Forgot Password
Pentax Camera Forums Home
 

Reply
Show Printable Version Search this Thread
08-07-2021, 05:58 PM - 2 Likes   #1
Pentaxian




Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: London
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 1,079
How Not To Test A Power Zoom Lens

Got an old Z10 35mm body with an FA 28-80/3.5-4.7 power zoom as part of a job lot. Wanted to test it as a prelude to selling it on.

Tried the zoom on my K200D body. Focuses fine, manual zoom works fine, power zoom is completely inert.

Tried cleaning the contacts on the lens and in the camera, which as far as I know have no purpose other than to provide power when a power zoom lens is used. Zilch.

Tried changing the power zoom speed setting switch position on the lens. External part of the switch falls off (about par for these lenses, you rarely see them intact) and disappears under my work bench. Still zilch.

Clean contacts again. Zilch.

Find a battery to fit the Z10 and try it on there. Zilch.

Make sure that the zoom ring is fully in the power zoom position and try again. Power zoom works!

Try it on the K200D again. Zilch.

Finally think to Google on Pentax power zoom compatibility. Guess what? Only high-end Pentax DSLRs have power zoom compatibility. The K200D isn't one of them, despite having the damn contacts.

Another 20 minutes or so of my life I will never get back...

08-07-2021, 06:21 PM - 1 Like   #2
Moderator
Loyal Site Supporter
Loyal Site Supporter
pschlute's Avatar

Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Surrey, UK
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 8,118
Yes, power zoom did not work on my K10D either.

No great loss. Most of the lenses (with a few notable exceptions) with power zoom were poor optically, especially the 28-80 3.5/4.7.

...and yes the button assembly fell off mine too
08-07-2021, 09:28 PM   #3
Loyal Site Supporter
Loyal Site Supporter
UncleVanya's Avatar

Join Date: Jul 2014
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 28,186
The same contacts are used for sdm which the k200d supports.
08-07-2021, 11:43 PM   #4
Pentaxian
Spock's Avatar

Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Perth, Western Australia
Photos: Albums
Posts: 673
QuoteOriginally posted by pschlute Quote
Yes, power zoom did not work on my K10D either.

No great loss. Most of the lenses (with a few notable exceptions) with power zoom were poor optically, especially the 28-80 3.5/4.7.

...and yes the button assembly fell off mine too
I'm pretty sure power zoom worked on my K10.

08-08-2021, 03:24 AM - 1 Like   #5
Pentaxian
AfterPentax Mark II's Avatar

Join Date: Mar 2021
Posts: 1,452
Lessons in life (of a photographer)

QuoteOriginally posted by Marcus Rowland Quote
Another 20 minutes or so of my life I will never get back...
That is true, but you now have an experience you would have missed for the rest of your life...
You are never too old to learn...
You are an experience richer...
08-08-2021, 03:59 AM   #6
Moderator
Loyal Site Supporter
Loyal Site Supporter
pschlute's Avatar

Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Surrey, UK
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 8,118
QuoteOriginally posted by Spock Quote
I'm pretty sure power zoom worked on my K10.
I think you may be right. Power zoom worked, but not the other functions like clip-size. It is such a long time ago I cannot remember clearly.
08-08-2021, 08:23 AM   #7
Pentaxian
Spock's Avatar

Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Perth, Western Australia
Photos: Albums
Posts: 673
QuoteOriginally posted by pschlute Quote
I think you may be right. Power zoom worked, but not the other functions like clip-size. It is such a long time ago I cannot remember clearly.
Only power zoom works on (some) DSLRs. What a shame the other functions aren't enabled. The auto zoom functions were ahead of their time and would be still pretty cool to use today.

08-08-2021, 08:37 AM   #8
Site Supporter
Site Supporter




Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Idaho
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 2,360
Better than when I got my band new PZ-1p (way back when) which accommodated power zooms, trying to make it work with a non-power zoom lens!! That was another 20 minutes of time continuum disturbance
08-08-2021, 08:42 AM - 1 Like   #9
Moderator
Not a Number's Avatar

Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Venice, CA
Posts: 10,510
Page 228 of User Manual (chart of Lens [ mount type ] vs function:
DA/D FA/FA J/FA lens [Kaf,Kaf2] - Power Zoom: No

Page 229 Note the camera is not equipped with a power zoom function.

http://www.ricoh-imaging.co.jp/english/support/man-pdf/k200d.pdf

It seems only the "flagship" models support power zoom.

