Pentax DA 55-300mm Lens Auto Focus Issue

Oldseabee · 07-25-2018, 05:29 PM

Hi, I just acquired a DA 55-300mm lens for less than $30. The lens is in excellent condition except the auto focus doesn't work. I took a small screw driver and tried to manually turn the drive screw. It seems to be jammed. The manual focus works ok ( a little stiff ). How hard is it do disassemble this lens? Should I try to fix it myself or send it for repair. I'm pretty handy and have small screwdrivers and such. Thanks, Jim

**pepperberry farm** · 07-25-2018, 06:04 PM

that may have been the reason for the low price - was it sold to you as a working lens?

**FozzFoster** · 07-25-2018, 06:40 PM

I wouldn't want to take apart a digital zoom lens. It pretty hard to take apart film prime lenses! Best of luck if you decide to do the surgery! Let us know how it goes!

Oldseabee · 07-25-2018, 09:12 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by pepperberry farm

that may have been the reason for the low price - was it sold to you as a working lens?

No. It was sold as parts or repair.

sawitar · 07-26-2018, 02:27 AM

55-300 is fairly large lens. Biggest issue for me was putting together shims and electric contacts.

Everything else wasn't too difficult.

At $30 I would attempt repair myself :-)

**17dew** · 07-26-2018, 06:37 AM

Originally posted by Oldseabee

Hi, I just acquired a DA 55-300mm lens for less than $30.

Was it the one on Seattle Goodwill? You could try Eric,I know he does some work on AF lenses.Don't know about parts though.

Here's his link Home-Pentaxs

Oldseabee · 07-26-2018, 06:52 AM

Yes it was. There's now an 80-200mm at the Olympic/Rainer Goodwill.

Oldseabee · 07-27-2018, 06:16 AM - **1 Like**

An update, I took the mount ring off to see if I could access the focus screw. Decide it was be on my expertise. When I was putting the first focus screw back in ( the one that hooks to the camera ) I discovered that my fingers are too fat and stiff and it slipped and I lost most of the tiny bearings. Fortunately that's all that I lost. I'll be send it to Advanced Photo in Beaverton, Or. I've had work done by them before and was very pleased. More later. Jim

07-25-2018, 05:29 PM	#1
Oldseabee Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Idaho Posts: 53	Pentax DA 55-300mm Lens Auto Focus Issue Hi, I just acquired a DA 55-300mm lens for less than $30. The lens is in excellent condition except the auto focus doesn't work. I took a small screw driver and tried to manually turn the drive screw. It seems to be jammed. The manual focus works ok ( a little stiff ). How hard is it do disassemble this lens? Should I try to fix it myself or send it for repair. I'm pretty handy and have small screwdrivers and such. Thanks, Jim

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07-25-2018, 06:04 PM	#2
pepperberry farm amateur dirt farmer Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: probably out in a field somewhere... Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 41,766	that may have been the reason for the low price - was it sold to you as a working lens?

07-25-2018, 06:40 PM	#3
FozzFoster Custom User Title Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Alberta Photos: Albums Posts: 6,808	I wouldn't want to take apart a digital zoom lens. It pretty hard to take apart film prime lenses! Best of luck if you decide to do the surgery! Let us know how it goes!

07-25-2018, 09:12 PM - 1 Like	#4
Oldseabee Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Idaho Posts: 53 Original Poster	Originally posted by pepperberry farm that may have been the reason for the low price - was it sold to you as a working lens? No. It was sold as parts or repair.

07-26-2018, 02:27 AM	#5
sawitar Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2016 Posts: 43	55-300 is fairly large lens. Biggest issue for me was putting together shims and electric contacts. Everything else wasn't too difficult. At $30 I would attempt repair myself :-)

07-26-2018, 06:37 AM	#6
17dew Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Ohio Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,823	Originally posted by Oldseabee Hi, I just acquired a DA 55-300mm lens for less than $30. Was it the one on Seattle Goodwill? You could try Eric,I know he does some work on AF lenses.Don't know about parts though. Here's his link Home-Pentaxs

07-26-2018, 06:52 AM	#7
Oldseabee Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Idaho Posts: 53 Original Poster	Yes it was. There's now an 80-200mm at the Olympic/Rainer Goodwill.

07-27-2018, 06:16 AM - 1 Like	#8
Oldseabee Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Idaho Posts: 53 Original Poster	An update, I took the mount ring off to see if I could access the focus screw. Decide it was be on my expertise. When I was putting the first focus screw back in ( the one that hooks to the camera ) I discovered that my fingers are too fat and stiff and it slipped and I lost most of the tiny bearings. Fortunately that's all that I lost. I'll be send it to Advanced Photo in Beaverton, Or. I've had work done by them before and was very pleased. More later. Jim