DA* 16-50mm Serial Number Database. - Page 17

Imagination4 · 09-21-2008, 07:26 AM

Originally Posted by messyhousedesign

Hi everybody, I just received my 16-50 lens from Amazon and I noticed that when I shoot upwards at the sky and when I turn the zoom it "binds" mid zoom. It takes a little more effort to continue the zoom ... same case when it is pointed straight down. It is not terrible but it is definitely not "smooth" like when the lens is relatively level. Is this normal?

The first 2 of these lenses I had tried were very hard to zoom past the 28mm mark (more so zooming out than in, but noticeable in either direction), but this was regardless of whether held up, down, or horizontally. Both of these were returned for other reasons.

bjsmith · 09-22-2008, 01:25 PM

Originally Posted by nunzio

SN 9024299. Good.
Purchased August 25. N.

I have 9024998. It seems that was a "good" batch.

My prior 9029210 clearly had a major defect that affected the entire right side.

*nunzio* · 09-22-2008, 03:48 PM

It seems to me, from this poll, we have an high percentage of low quality lenses.
We're talking about Pentax "star" lenses!!!
Do you think Canon and Nikon have the same problems on new productions of lenses today?

N.

*morfic* · 09-22-2008, 05:53 PM

Ask early adopters of 24-105 f/4 IS, it had quite a bad reputation, i never saw anyone track it like this though since Canon people have many forums to go to maybe, or worse, ask early adopters of the 1D Mk III......

*Votesh* · 09-27-2008, 07:01 PM

S/N 9017123 appears to be good, and so far it seems well worth the money.

I got it last week at Robert's Camera in Indianapolis.

Sang · 09-29-2008, 11:05 PM

I have 9029550 and looks good to me.
Got it from J&R on Aug 15 2008.

sychen · 10-01-2008, 12:42 AM

Seems good so far... testing further.

Serial: 9018166

hotrod · 10-02-2008, 07:03 AM

I was thinking on getting this lens now i´m not to sure.

ZigDaPig · 10-02-2008, 07:42 AM

Is there anyone aware of a case where a faulty lens (with some resistance when zooming out around 28 mm) breaks by itself after a while ? I'm a bit frustrated because I have to pay for reparations while I have the feeling that I simply had a faulty lens...

I've had this lens (serial nr 9014563) for half a year, and I have always felt resistance when zooming out/in around the 28 mm mark.
But I was never aware that this was abnormal (until I read about it just now on this forum), so I didn't pay too much attention to it, since the lens and autofocus were ok for the rest.

Up till 2 months ago, when (just after picking it up from the table), it suddenly blocked completely at the 28-mm mark when zooming out.
Zooming in and out between 28mm and 50mm worked fine, but it wouldn't zoom out any further. After a while I discovered that the orientation of the lens made a difference, so I could get it unstuck by holding it in several positions...
While doing this, I also noticed that there was a sound coming from the lens, which sounded like there was a very tiny screw or other particle freely roaming around somewhere in the body of the lens...
Apart from that, the autofocus and everything else was still working fine !

So I brought it to the shop, and they sent it to De Beukelaer (Belgian importer for Pentax), and after a month, they let me know that the autofocus is broken due to "falling damage" and I have to pay >400$ to get it fixed !

I'm sure I didn't drop it. It might have tapped against a table or a person while manoeuvring around, but nothing more than (in my opinion) the lens would be able to take...

Anyone any comments ?

Z.

sychen · 10-02-2008, 02:57 PM

Sorry to hear your troubles Z.
The stickyness at 28mm from my understanding is sealled double cam action at work.
As the lens starts to extend the second portion of the zoom it has to fight the weather seal to move it.

Contact the distributor to verify this... stand on your rights that you did not drop the lens.
I'm not sure of consumer laws in Belgium but try to find other examples from the net and show them that the screw that came loose or the part broken can happen without dropping.

In all likely hood then just want to use it as an excuse to not honour the warranty.
Hope it goes well for you.

Cheers
Shang

Cyril · 10-05-2008, 02:06 AM

Mine is good, serial number 9016589.
Bought in "Shop Photo" in Nice, France, 05/01/08.
Sometime, i think it's me who's not good with my K20D...

dlr1989 · 10-05-2008, 02:36 PM

9022145 purchased at National Camera Exchange in Golden Vally, MN:

k10d not so good
k20d very good

Erasmo · 10-06-2008, 02:25 PM

I dunno about mine one:

50 mm, f/2.8, only resized:

16 mm, f2.8, only resized:

What do you think?

pakhead · 10-07-2008, 09:43 PM

Z, exactly the same thing happened to my DA*16-50. I bought it in Singapore in July, and 3 weeks later the zoom ring jammed - then mysteriously unjammed again - then jammed again a week later. I also could hear a small part rattling around inside, like a screw.

I have had it sent back to Japan for repairs - still waiting for it to come back.

There is clearly a design fault with this lens, or at least something about its design that results in consistent manufacturing faults. You should complain very loudly to Pentax and insist THEY pay for your repairs. I have heard of several other owners whose zoom rings have jammed.

Pentax MUST acknowledge they have a real problem with this lens. I know there are many very happy owners, and that a good copy is a really great lens. But the number of owners with problems is way higher than is acceptable. The Pentax bosses should be hanging their heads in shame on this one, and doing everything in their power to restore the trust of loyal Pentax owners in the quality of their products.

dlr1989 · 10-07-2008, 10:43 PM

I have changed my mind:
On the k20d it's better but not good enough. National Camera Exchange graciously exchanged 9022145 for another one 9013510

9013510 on the k20d definite CA problems with high contrast edges. Don't you just love purple fringes. I snapped a couple of shots inside the store and both the sales person and I thought overall focus was better, exposure issues seemed better so ok we swapped lenses. Walk outside to the car, it was cloudy gray day, snapped a couple of shots of trees in their yard and one of those shots included a corner of the building. I get back to my hotel and copy the images from the camera to the laptop and what do I immediately see? Purple fringes on the corner of the building.

I must check to make sure the building doesn't actually have purple fringes when I return this lens.

Originally Posted by dlr1989

9022145 purchased at National Camera Exchange in Golden Vally, MN:

k10d not so good
k20d very good