SMC DA40 2.8 woes

**RedRuff** · 08-14-2021, 02:12 PM

This might be partly a rant, but I bought a DA40mm because "cool pancake lens" despite not knowing that it's APSC and only owning full frame/35mm cameras...

Anyway it's not in great shape, and moving the focus ring to infinity seems to bind it up, as if there's too much friction. I took it apart and it seems very free until I put the plate with the lens info on, at which point it binds up when moving to infinity focus. I can't even snug the screws up without it interfering.

Any ideas? I like it as a cool compact lens, but it cost too much to be left as a shelf ornament attached to a P30T

**Argos** · 08-14-2021, 02:38 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by RedRuff

This might be partly a rant, but I bought a DA40mm because "cool pancake lens" despite not knowing that it's APSC and only owning full frame/35mm cameras...

Anyway it's not in great shape, and moving the focus ring to infinity seems to bind it up, as if there's too much friction. I took it apart and it seems very free until I put the plate with the lens info on, at which point it binds up when moving to infinity focus. I can't even snug the screws up without it interfering.

Any ideas? I like it as a cool compact lens, but it cost too much to be left as a shelf ornament attached to a P30T

believe it or not, but it will cover 35 mm quite nicely, so if you can fix it, you are in business, I know, because I have the XS version, which has the same optics

Paul the Sunman · 08-14-2021, 02:42 PM - **1 Like**

Sorry to hear this! I've never taken this lens apart, so can't help with advice. I hope you can get it working. "Cool" is absolutely the right word.

By the way, I use mine on the K1 regularly. It generally performs very well, with only the extreme corners getting muddy at large apertures. I attached three uncropped images taken with DA40 + K1 in this thread. Even the shots at f/4.5 were very clean and at f/8 the corners are perfect.

**pepperberry farm** · 08-14-2021, 02:46 PM - **2 Likes**

before you opened it up I would have suggested sending it back to the seller, if its condition had not been described this way...

**RedRuff** · 08-14-2021, 02:57 PM

Originally posted by pepperberry farm

before you opened it up I would have suggested sending it back to the seller, if its condition had not been described this way...

That would have been sensible, yes, and I envy my friends who send things back if dissatisfied, but I think I left it a week or so after buying it before really trying it out, and I'm a tinkerer...

---------- Post added 08-14-21 at 03:00 PM ----------

Originally posted by Paul the Sunman

Sorry to hear this! I've never taken this lens apart, so can't help with advice. I hope you can get it working. "Cool" is absolutely the right word.

By the way, I use mine on the K1 regularly. It generally performs very well, with only the extreme corners getting muddy at large apertures. I attached three uncropped images taken with DA40 + K1 in this thread. Even the shots at f/4.5 were very clean and at f/8 the corners are perfect.

These look great! I tend to shoot my K1 at F8 by default and this is my only non-telephoto AF Pentax lens so I'm glad it'll be a useful item to throw in my bag

stevebrot · 08-14-2021, 06:07 PM

Looking down the road a bit, the Pentax-M 40/2.8 pancake is of similar optical design, covers FF, has an aperture ring, and is only a little less compact than the two DA 40/2.8 variants. If might be worth finding a copy.

Steve

tokyoscape · 08-14-2021, 06:30 PM

Originally posted by RedRuff

This might be partly a rant, but I bought a DA40mm because "cool pancake lens" despite not knowing that it's APSC and only owning full frame/35mm cameras...

Anyway it's not in great shape, and moving the focus ring to infinity seems to bind it up, as if there's too much friction. I took it apart and it seems very free until I put the plate with the lens info on, at which point it binds up when moving to infinity focus. I can't even snug the screws up without it interfering.

Any ideas? I like it as a cool compact lens, but it cost too much to be left as a shelf ornament attached to a P30T

Check this out for a guideline before you try to open it up.
https://imgsrc.ru/main/tape.php?ad=834217&pwd=

And as other said, Yes, it will work on a FF like the K1.

**Papa_Joe** · 08-16-2021, 03:26 AM

Originally posted by stevebrot

Looking down the road a bit, the Pentax-M 40/2.8 pancake is of similar optical design, covers FF, has an aperture ring, and is only a little less compact than the two DA 40/2.8 variants. If might be worth finding a copy.
Steve

Here in Europe the prices of the M-version are up to around EUR 200,- and the DA is at EUR 230,-. For my film cameras I would go for the M, if I did not own the 35mm/2.8 allready. For my (recently aquired

) K-1 I would probably go for the DA instead.

