Win a Pentax Limited Lens: Raffle Now Live!

arpaagent · 04-29-2009, 07:37 PM

I just purchased a FA 43 Ltd. Beautiful little lens. I really love it. But on closer inspection, I noticed that on one of the inner elements (this isn't dust on the outside of the lens) there are a bunch of what look like tiny bubbles. I bought it from B&H. Can some other people check theirs to see if this is normal? I'm guessing that it isn't. Looks like I'll send it back to B&H for a replacement...I can't drop $400+ on a lens with bubbles.

Robert S Donovan · 04-29-2009, 08:05 PM

Send it back. Looks to me like glue failure between two of the elements. The bubbles will definitely effect the lens' performance. My gues is the problem cropped up in shipping (heat cycling?).

arpaagent · 04-29-2009, 08:31 PM

Thanks for the quick reply robert. Guess I'll be giving them a call tomorrow. sigh. I guess I can wait a few more days. After all, the 50-135 DA* was in the box with it (but doesn't seem to have any problems, thankfully).

Andi Lo · 04-29-2009, 09:17 PM

I have a similar thing happening with my FA 50. Got it for a good price but non refundable unfortunately. The bubbles doesnt look as intense as yours though, and image quality has been superb so I'm not complaining.

heliphoto · 04-29-2009, 09:19 PM

Originally posted by arpaagent

...
After all, the 50-135 DA* was in the box with it (but doesn't seem to have any problems, thankfully).

So... How's that tax return workin' out for ya?

...

arpaagent · 04-29-2009, 09:38 PM

Originally posted by heliphoto

So... How's that tax return workin' out for ya?

...

hahah

Actually NOT my tax return, but some recovered funds from selling previous LBA lenses (so money that I spent a while back...maybe last year's tax return!). Hopefully my tax return will be going towards a shiny new K-7

So long as it shapes up nicely.

**Just1MoreDave** · 04-29-2009, 10:55 PM

As you may know, a handful of these 43 Limiteds were made in Leica mount. Pentax also made a few even rarer versions. This is the Don Ho Signature Limited.

cardinal43 · 04-30-2009, 04:24 AM

Originally posted by heliphoto

So... How's that tax return workin' out for ya?

...

Tax return????? What the heck is a tax return?

arpaagent · 04-30-2009, 05:42 AM

Originally posted by Just1MoreDave

As you may know, a handful of these 43 Limiteds were made in Leica mount. Pentax also made a few even rarer versions. This is the Don Ho Signature Limited.

hahah I had to look up Don Ho to figure out the joke, but good one!

04-29-2009, 07:37 PM	#1
arpaagent Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Raleigh, NC Photos: Gallery Posts: 803	FA 43 Ltd bubbles... Do I need to return? I just purchased a FA 43 Ltd. Beautiful little lens. I really love it. But on closer inspection, I noticed that on one of the inner elements (this isn't dust on the outside of the lens) there are a bunch of what look like tiny bubbles. I bought it from B&H. Can some other people check theirs to see if this is normal? I'm guessing that it isn't. Looks like I'll send it back to B&H for a replacement...I can't drop $400+ on a lens with bubbles.

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04-29-2009, 08:05 PM	#2
Robert S Donovan Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Anderson, SC Photos: Gallery Posts: 361	Send it back. Looks to me like glue failure between two of the elements. The bubbles will definitely effect the lens' performance. My gues is the problem cropped up in shipping (heat cycling?).

04-29-2009, 08:31 PM	#3
arpaagent Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Raleigh, NC Photos: Gallery Posts: 803 Original Poster	Thanks for the quick reply robert. Guess I'll be giving them a call tomorrow. sigh. I guess I can wait a few more days. After all, the 50-135 DA* was in the box with it (but doesn't seem to have any problems, thankfully).

04-29-2009, 09:17 PM	#4
Andi Lo Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia Posts: 2,924	I have a similar thing happening with my FA 50. Got it for a good price but non refundable unfortunately. The bubbles doesnt look as intense as yours though, and image quality has been superb so I'm not complaining.

04-29-2009, 09:19 PM	#5
heliphoto Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Region 5 Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,539	Originally posted by arpaagent ... After all, the 50-135 DA* was in the box with it (but doesn't seem to have any problems, thankfully). So... How's that tax return workin' out for ya? ...

04-29-2009, 09:38 PM	#6
arpaagent Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Raleigh, NC Photos: Gallery Posts: 803 Original Poster	Originally posted by heliphoto So... How's that tax return workin' out for ya? ... hahah Actually NOT my tax return, but some recovered funds from selling previous LBA lenses (so money that I spent a while back...maybe last year's tax return!). Hopefully my tax return will be going towards a shiny new K-7 So long as it shapes up nicely.

04-29-2009, 10:55 PM	#7
Just1MoreDave Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Aurora, CO Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,340	As you may know, a handful of these 43 Limiteds were made in Leica mount. Pentax also made a few even rarer versions. This is the Don Ho Signature Limited.

04-30-2009, 04:24 AM	#8
cardinal43 Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Virginia Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,412	Originally posted by heliphoto So... How's that tax return workin' out for ya? ... Tax return????? What the heck is a tax return?

04-30-2009, 05:42 AM	#9
arpaagent Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Raleigh, NC Photos: Gallery Posts: 803 Original Poster	Originally posted by Just1MoreDave As you may know, a handful of these 43 Limiteds were made in Leica mount. Pentax also made a few even rarer versions. This is the Don Ho Signature Limited. hahah I had to look up Don Ho to figure out the joke, but good one!

FA 43 Ltd bubbles... Do I need to return?

Win a Pentax Limited Lens: Raffle Now Live!