DA* 300mm Focus Ring

**DW58** · 10-14-2017, 10:51 AM

Only threads I found concerning the focus ring on this lens deal with wobble or sticking. The issue with my copy is that the focus ring has virtually no damping. Dampening? Have had this lens for about a year and just haven't used it that much. Thinking about selling it. Auto focus works great but manually focusing is tough because of the free play of the focus ring. Hoping other owners of this lens can tell me if their copy is similar. Would like to get some feedback before I put it up for sale.

**UncleVanya** · 10-14-2017, 02:23 PM

All my DA* lenses are like that. I have the 16-50 and 50-135 and 60-250 and all are loose with almost no feedback when used manually. I'm pretty sure that the 300 is the same.

**c.perkins** · 10-14-2017, 02:44 PM

My DA*300 is like that also.
I do not manual focus very often with it but it works fine for me the way it operates.
It is with out a doubt the best lens I own and use it the most for my nature photos.

Clarence

**DW58** · 10-14-2017, 05:17 PM

Originally posted by UncleVanya

All my DA* lenses are like that. I have the 16-50 and 50-135 and 60-250 and all are loose with almost no feedback when used manually. I'm pretty sure that the 300 is the same.

Thanks for your response uncle. Manual focus on my DA* 300mm felt different enough from my other lenses to make me wonder.

Originally posted by c.perkins

My DA*300 is like that also.
I do not manual focus very often with it but it works fine for me the way it operates.
It is with out a doubt the best lens I own and use it the most for my nature photos.

Clarence

"It is with out a doubt the best lens I own and use it the most for my nature photos."
I wish you hadn't have said that.

I'm looking at a couple of lenses I think I'd use more often and trying to justify selling this lens to pay for them. You're not making it easy.

Sterby · 10-23-2017, 12:10 PM

My DA* 300 has none of that slack, the focus ring is nice and smooth with the right amount of dampening. Manual focusing is not a problem. Although mine has a S/N starting with #906
My only problem is when on a strap, the lens is bouncing a sliding on my hip and all the movements of walking rotates the focus to minimum. I have to manually twist it back when I bring the camera up to my eye.

**sibyrnes** · 10-23-2017, 06:55 PM

Originally posted by Sterby

My DA* 300 has none of that slack, the focus ring is nice and smooth with the right amount of dampening. Manual focusing is not a problem. Although mine has a S/N starting with #906
My only problem is when on a strap, the lens is bouncing a sliding on my hip and all the movements of walking rotates the focus to minimum. I have to manually twist it back when I bring the camera up to my eye.

Is there some significance to that serial number? Just curious. My DA 300 has a serial number starting with 905 and the focus ring works very well for an autofocus lens - much nicer than my DA 200.

Sterby · 10-24-2017, 01:16 AM

Originally posted by sibyrnes

Is there some significance to that serial number? Just curious. My DA 300 has a serial number starting with 905 and the focus ring works very well for an autofocus lens - much nicer than my DA 200.

Only thing I know is related to the SDM plaque, S/N starting from 904xxxx are made with revised SDM design. One would assume they also improved smaller design flaws as well.
Or I got lucky, who knows?

apfhex · 10-31-2017, 07:36 PM

Originally posted by Sterby

Only thing I know is related to the SDM plaque, S/N starting from 904xxxx are made with revised SDM design. One would assume they also improved smaller design flaws as well.
Or I got lucky, who knows?

Hmm, mine starts with 906 and had SDM problems. No issues with the focus ring though it does move much more easily than other lenses I've used. I haven't handled any other SDM lenses though.

10-14-2017, 10:51 AM	#1
DW58 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Rural Oregon Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,064	*DA 300mm Focus Ring** Only threads I found concerning the focus ring on this lens deal with wobble or sticking. The issue with my copy is that the focus ring has virtually no damping. Dampening? Have had this lens for about a year and just haven't used it that much. Thinking about selling it. Auto focus works great but manually focusing is tough because of the free play of the focus ring. Hoping other owners of this lens can tell me if their copy is similar. Would like to get some feedback before I put it up for sale.

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10-14-2017, 02:23 PM	#2
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,401	All my DA* lenses are like that. I have the 16-50 and 50-135 and 60-250 and all are loose with almost no feedback when used manually. I'm pretty sure that the 300 is the same.

10-14-2017, 02:44 PM	#3
c.perkins Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: New Lisbon, WI. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 515	My DA*300 is like that also. I do not manual focus very often with it but it works fine for me the way it operates. It is with out a doubt the best lens I own and use it the most for my nature photos. Clarence

10-14-2017, 05:17 PM	#4
DW58 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Rural Oregon Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,064 Original Poster	Originally posted by UncleVanya All my DA* lenses are like that. I have the 16-50 and 50-135 and 60-250 and all are loose with almost no feedback when used manually. I'm pretty sure that the 300 is the same. Thanks for your response uncle. Manual focus on my DA* 300mm felt different enough from my other lenses to make me wonder. Originally posted by c.perkins My DA*300 is like that also. I do not manual focus very often with it but it works fine for me the way it operates. It is with out a doubt the best lens I own and use it the most for my nature photos. Clarence "It is with out a doubt the best lens I own and use it the most for my nature photos." I wish you hadn't have said that. I'm looking at a couple of lenses I think I'd use more often and trying to justify selling this lens to pay for them. You're not making it easy.

10-23-2017, 12:10 PM	#5
Sterby Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Tarján Photos: Albums Posts: 140	My DA* 300 has none of that slack, the focus ring is nice and smooth with the right amount of dampening. Manual focusing is not a problem. Although mine has a S/N starting with #906 My only problem is when on a strap, the lens is bouncing a sliding on my hip and all the movements of walking rotates the focus to minimum. I have to manually twist it back when I bring the camera up to my eye.

10-23-2017, 06:55 PM	#6
sibyrnes Site Supporter Join Date: May 2016 Location: Pittsburgh, Pa. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 447	Originally posted by Sterby My DA* 300 has none of that slack, the focus ring is nice and smooth with the right amount of dampening. Manual focusing is not a problem. Although mine has a S/N starting with #906 My only problem is when on a strap, the lens is bouncing a sliding on my hip and all the movements of walking rotates the focus to minimum. I have to manually twist it back when I bring the camera up to my eye. Is there some significance to that serial number? Just curious. My DA 300 has a serial number starting with 905 and the focus ring works very well for an autofocus lens - much nicer than my DA 200.

10-24-2017, 01:16 AM	#7
Sterby Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Tarján Photos: Albums Posts: 140	Originally posted by sibyrnes Is there some significance to that serial number? Just curious. My DA 300 has a serial number starting with 905 and the focus ring works very well for an autofocus lens - much nicer than my DA 200. Only thing I know is related to the SDM plaque, S/N starting from 904xxxx are made with revised SDM design. One would assume they also improved smaller design flaws as well. Or I got lucky, who knows?

10-31-2017, 07:36 PM	#8
apfhex Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Photos: Gallery Posts: 117	Originally posted by Sterby Only thing I know is related to the SDM plaque, S/N starting from 904xxxx are made with revised SDM design. One would assume they also improved smaller design flaws as well. Or I got lucky, who knows? Hmm, mine starts with 906 and had SDM problems. No issues with the focus ring though it does move much more easily than other lenses I've used. I haven't handled any other SDM lenses though.