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GeneV · 07-24-2012, 05:45 AM - **1 Like**

So, last weekend I am asked to shoot a friend's wedding. I am out and about with my trusty DA17-70, and it stops locking autofocus at the wide end. I start mumbling about it being time for my SDM failure and trying all kinds of settings to make it work.

Then I look at some of the photos in the back screen. The lens hood is on crooked. At the wide end, there is vignetting across only one diagonal. Remove and re-attach the hood (absolutely necessary as it is outdoors and late in the day), and the problem is solved. One wonders how many autofocus issues have "simple" causes.

rawr · 07-24-2012, 06:34 AM

Originally posted by GeneV

One wonders how many autofocus issues have "simple" causes.

Probably quite a few.

Some people seem to be conditioned to blame Pentax and their camera for every failing, AF or otherwise. A recent example that springs to mind is this guy on the dpr forums complaining about Pentax's SDM failure - on his Sigma lens...

Docrwm · 07-24-2012, 07:52 AM

User error is certainly a possibility we should all consider when we run into a glitch.

JinDesu · 07-24-2012, 07:58 AM

Originally posted by Docrwm

User error is certainly a possibility we should all consider when we run into a glitch.

Nah - I'm always right. It's the tools that are at fault.

Docrwm · 07-24-2012, 08:01 AM

Originally posted by JinDesu

Nah - I'm always right. It's the tools that are at fault.

But that's ok because you're relaxed about it.

GeneV · 07-24-2012, 09:43 AM

I guess I could blame it on the lens for it being so easy to put the hood on crooked. I won't. It's my bad. The good news is that 1) I manually focused just fine and 2) the vignetting on the shots before I caught it was pretty easy to crop out.

GeneV · 08-15-2012, 03:16 PM

As a post script, I shot a dance camp this last weekend, and found out the "not" in my title should have been omitted. My problem before was apparently a combination of user error and a failing lens. This weekend, the DA 17-70 with a now properly attached hood ceased to lock focus on any body I own. Sad, because it has been a workhorse for years.

Last edited by GeneV; 08-15-2012 at 03:27 PM.

Docrwm · 08-15-2012, 03:21 PM

Originally posted by GeneV

As a post script, I shot a dance camp this last weekend, and found out the "not" in my title should have been omitted. My problem before was apparently a combination of user error and a failing lens. This weekend, the DA 17-70 with a now properly attached hood ceased to lock focus on any body I own. Sad, because it has been my workhorse for years.

Sorry to hear about your SDM failure. I hope you were able to keep shooting with alternative lenses.

NotSteve · 08-15-2012, 04:50 PM

A somewhat similar story involving user error on my part. Yesterday I was shooting and event and noticed I could not get infinity focus with my FA 50mm 1.4. I couldn't remember dropping the lens or otherwise damaging it, but could not figure out what the problem was. Turns out that the 3rd party rubber hood I use on it had been pushed down the lens barrel from where it is normally seated and was blocking the long end of the focal range. A bit of twisting of the hood got it back into position and all was well.

Sorry to hear the postscript to your story Gene. Been thinking about a getting a similar lens, but from Tamron or Sigma.

07-24-2012, 05:45 AM - 1 Like	#1
GeneV Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Albuquerque NM Photos: Albums Posts: 9,830	Another SDM Failure--NOT! So, last weekend I am asked to shoot a friend's wedding. I am out and about with my trusty DA17-70, and it stops locking autofocus at the wide end. I start mumbling about it being time for my SDM failure and trying all kinds of settings to make it work. Then I look at some of the photos in the back screen. The lens hood is on crooked. At the wide end, there is vignetting across only one diagonal. Remove and re-attach the hood (absolutely necessary as it is outdoors and late in the day), and the problem is solved. One wonders how many autofocus issues have "simple" causes.

07-24-2012, 06:34 AM	#2
rawr Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 11,913	Originally posted by GeneV One wonders how many autofocus issues have "simple" causes. Probably quite a few. Some people seem to be conditioned to blame Pentax and their camera for every failing, AF or otherwise. A recent example that springs to mind is this guy on the dpr forums complaining about Pentax's SDM failure - on his Sigma lens... Last edited by rawr; 07-24-2012 at 06:48 AM.

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07-24-2012, 07:52 AM	#3
Docrwm Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Somewhere in the Southern US Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,285	User error is certainly a possibility we should all consider when we run into a glitch.

07-24-2012, 07:58 AM	#4
JinDesu Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: New York City Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,638	Originally posted by Docrwm User error is certainly a possibility we should all consider when we run into a glitch. Nah - I'm always right. It's the tools that are at fault.

07-24-2012, 08:01 AM	#5
Docrwm Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Somewhere in the Southern US Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,285	Originally posted by JinDesu Nah - I'm always right. It's the tools that are at fault. But that's ok because you're relaxed about it.

07-24-2012, 09:43 AM	#6
GeneV Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Albuquerque NM Photos: Albums Posts: 9,830 Original Poster	I guess I could blame it on the lens for it being so easy to put the hood on crooked. I won't. It's my bad. The good news is that 1) I manually focused just fine and 2) the vignetting on the shots before I caught it was pretty easy to crop out.

08-15-2012, 03:16 PM	#7
GeneV Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Albuquerque NM Photos: Albums Posts: 9,830 Original Poster	As a post script, I shot a dance camp this last weekend, and found out the "not" in my title should have been omitted. My problem before was apparently a combination of user error and a failing lens. This weekend, the DA 17-70 with a now properly attached hood ceased to lock focus on any body I own. Sad, because it has been a workhorse for years. Last edited by GeneV; 08-15-2012 at 03:27 PM.

08-15-2012, 03:21 PM	#8
Docrwm Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Somewhere in the Southern US Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,285	Originally posted by GeneV As a post script, I shot a dance camp this last weekend, and found out the "not" in my title should have been omitted. My problem before was apparently a combination of user error and a failing lens. This weekend, the DA 17-70 with a now properly attached hood ceased to lock focus on any body I own. Sad, because it has been my workhorse for years. Sorry to hear about your SDM failure. I hope you were able to keep shooting with alternative lenses.

08-15-2012, 04:50 PM	#9
NotSteve Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Toronto Photos: Albums Posts: 200	A somewhat similar story involving user error on my part. Yesterday I was shooting and event and noticed I could not get infinity focus with my FA 50mm 1.4. I couldn't remember dropping the lens or otherwise damaging it, but could not figure out what the problem was. Turns out that the 3rd party rubber hood I use on it had been pushed down the lens barrel from where it is normally seated and was blocking the long end of the focal range. A bit of twisting of the hood got it back into position and all was well. Sorry to hear the postscript to your story Gene. Been thinking about a getting a similar lens, but from Tamron or Sigma.

Another SDM Failure--NOT!

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