-7 for testing, although I know the FA 50 works fine on my MZ-S. I have cleaned the contacted, made sure they're on A etc. What's so odd is that three lenses now fail and that AF won't engage. OTOH, I have an FA, A and Sigma lens that work fine, both aperture and AF (when applicable). Steven Desjardins Department of Chemistry Washington and Lee University Lexington, VA 24450 (540) 458-8873 FAX: (540) 458-8878 [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] 12/19/03 02:00PM Steve, Do you have another ZX type body to try them on? I found that my FA 80-320 acted like it was not set to 'A' when I put it on the *istD. After putting it on the ZX-10 it behaved just the same. Pointing to a problem with the lens, not the body. After pressing and hold on the aperture ring right near the lens mount, it starts to read properly. Let go and it goes back to error. Also check for dirty contacts - body and lenses. Bruce Friday, December 19, 2003, 10:43:56 AM, you wrote: SD Obviously this is going to be a bad day The *ist D is not working with SD a few lenses. In particular: SD can't read aperature or AF w/ SD FA 50, FA 135, FA100 2.8 macro SD Works just fine w/ SD FA20-35, A50.17, Sigma 24-70 3.5-5.6 SD I'm assuming this body has just won a trip to Colorado. SD Steven Desjardins SD Department of Chemistry SD Washington and Lee University SD Lexington, VA 24450 SD (540) 458-8873 SD FAX: (540) 458-8878 SD [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: More lens problems
On Sat, 29 Nov 2003, mike wilson wrote: 300/2.8 lurking around the corner for pence. It does sound like another case of fungus to me, I'm afraid, although it is also possible that it is an artefact from a previous clean. Professional help needed. Thanks for all the answers. It is ana artefact from a previous clean, scratch on the coating, said the pro. They also said that there is fogging on the outside of the front element, probably from bad cleaning; I saw it too after they pointed it out. They can fix the latter, they thought, but not the former. I wrote to the seller asking for a refund for his lens back. I won;t keep you posted unless you ask me to, it's no longer interesting I don't think. Kostas
Re: More lens problems
Hi, Kostas Kavoussanakis wrote: the sad tale of a dead lens. Go to your nearest Jessops and ask them to search their secondhand database for the same lens. Then ask them to get some of the results sent to your store. You could ask them to search for PK(A) mounts, too. Choose the one(s) you want. Don't pay more than £120. Probably not a good idea to do this on a Saturday mike
Re: More lens problems
On Mon, 1 Dec 2003, mike wilson wrote: too. Choose the one(s) you want. Don't pay more than £120. Probably not a good idea to do this on a Saturday Thanks for this. 120 is twice as much as I paid for the one I have (OK,plus PP). Are you suggesting that I should shut up, cough up the 35 squid (sic) suggested by the technician and be done with it? Kostas
Re: More lens problems
It is online as well. http://www.jessops.com/used/ On Mon, 2003-12-01 at 22:26, mike wilson wrote: Hi, Kostas Kavoussanakis wrote: the sad tale of a dead lens. Go to your nearest Jessops and ask them to search their secondhand database for the same lens. Then ask them to get some of the results sent to your store. You could ask them to search for PK(A) mounts, too. Choose the one(s) you want. Don't pay more than £120. Probably not a good idea to do this on a Saturday mike -- Frits Wüthrich [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: More lens problems
Hi, Kostas Kavoussanakis wrote: On Mon, 1 Dec 2003, mike wilson wrote: too. Choose the one(s) you want. Don't pay more than £120. Probably not a good idea to do this on a Saturday Thanks for this. 120 is twice as much as I paid for the one I have (OK,plus PP). Are you suggesting that I should shut up, cough up the 35 squid (sic) suggested by the technician and be done with it? Leave the cephalopod molluscs alone 8-) No, I'm suggesting that you send this (obviously incurably defective) example back to the naughty person who tried to sell it to you. Go to a reputable dealer in secondhand goods, who will allow you to look at the object of your desire before you hand over your hard-earned money. £60 was way too cheap for a good example of that lens. You could offer the guy £10 for the extension tube and the hood, as it is unlikely that you will find many others. £120 is a good average price for an excellent example of this lens, with (I think) 12 months' warranty. Whatever Jessops ask, offer 10% less. Always works for me. mike
Re: More lens problems
On Mon, 1 Dec 2003, mike wilson wrote: £60 was way too cheap for a good example of that lens. Well, that was ebay. Nobody else bidding on it knew it was a bad 'un. You could offer the guy £10 for the extension tube and the hood, as it is unlikely that you will find many others. Err, my example does not have these either. Whatever Jessops ask, offer 10% less. Always works for me. Thanks, I am quite seasoned with Jessops. Kostas
RE: More lens problems
Just out of curiosity, do you think it could be a crack in one of the inner elements? Another thought is that it could be something that should be against the side of the barrel, but has come loose. I have only watched lens repair, so I am not an expert, just thinking out loud, so to speak. David Madsen mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.davidmadsen.com
RE: More lens problems
On Sat, 29 Nov 2003, David Madsen wrote: Just out of curiosity, do you think it could be a crack in one of the inner elements? Yes, I fear this could be the case. Another thought is that it could be something that should be against the side of the barrel, but has come loose. I have only watched lens repair, so I am not an expert, just thinking out loud, so to speak. It is very thin, like hair. I could try taking a couple of pictures. Thing is I will have to invest 20 GBP in a mount. May just bite the bullet... Thanks for your thoughts, Kostas
RE: More lens problems
That's a tough one. If it's a hair it's removable. A crack is not. Too bad it will probably cost money to find out for sure. Good luck. David Madsen mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.davidmadsen.com
Re: More lens problems - crack in the glass?
