Use of lens with K30

synapsestorm · 08-11-2012, 11:10 AM

Ok, this is kind of a noob question, but this is my first DSLR and I am coming from a point and shoot background. On my old camera, I just pushed one of two buttons to zoom in and out. I was kind of expecting the same on the K30 (duh) but it seems the only way to zoom in and out with the 18-135mm lens is to do so manually. Is that true or am I missing something? If this is true, are all Pentax lens like this or do they have some zooms that are motorized and some that are not.

Thanks!

loco · 08-11-2012, 11:40 AM

All zooms I've ever seen are "manual" as you describe it.

**boriscleto** · 08-11-2012, 11:41 AM

Pentax made a handful of power zoom lenses in the early '90s. The power zoom functions mostly work with the K-5/7/20D/10D but not the K-30/r/x/m.

FA* 28-70, FA 28-80 3.5-4.7, FA 28-105 4-5.6, FA 70-200, FA* 80-200, FA 100-300 4.5-5.6, & FA* 250-600

**jatrax** · 08-11-2012, 11:45 AM

Originally posted by synapsestorm

but it seems the only way to zoom in and out with the 18-135mm lens is to do so manually.

That is correct. And AFAIK that is true of all modern dslr lenses, Pentax or otherwise. If I'm wrong on that I'm sure someone will be good enough to correct me.

Pentax did make "powerzoom" lenses at one time, here is a link to one of them. However, the zoom function was a feature of the lens, not the camera. The "powerzoom" contacts that powered that feature of the lens are now used on modern digital cameras to power the SDM or HSM focusing motor and I do not believe the zoom feature will work on modern cameras.

Jean Poitiers · 08-11-2012, 12:21 PM

Originally posted by loco

All zooms I've ever seen are "manual" as you describe it.

Agreed ... there are what one could call "two ring" type zooms (one for the focal length zoom and the other for the focus) and the "push-pull" type zooms in which you can focus with a single ring and also zoom in and out by advancing or retracting the same ring upon the lens barrel ... hope that this helps some and good luck.

Shamwow · 08-11-2012, 02:35 PM

Don't worry. Zooming this way is far more convenient than zooming using buttons like on a point-and-shoot.
It will just take you some time to get used to it.

Finger · 08-11-2012, 02:54 PM

Panasonic micro 4/3 has power zoom. If that's what you're looking for, they're the only one I know that offer this feature.
https://panasonic.ca/english/audiovideo/camerascamcorders/lenses/lenses.asp?...owered%20Zoom#

redrockcoulee · 08-11-2012, 06:16 PM

I had power zoom lenses and a camera that could use them. Had that combination for over a decade but cannot remember how many times I used the power zoom function. Most likely only to see how it worked. But then I started with fully manual. Zoom manually is simply the normal way for DSLRs.

synapsestorm · 08-12-2012, 12:04 AM

Ok, great. Thanks so much for educating me about this issue.

08-11-2012, 11:10 AM	#1
synapsestorm New Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 8	Use of lens with K30 Ok, this is kind of a noob question, but this is my first DSLR and I am coming from a point and shoot background. On my old camera, I just pushed one of two buttons to zoom in and out. I was kind of expecting the same on the K30 (duh) but it seems the only way to zoom in and out with the 18-135mm lens is to do so manually. Is that true or am I missing something? If this is true, are all Pentax lens like this or do they have some zooms that are motorized and some that are not. Thanks!

08-11-2012, 11:41 AM	#3
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,475	Pentax made a handful of power zoom lenses in the early '90s. The power zoom functions mostly work with the K-5/7/20D/10D but not the K-30/r/x/m. FA* 28-70, FA 28-80 3.5-4.7, FA 28-105 4-5.6, FA 70-200, FA* 80-200, FA 100-300 4.5-5.6, & FA* 250-600 Last edited by boriscleto; 08-11-2012 at 11:59 AM.

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08-11-2012, 11:40 AM	#2
loco Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Virginia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,846	All zooms I've ever seen are "manual" as you describe it.

08-11-2012, 11:45 AM	#4
jatrax Site Supporter Join Date: May 2010 Location: Washington Cascades Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,991	Originally posted by synapsestorm but it seems the only way to zoom in and out with the 18-135mm lens is to do so manually. That is correct. And AFAIK that is true of all modern dslr lenses, Pentax or otherwise. If I'm wrong on that I'm sure someone will be good enough to correct me. Pentax did make "powerzoom" lenses at one time, here is a link to one of them. However, the zoom function was a feature of the lens, not the camera. The "powerzoom" contacts that powered that feature of the lens are now used on modern digital cameras to power the SDM or HSM focusing motor and I do not believe the zoom feature will work on modern cameras.

08-11-2012, 12:21 PM	#5
Jean Poitiers Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Lost in translation ... Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 18,076	Originally posted by loco All zooms I've ever seen are "manual" as you describe it. Agreed ... there are what one could call "two ring" type zooms (one for the focal length zoom and the other for the focus) and the "push-pull" type zooms in which you can focus with a single ring and also zoom in and out by advancing or retracting the same ring upon the lens barrel ... hope that this helps some and good luck.

08-11-2012, 02:35 PM	#6
Shamwow Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: LA Posts: 90	Don't worry. Zooming this way is far more convenient than zooming using buttons like on a point-and-shoot. It will just take you some time to get used to it.

08-11-2012, 02:54 PM	#7
Finger Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Québec Posts: 121	Panasonic micro 4/3 has power zoom. If that's what you're looking for, they're the only one I know that offer this feature. https://panasonic.ca/english/audiovideo/camerascamcorders/lenses/lenses.asp?...owered%20Zoom#

08-11-2012, 06:16 PM	#8
redrockcoulee Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Medicine Hat Posts: 2,306	I had power zoom lenses and a camera that could use them. Had that combination for over a decade but cannot remember how many times I used the power zoom function. Most likely only to see how it worked. But then I started with fully manual. Zoom manually is simply the normal way for DSLRs.

08-12-2012, 12:04 AM	#9
synapsestorm New Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 8 Original Poster	Ok, great. Thanks so much for educating me about this issue.