Sorry kind of long, but it seemed necessary to give some back story. Also couldn't find a similar K-3iii older SDM related thread, so created a new thread.
A little over a month ago I had an accident with my K-1ii and DFA*70-200. I was getting ready to do senior portraits the camera with lens attached were in my top loader bag and I picked it up and it dropped dead smack front element of lens first on the ground. If you have this setup you know how heavy it is, but for me the photos from that combination are well worth the weight. Anyway, both the camera and lens will now need to go for recalibration and possibly some kind of repair. I always do portraits and events with a 2 body setup 70-200 and 24-70...so now I had to fall back to my 50-135 on the K-3ii. Wow what a dismal focus experience with the 50-135 plus when I first attached/turn it on each day it would take a few minutes to get the SDM going. This was daily maybe some type of capacitor loses charge or something dunno, but for the last couple years it has always taken a few minutes after tuning on the camera to get the SDM to "wake up". I have tried it on K-5iis, K-3ii, K-1 and K-1ii same results with each. Plus dismal focus experience.
As a result of the accident and some other criteria (subject for different post), I ordered the K-3iii. I'm never an early adopter and the accident expedited a decision I probably would not have made until the holiday sales...After ordering the K-3iii I remember watching one of the Ricoh K-3iii videos where the photographer was using the K-3iii and DA*50-135, and seeming to be getting along with it well. So it had me thinking about the combination, while anxiously awaiting its arrival. I received my K-3iii this past Wednesday. Lots to say about this camera, but I'll focus (no pun intended) on the subject.
I knew the 50-135 was going to be the first lens I tried out. I mated them up and turned it on and immediately heard evidence the lens came to life -- no waiting. Keep in mind it had been setting for a week by this time and it would routinely go through the few minute SDM "wake up". Lifted the camera pressed the autofocus bahda-bing-bahda-boom it focused very quickly. I don't think it has ever attained focused on any camera like it does now on the K-3iii. Especially not that soon after power up. To add to it my first test was in lower light condition which I know would have been absolutely dismal on my other rigs where it may not attain focus at all. It still makes its quirky little chirps, but doesn't hunt at all in most cases. When it does hunt it is only back and fourth maybe once. I have always loved the images I get out of this lens and I could not be happier to see the K-3iii bring it to life. I've had the lens since circa 2013 and who knows how long the SDM will last now, but I'm really going to enjoy this.
I also have the DA*200 and DA*300, neither of which I have had focus issues. I still haven't tried them on the K-3iii, but I'm guessing/hoping based on 50-135 experience, there may be some improvement with the K-3iii and if there are also some low light focus improvements it will really shine with the DA*200 & DA* 300 on game day.
I'm curious if any of you have tried your old dismally focusing SDMs with this new rig and what your experience is? Especially the 16-50, my copy was worse than my copy of the 50-135. I would try, but I had a similar accident to the above -- wow I'm seeming quite clumsy now.