DA* 60-250mm: regular AF vs bad AF

Andrea K · 04-27-2021, 03:23 AM

Hi,

I have a DA* 60-250mm that from some months shows the usual SDM problems: no AF after some day unused and whirring sound when focusing. After the wake up procedure what I obtain is jerky AF movements before to reach the lock and poor AF-C performances. I want to send it to the service center but I have a doubt... what is the real AF performances of this lens? After all this time I have forgotten what's the regular AF behavior and I'm afraid that the jerky AF and the poor tracking are the standard for this lens.

To note also that the warranty expired a month ago

but perhaps the service center will consider it still valid...

Thanks

**sergysergy** · 04-27-2021, 04:02 AM

AF speed isn't terrible but not that great either.

Andrea K · 04-27-2021, 05:24 AM

Ok, but the "stepped" AF behavior and the near inability to use the AF-C are the standard?

aaacb · 04-27-2021, 05:33 AM

The 60-250 is just a bit slower to focus, and there's a little lag after you press the af button. But no, my used lens didn't behave like you're describing. It was largely on par with my other dc or screwdrive lenses, again, maybe not as fast but the fine tuning adjustments before locking focus felt just like that, not distinct "stepping."

bdery · 04-27-2021, 06:16 AM

Originally posted by Andrea K

what is the real AF performances of this lens?

You can have a look at the review to know what to expect:

Pentax DA* 60-250mm F4 Review - Introduction | PentaxForums.com Reviews

Andrea K · 04-27-2021, 08:47 AM

The whirring sound is described also in the review... I will do a video

5ks · 04-27-2021, 09:59 AM

AF of the DA*60-250 sure is a bit slow and sometimes unable to hit the target right. But mostly it works as needed anyway, so for me it is very hard to know if it is a defect, without comparison to another copy.

tomcook · 04-27-2021, 10:38 AM - **1 Like**

I got the SDM fixed on mine a couple of years back. It is now better/quicker than ever.

dave_roe · 04-27-2021, 01:12 PM

My copy had the SDM fail after 26 months. (This was back in 2013 - the repair at that time was $280 incl shipping)

No problems since then and the lens is tack sharp. It does hunt in low light at times but pretty quick to lock on in most cases. It appears to hunt less on the K1MII than the K3.

**Sakura** · 04-27-2021, 01:24 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by dave_roe

My copy had the SDM fail after 26 months. (This was back in 2013 - the repair at that time was $280 incl shipping)

No problems since then and the lens is tack sharp. It does hunt in low light at times but pretty quick to lock on in most cases. It appears to hunt less on the K1MII than the K3.

Got the same experience, it performs much better at the K1-II. End modding it to FF isn't hard at all, i have done it a while back

See link below for my experience and samples.
3D part for Pentax 60-250 zoom? - PentaxForums.com

**southlander** · 04-27-2021, 06:00 PM

Does sound like the SDM is starting to play up. Had the SDM replaced on my 60-250 and focussing since then (now mostly on K-1) has been fine.

jslifoaw · 04-27-2021, 06:20 PM

My 60-250 has worked OK for the last 3-4 years. The only odd behaviour is that live view racking focus (e.g. from near to far) is extremely slow when zoomed to over 135mm. It's fairly fast up to 135mm and for small focus adjustments, and focusing through the OVF is not affected. This is on a K1 II and K-01.

Anybody else try this? Use a DSLR with live view, manually focus the 60-250 at 200-250mm to be very out of focus, and see how long it takes to lock focus. Then do the same thing at 60mm or 100mm. Huge difference in live view, almost no difference with OVF.

Andrea K · 04-28-2021, 02:20 AM

Hi, here a small video:

You Tube

You can see the stepped lock from near to far focus action.

After 2 days of use (sadly only to test the AF) it seems a bit better but I'm sure that after one or two weeks unused I'll be from the start...

bdery · 04-28-2021, 05:25 AM

Originally posted by Andrea K

You can see the stepped lock from near to far focus action.

After 2 days of use (sadly only to test the AF) it seems a bit better but I'm sure that after one or two weeks unused I'll be from the start...

Maybe putting it in MF mode on the lens and moving it back and forth several times would help? I remember once my 60-250 seemed to have trouble focusing, I changed the camera's batteries and did what I described, and it came back to normal functioning.

Andrea K · 04-28-2021, 06:05 AM

Originally posted by bdery

Maybe putting it in MF mode on the lens and moving it back and forth several times would help? I remember once my 60-250 seemed to have trouble focusing, I changed the camera's batteries and did what I described, and it came back to normal functioning.

Yes, it helps, I made the video after the procedure that you described, but not solves.

What's the link with the camera batteries?