28-80 power zoom advice - PentaxForums.com
08-08-2021, 11:09 AM   #10
Pentaxian
angerdan's Avatar

Join Date: Feb 2015
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 2,631
QuoteOriginally posted by Marcus Rowland Quote
Finally think to Google on Pentax power zoom compatibility. Guess what? Only high-end Pentax DSLRs have power zoom compatibility. The K200D isn't one of them, despite having the damn contacts.
Another 20 minutes or so of my life I will never get back...
K200D is midrange, so it could sell cheaper. Of course Pro-functions are not available in this class.
Template:Pentax digital interchangeable lens cameras - Wikipedia

The lens compatibility checker offers this information in 20 seconds.
Pentax K200D and SMC Pentax-FA 28-80mm F3.5-4.7 - Compatibility | PentaxForums.com
08-08-2021, 11:20 AM - 1 Like   #11
Veteran Member




Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Southeastern Michigan
Posts: 4,509
I shot with both the K200D and its big brother, the K20D. As I recall, the lower cost K200D did not offer power zoom function, but the flagship K20D does and it works, but not all of the PZ functions as found with my PZ-1p film body. The same is true with more current camera bodies. Power zoom works with my K-5 IIs, but not offered with my KP, yet it is offered with my K-1 II. If you get a flagship model, the power zoom should work.

---------- Post added 08-08-21 at 11:23 AM ----------

QuoteOriginally posted by Spock Quote
Only power zoom works on (some) DSLRs. What a shame the other functions aren't enabled. The auto zoom functions were ahead of their time and would be still pretty cool to use today.
I agree 100%. Now with the silent DC AF motors, these functions would work more smoothly and efficiently. Talk about fast AF, the power zoom functions also simultaneously activate AF, so when the shot is framed right AF has already been achieved!

Last edited by mikesbike; 08-08-2021 at 12:36 PM.
08-08-2021, 12:19 PM - 1 Like   #12
Loyal Site Supporter
Loyal Site Supporter




Join Date: Nov 2015
Photos: Albums
Posts: 4,186
I used a couple of the fancy power zoom features on my PZ-20 back in the day.
The “push a button to get a zoom setting and focus distance” was my favorite, but I did like that it focused while zooming.

Minolta had some similar tricks in the mid90s with their lenses, iirc.

I was surprised when any of it worked on my K1…

-Eric
08-08-2021, 12:37 PM - 1 Like   #13
Pentaxian
builttospill's Avatar

Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Utah, Idaho
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 2,396
The K10D supports power zoom once the firmware is updated past 1.0, but the PZ film bodies are about the only bodies supporting all power zoom functions. I find power zoom to be really helpful on the FA* lenses, as mentioned above, focus is extremely fast.
08-08-2021, 01:01 PM   #14
Senior Moderator
Loyal Site Supporter
Parallax's Avatar

Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: South Dakota
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 19,325
QuoteOriginally posted by Marcus Rowland Quote
Another 20 minutes or so of my life I will never get back...
True, but 20 minutes wasted is a small price vs forever wondering why it didn't work.
09-10-2021, 03:50 PM   #15
Pentaxian




Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: London
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 1,079
Original Poster
QuoteOriginally posted by Parallax Quote
True, but 20 minutes wasted is a small price vs forever wondering why it didn't work.
True. Could be worse, I could have broken the camera trying it or something...
Reply

Bookmarks
  • Submit Thread to Facebook Facebook
  • Submit Thread to Twitter Twitter
  • Submit Thread to Digg Digg
Tags - Make this thread easier to find by adding keywords to it!
compatibility, contacts, flagship, functions, k-mount, k200d, k20d, lens, pentax, pentax lens, position, power, power zoom, slr lens, switch, test a power, z10, zilch
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
K-30 with FA 28-105, power zoom not functioning onlineflyer Pentax K-30 & K-50 2 09-12-2013 12:36 PM
For Sale - Sold: two Pentax TR Power Pack-2 (external flash power) yurihuta Sold Items 2 03-13-2013 07:59 AM
Zoom/Power zoom on flashes: why? hray Troubleshooting and Beginner Help 11 03-03-2011 03:02 PM
Power cord for a TR Power Pack 2 Vern Pentax Camera and Field Accessories 4 12-06-2009 08:13 AM



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 07:29 AM. | See also: NikonForums.com, CanonForums.com part of our network of photo forums!
  • Red (Default)
  • Green
  • Gray
  • Dark
  • Dark Yellow
  • Dark Blue
  • Old Red
  • Old Green
  • Old Gray
  • Dial-Up Style
Hello! It's great to see you back on the forum! Have you considered joining the community?
register
Creating a FREE ACCOUNT takes under a minute, removes ads, and lets you post! [Dismiss]
Top