Dropped a lens! (DA Limited build quality?)

ADHWJC · 10-16-2010, 02:13 PM

I dropped my 70mm DA Limited lens. It had both the front and rear lens cap attached, and it appeared to land on the rear lens cap at about a 45-degree angle to the ground.

It appears to be working fine —*it focuses OK as far as I can tell — but is there something I should be on the lookout for? I don't really fully understand how lenses are built —*is there a focusing element or something else that could've been knocked out of place?

I use both manual and autofocus. With this lens I use more autofocus than manual probably.

Fingers crossed, holding breath.

SpecialK · 10-16-2010, 02:40 PM

Congratulations - you now have one of those rough-and-tumble lenses with character instead of one of those run-of-the-mill flawless ones.

Seriously, if nothing rattles and it seems to be OK, it probably is...

wlachan · 10-16-2010, 03:00 PM

Just look for possible optical misalignment. Otherwise, if the lens works fine, I would not worry.

ADHWJC · 10-16-2010, 03:03 PM

What does optical misalignment mean, and how do I look for it? Is it in the photos I take or looking at the lens itself?

wlachan · 10-16-2010, 04:04 PM

Usually lenses suffer from optical misalignment show asymmetrical sharpness on both sides of the pictures even stopped down.

mlatour · 10-16-2010, 05:19 PM

You will hopefully be very lucky as I was...

Dropped my DA 12-24mm only a few days after purchasing it,
fell 3ft or so onto a concrete sidewalk while changing lenses.

Big scrape in the plastic next to the 'PENTAX 12-24' ID plate
but after doing the 'brick wall photo test', everything looks
fine; alignment/sharpness. Didn't have it long enough before
the crash to remember but now there's a little bit of stiffness in
the zoom ring at a certain point in the range.

Needless to say I'm more carefull now and changed my routine
when replacing lenses!

JeffJS · 10-16-2010, 06:27 PM

If you dropped the lens and it hit on the Rear lens cap, that is the best possible scenario. Being made of plastic, there is Some cushion on impact. If the lens is still working, still focuses, etc enjoy and use it in good health. Just don't drop it again...

ADHWJC · 10-16-2010, 07:29 PM

This was taken today after the drop. It doesn't seem as sharp to me but that's probably my mind playing tricks on me. Certainly looks uniform left to right, though, in terms of focus, at least to my eye.

1/60, F11, ISO 400, 515pm

Pentaxor · 10-16-2010, 07:39 PM

Originally posted by DEWEY

This was taken today after the drop. It doesn't seem as sharp to me but that's probably my mind playing tricks on me. Certainly looks uniform left to right, though, in terms of focus, at least to my eye.

1/60, F11, ISO 400, 515pm

oh no. it's not working anymore. I'll buy it from you for $100.

wjt · 10-16-2010, 09:48 PM

I dropped my beloved 35ltd about 3ft and it rolled down several concrete stairs. After much testing it seems to be working fine, nothing wrong with autofocus and this was nearly a year ago now. So if everything is working okay, I would say it will be fine, were it broken you would know by now.

MSM · 10-16-2010, 10:01 PM

@Dewey: the shot looks good to me.

I too dropped a Limited lens. My 35 mm DA fell from a carelessly unzipped pouch on my sling bag I was wearing. Dropped ~3ft on brick pavers right on the metal lens cap. Two years later and still working great. It was the first time that I can honestly say that I was so happy to be short statured!!

10-16-2010, 02:13 PM	#1
ADHWJC Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Sacramento Posts: 49	Dropped a lens! (DA Limited build quality?) I dropped my 70mm DA Limited lens. It had both the front and rear lens cap attached, and it appeared to land on the rear lens cap at about a 45-degree angle to the ground. It appears to be working fine —it focuses OK as far as I can tell — but is there something I should be on the lookout for? I don't really fully understand how lenses are built —is there a focusing element or something else that could've been knocked out of place? I use both manual and autofocus. With this lens I use more autofocus than manual probably. Fingers crossed, holding breath.

10-16-2010, 07:29 PM	#8
ADHWJC Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Sacramento Posts: 49 Original Poster	This was taken today after the drop. It doesn't seem as sharp to me but that's probably my mind playing tricks on me. Certainly looks uniform left to right, though, in terms of focus, at least to my eye. 1/60, F11, ISO 400, 515pm Last edited by ADHWJC; 11-02-2010 at 09:59 AM.

10-16-2010, 09:48 PM	#10
wjt Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Perth Photos: Albums Posts: 371	I dropped my beloved 35ltd about 3ft and it rolled down several concrete stairs. After much testing it seems to be working fine, nothing wrong with autofocus and this was nearly a year ago now. So if everything is working okay, I would say it will be fine, were it broken you would know by now. Last edited by wjt; 10-17-2010 at 05:48 AM.

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10-16-2010, 02:40 PM	#2
SpecialK Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: So California Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,480	Congratulations - you now have one of those rough-and-tumble lenses with character instead of one of those run-of-the-mill flawless ones. Seriously, if nothing rattles and it seems to be OK, it probably is...

10-16-2010, 03:00 PM	#3
wlachan Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Canada Photos: Albums Posts: 2,625	Just look for possible optical misalignment. Otherwise, if the lens works fine, I would not worry.

10-16-2010, 03:03 PM	#4
ADHWJC Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Sacramento Posts: 49 Original Poster	What does optical misalignment mean, and how do I look for it? Is it in the photos I take or looking at the lens itself?

10-16-2010, 04:04 PM	#5
wlachan Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Canada Photos: Albums Posts: 2,625	Usually lenses suffer from optical misalignment show asymmetrical sharpness on both sides of the pictures even stopped down.

10-16-2010, 05:19 PM	#6
mlatour Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Montreal Posts: 197	You will hopefully be very lucky as I was... Dropped my DA 12-24mm only a few days after purchasing it, fell 3ft or so onto a concrete sidewalk while changing lenses. Big scrape in the plastic next to the 'PENTAX 12-24' ID plate but after doing the 'brick wall photo test', everything looks fine; alignment/sharpness. Didn't have it long enough before the crash to remember but now there's a little bit of stiffness in the zoom ring at a certain point in the range. Needless to say I'm more carefull now and changed my routine when replacing lenses!

10-16-2010, 06:27 PM	#7
JeffJS Inactive Account Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Michigan, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,484	If you dropped the lens and it hit on the Rear lens cap, that is the best possible scenario. Being made of plastic, there is Some cushion on impact. If the lens is still working, still focuses, etc enjoy and use it in good health. Just don't drop it again...

10-16-2010, 07:39 PM	#9
Pentaxor Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,513	Originally posted by DEWEY This was taken today after the drop. It doesn't seem as sharp to me but that's probably my mind playing tricks on me. Certainly looks uniform left to right, though, in terms of focus, at least to my eye. 1/60, F11, ISO 400, 515pm oh no. it's not working anymore. I'll buy it from you for $100.

10-16-2010, 10:01 PM	#11
MSM Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Alabama Photos: Gallery Posts: 994	@Dewey: the shot looks good to me. I too dropped a Limited lens. My 35 mm DA fell from a carelessly unzipped pouch on my sling bag I was wearing. Dropped ~3ft on brick pavers right on the metal lens cap. Two years later and still working great. It was the first time that I can honestly say that I was so happy to be short statured!!