04-27-2021, 03:23 AM	#1
Andrea K Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Rome, Italy Posts: 822	*DA 60-250mm: regular AF vs bad AF** Hi, I have a DA* 60-250mm that from some months shows the usual SDM problems: no AF after some day unused and whirring sound when focusing. After the wake up procedure what I obtain is jerky AF movements before to reach the lock and poor AF-C performances. I want to send it to the service center but I have a doubt... what is the real AF performances of this lens? After all this time I have forgotten what's the regular AF behavior and I'm afraid that the jerky AF and the poor tracking are the standard for this lens. To note also that the warranty expired a month ago but perhaps the service center will consider it still valid... Thanks

04-27-2021, 01:24 PM - 1 Like	#10
Sakura Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Netherlands Photos: Gallery Posts: 438	Originally posted by dave_roe My copy had the SDM fail after 26 months. (This was back in 2013 - the repair at that time was $280 incl shipping) No problems since then and the lens is tack sharp. It does hunt in low light at times but pretty quick to lock on in most cases. It appears to hunt less on the K1MII than the K3. Got the same experience, it performs much better at the K1-II. End modding it to FF isn't hard at all, i have done it a while back See link below for my experience and samples. 3D part for Pentax 60-250 zoom? - PentaxForums.com Last edited by Sakura; 04-27-2021 at 01:30 PM.

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04-27-2021, 04:02 AM	#2
sergysergy Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2011 Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,175	AF speed isn't terrible but not that great either.

04-27-2021, 05:24 AM	#3
Andrea K Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Rome, Italy Posts: 822 Original Poster	Ok, but the "stepped" AF behavior and the near inability to use the AF-C are the standard?

04-27-2021, 05:33 AM	#4
aaacb Pentaxian Join Date: May 2016 Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,726	The 60-250 is just a bit slower to focus, and there's a little lag after you press the af button. But no, my used lens didn't behave like you're describing. It was largely on par with my other dc or screwdrive lenses, again, maybe not as fast but the fine tuning adjustments before locking focus felt just like that, not distinct "stepping."

04-27-2021, 06:16 AM	#5
bdery Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Quebec city, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,362	Originally posted by Andrea K what is the real AF performances of this lens? You can have a look at the review to know what to expect: Pentax DA* 60-250mm F4 Review - Introduction \| PentaxForums.com Reviews

04-27-2021, 08:47 AM	#6
Andrea K Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Rome, Italy Posts: 822 Original Poster	The whirring sound is described also in the review... I will do a video

04-27-2021, 09:59 AM	#7
5ks Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Southern Finland Posts: 681	AF of the DA*60-250 sure is a bit slow and sometimes unable to hit the target right. But mostly it works as needed anyway, so for me it is very hard to know if it is a defect, without comparison to another copy.

04-27-2021, 10:38 AM - 1 Like	#8
tomcook Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Photos: Albums Posts: 125	I got the SDM fixed on mine a couple of years back. It is now better/quicker than ever.

04-27-2021, 01:12 PM	#9
dave_roe Moderator Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Rome, Italy Photos: Albums Posts: 584	My copy had the SDM fail after 26 months. (This was back in 2013 - the repair at that time was $280 incl shipping) No problems since then and the lens is tack sharp. It does hunt in low light at times but pretty quick to lock on in most cases. It appears to hunt less on the K1MII than the K3.

04-27-2021, 06:00 PM	#11
southlander Site Supporter Join Date: May 2012 Location: Adelaide Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,364	Does sound like the SDM is starting to play up. Had the SDM replaced on my 60-250 and focussing since then (now mostly on K-1) has been fine.

04-27-2021, 06:20 PM	#12
jslifoaw Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Toronto/Victoria Posts: 460	My 60-250 has worked OK for the last 3-4 years. The only odd behaviour is that live view racking focus (e.g. from near to far) is extremely slow when zoomed to over 135mm. It's fairly fast up to 135mm and for small focus adjustments, and focusing through the OVF is not affected. This is on a K1 II and K-01. Anybody else try this? Use a DSLR with live view, manually focus the 60-250 at 200-250mm to be very out of focus, and see how long it takes to lock focus. Then do the same thing at 60mm or 100mm. Huge difference in live view, almost no difference with OVF.

04-28-2021, 05:25 AM	#14
bdery Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Quebec city, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,362	Originally posted by Andrea K You can see the stepped lock from near to far focus action. After 2 days of use (sadly only to test the AF) it seems a bit better but I'm sure that after one or two weeks unused I'll be from the start... Maybe putting it in MF mode on the lens and moving it back and forth several times would help? I remember once my 60-250 seemed to have trouble focusing, I changed the camera's batteries and did what I described, and it came back to normal functioning.

04-28-2021, 06:05 AM	#15
Andrea K Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Rome, Italy Posts: 822 Original Poster	Originally posted by bdery Maybe putting it in MF mode on the lens and moving it back and forth several times would help? I remember once my 60-250 seemed to have trouble focusing, I changed the camera's batteries and did what I described, and it came back to normal functioning. Yes, it helps, I made the video after the procedure that you described, but not solves. What's the link with the camera batteries?