08-14-2021, 02:12 PM	#1
RedRuff Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Midlands, UK Posts: 145	SMC DA40 2.8 woes This might be partly a rant, but I bought a DA40mm because "cool pancake lens" despite not knowing that it's APSC and only owning full frame/35mm cameras... Anyway it's not in great shape, and moving the focus ring to infinity seems to bind it up, as if there's too much friction. I took it apart and it seems very free until I put the plate with the lens info on, at which point it binds up when moving to infinity focus. I can't even snug the screws up without it interfering. Any ideas? I like it as a cool compact lens, but it cost too much to be left as a shelf ornament attached to a P30T

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08-14-2021, 02:38 PM - 1 Like	#2
Argos Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Utrecht Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 132	Originally posted by RedRuff This might be partly a rant, but I bought a DA40mm because "cool pancake lens" despite not knowing that it's APSC and only owning full frame/35mm cameras... Anyway it's not in great shape, and moving the focus ring to infinity seems to bind it up, as if there's too much friction. I took it apart and it seems very free until I put the plate with the lens info on, at which point it binds up when moving to infinity focus. I can't even snug the screws up without it interfering. Any ideas? I like it as a cool compact lens, but it cost too much to be left as a shelf ornament attached to a P30T believe it or not, but it will cover 35 mm quite nicely, so if you can fix it, you are in business, I know, because I have the XS version, which has the same optics

08-14-2021, 02:42 PM - 1 Like	#3
Paul the Sunman Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Melbourne Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,847	Sorry to hear this! I've never taken this lens apart, so can't help with advice. I hope you can get it working. "Cool" is absolutely the right word. By the way, I use mine on the K1 regularly. It generally performs very well, with only the extreme corners getting muddy at large apertures. I attached three uncropped images taken with DA40 + K1 in this thread. Even the shots at f/4.5 were very clean and at f/8 the corners are perfect.

08-14-2021, 02:46 PM - 2 Likes	#4
pepperberry farm amateur dirt farmer Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: probably out in a field somewhere... Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 41,781	before you opened it up I would have suggested sending it back to the seller, if its condition had not been described this way...

08-14-2021, 02:57 PM	#5
RedRuff Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Midlands, UK Posts: 145 Original Poster	Originally posted by pepperberry farm before you opened it up I would have suggested sending it back to the seller, if its condition had not been described this way... That would have been sensible, yes, and I envy my friends who send things back if dissatisfied, but I think I left it a week or so after buying it before really trying it out, and I'm a tinkerer... ---------- Post added 08-14-21 at 03:00 PM ---------- Originally posted by Paul the Sunman Sorry to hear this! I've never taken this lens apart, so can't help with advice. I hope you can get it working. "Cool" is absolutely the right word. By the way, I use mine on the K1 regularly. It generally performs very well, with only the extreme corners getting muddy at large apertures. I attached three uncropped images taken with DA40 + K1 in this thread. Even the shots at f/4.5 were very clean and at f/8 the corners are perfect. These look great! I tend to shoot my K1 at F8 by default and this is my only non-telephoto AF Pentax lens so I'm glad it'll be a useful item to throw in my bag

08-14-2021, 06:07 PM	#6
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Looking down the road a bit, the Pentax-M 40/2.8 pancake is of similar optical design, covers FF, has an aperture ring, and is only a little less compact than the two DA 40/2.8 variants. If might be worth finding a copy. Steve

08-14-2021, 06:30 PM	#7
tokyoscape Inactive Account Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Tokyo Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,256	Originally posted by RedRuff This might be partly a rant, but I bought a DA40mm because "cool pancake lens" despite not knowing that it's APSC and only owning full frame/35mm cameras... Anyway it's not in great shape, and moving the focus ring to infinity seems to bind it up, as if there's too much friction. I took it apart and it seems very free until I put the plate with the lens info on, at which point it binds up when moving to infinity focus. I can't even snug the screws up without it interfering. Any ideas? I like it as a cool compact lens, but it cost too much to be left as a shelf ornament attached to a P30T Check this out for a guideline before you try to open it up. https://imgsrc.ru/main/tape.php?ad=834217&pwd= And as other said, Yes, it will work on a FF like the K1.

08-16-2021, 03:26 AM	#8
Papa_Joe Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2018 Location: SW Bavaria Posts: 562	Originally posted by stevebrot Looking down the road a bit, the Pentax-M 40/2.8 pancake is of similar optical design, covers FF, has an aperture ring, and is only a little less compact than the two DA 40/2.8 variants. If might be worth finding a copy. Steve Here in Europe the prices of the M-version are up to around EUR 200,- and the DA is at EUR 230,-. For my film cameras I would go for the M, if I did not own the 35mm/2.8 allready. For my (recently aquired ) K-1 I would probably go for the DA instead.