On Tuesday I took an objective lens to pieces to find out why the pictures were milky. The problem was a deposit on the glass -- condensed grease. Its a bad idea to allow lenses that have lubricated helices to get hot. This one has a small diaphragm and rather small elements --one is about 2mm in diameter. It was quite difficult to clean them. Now the picture is fine. I did a couple of plan (focussing) eyepieces at the same time -- they were easier since the smallest element is about 15 mm in diameter. Again the problem was condensed lubricant to which dust and small particles were adhering; probably including small cellulose fibres from tissue used to clean (wipe) the exposed surfaces -- it gets down the barrel very easily during this process. But getting the four pieces of glass and the spacers back into the barrel and screwing it up without getting more crap in was difficult. These were all part of a large donation of 'redundant' equipment from the University; old perfectly good stuff no one uses any more. For examples of this 'close to focus' rubbish showing up on pictures look at: http://kotisivu.mtv3.fi/edfw/wild03/index.htm The same minute pieces of dirt on the eyepiece show up on almost every picture. It does not detract from the result, but makes the images look crappy. I hope that after my careful cleaning things will be slightly better. The human eye can cope with extraneous garbage in an image and 'process' the noise out, film cannot, and so the optics must be very clean. The nature of the imaging geometry is such that anything on the first transfer lens (eyepiece) is close to being in focus on the film. The human brain is one of the best (analogue) image processors that exist. I have another objective that looks like it has become delaminated. Delamination of cemented elements can sometimes look like a crack in the glass. When I can find some really clean Canada Balsam I'll do the repair. But I'll need to have a jig made that will hold the glass in line while the cement hardens. Don ___ Dr E D F Williams http://personal.inet.fi/cool/don.williams Author's Web Site and Photo Gallery See New Pages 'The Cement Company from HELL!' Updated: August 15, 2003 Oh my God! They've killed Teddy! - Original Message - From: David Madsen [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Saturday, November 29, 2003 12:17 PM Subject: RE: More lens problems That's a tough one. If it's a hair it's removable. A crack is not. Too bad it will probably cost money to find out for sure. Good luck. David Madsen mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.davidmadsen.com
Re: More lens problems
Hi, Kostas Kavoussanakis wrote: On Sat, 29 Nov 2003, David Madsen wrote: Just out of curiosity, do you think it could be a crack in one of the inner elements? Yes, I fear this could be the case. I would expect a crack to have less of a line appearance, especially if you move the lens around whilst looking at it. You would be able to perceive some of the shape of the element section. Another thought is that it could be something that should be against the side of the barrel, but has come loose. I have only watched lens repair, so I am not an expert, just thinking out loud, so to speak. It is very thin, like hair. A possibility, if the lens has been previously dismantled. I could try taking a couple of pictures. Thing is I will have to invest 20 GBP in a mount. May just bite the bullet... Buy the mount. The lens type is excellent, even though this example may not be keepable, so you can use it on another - and you may just find a 300/2.8 lurking around the corner for pence. It does sound like another case of fungus to me, I'm afraid, although it is also possible that it is an artefact from a previous clean. Professional help needed. mike
Re: More lens problems
Hi, Kostas Kavoussanakis wrote: Just after deciding to return the Kiron, I received today a Tamron 90/2.5. Looking through it front to back I see a thin, probably straight line like a chord running across the barel (perhaps across an element in the middle of the lens). What is it? Can't see anything like that in mine. Spots on each side of the elements, where the light source picks up the coating and _loads_ of dust from the last use but that's all. Black or white? mike
