DA* 55mm f1.4 woes

PentaxBlues · 03-04-2012, 09:10 AM

Hello everyone.

I bought a K5 about a month ago & swapped out the 18-135 kit lens for a 40mm Limited & a 70mm Limited -very nice. Best crop sensor setup I think.

BUT I'm trying to purchase a DA* 55mm f1.4 lens that works. So far I have ordered 2 & I didn't even leave the store with them. The store is ordering in another one from another location. I'm not optimistic. Even with the back focus problem I could see the potential of this lens in terms of contrast & that pop factor that brings a scene to life.

So I'm going to try this next one when it arrives - but if I can't find one that works I'll be a short-lived Pentax user. It seems their quality control is not under control.

I have just retired & am studying photography at the local community college & don't have time for this sheer stupidity on the part of Pentax.

I don't want the Fa 1.4 & the huge Sigma is not a preference either. I think that the DA* 55mm is one of the best if not the best portrait lens around - IF IT WORKS! But Pentax is converting more people to Nikon & Canon users than those companies themselves. And it appears I may soon be one of them.

Can someone advise me how to find a 55mm that works? It should be sharp right out of the box & not require fiddling with the AF fine adjustment. A good friend just purchased a 50mm f1.8 brand new for his old Canon rebel & at $129, it's sharp as a tack. Should we not expect Pentax to provide the same for over $800?

I won't be buying a wide-angle or 100mm macro if I can't get a 55mm, I'll be switching companies. Any help & advice you can provide would be much appreciated.

RonHendriks1966 · 03-04-2012, 09:32 AM

Well I do fiddle with all my lenses and adjust AF. So I would just try that and when it is good, go with that lens.

SpecialK · 03-04-2012, 09:43 AM

I suggest going to Canikon, and soon.

Wheatfield · 03-04-2012, 09:51 AM

Pick another brand. If you can't do a simple AF adjustment, perhaps go back to P&S cameras. As an aside, Canon got pilloried by their users for not offering micro adjust on their cameras.

Last edited by Wheatfield; 03-04-2012 at 12:03 PM.

Clicker · 03-04-2012, 10:00 AM

Hi and welcome to the forums i would also say use the K5's ability to fine tune your lens. I use Canon DSLR right now with L lenses i was surprised how many had to actually calibrate their lenses after spending so much on just one lens but i'm also lucky as to not be in that group thus far.

Anyhow it's pretty much a friendly group once you get pass some sarcasm

Frogfish · 03-04-2012, 10:53 AM

All brands may need micro-focusing depending on your luck, read this to understand why :

LensRentals.com - "This lens is soft" and other myths

And good luck with your 3rd lens. It seems you have been amazingly unlucky but once you get past it you have a superb camera and lens to get you started.

dgaies · 03-04-2012, 11:20 AM

Originally posted by Frogfish

It seems you have been amazingly unlucky but once you get past it you have a superb camera and lens to get you started.

Actually, from my personal experience with several copies of the DA*55, and based on my conversations with many other who own that lens, it's actually quite common for the DA*55 to need a fairly substantial amount of positive AF adjustment. I know both copies I've owned needed somewhere in the +6 to +8 range.

That said, the OP needs to decide whther he's willing to go ahead and fine tune his lenses, accept poor performance or move on to something else.

Last edited by dgaies; 03-04-2012 at 02:10 PM.

PentaxBlues · 03-04-2012, 11:29 AM

Originally posted by Frogfish

All brands may need micro-focusing depending on your luck, read this to understand why :

LensRentals.com - "This lens is soft" and other myths

And good luck with your 3rd lens. It seems you have been amazingly unlucky but once you get past it you have a superb camera and lens to get you started.

Good article. Very informative. Maybe I'll try AF with 3rd lens.

03-04-2012, 09:10 AM	#1
PentaxBlues New Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 2	*DA 55mm f1.4 woes** Hello everyone. I bought a K5 about a month ago & swapped out the 18-135 kit lens for a 40mm Limited & a 70mm Limited -very nice. Best crop sensor setup I think. BUT I'm trying to purchase a DA* 55mm f1.4 lens that works. So far I have ordered 2 & I didn't even leave the store with them. The store is ordering in another one from another location. I'm not optimistic. Even with the back focus problem I could see the potential of this lens in terms of contrast & that pop factor that brings a scene to life. So I'm going to try this next one when it arrives - but if I can't find one that works I'll be a short-lived Pentax user. It seems their quality control is not under control. I have just retired & am studying photography at the local community college & don't have time for this sheer stupidity on the part of Pentax. I don't want the Fa 1.4 & the huge Sigma is not a preference either. I think that the DA* 55mm is one of the best if not the best portrait lens around - IF IT WORKS! But Pentax is converting more people to Nikon & Canon users than those companies themselves. And it appears I may soon be one of them. Can someone advise me how to find a 55mm that works? It should be sharp right out of the box & not require fiddling with the AF fine adjustment. A good friend just purchased a 50mm f1.8 brand new for his old Canon rebel & at $129, it's sharp as a tack. Should we not expect Pentax to provide the same for over $800? I won't be buying a wide-angle or 100mm macro if I can't get a 55mm, I'll be switching companies. Any help & advice you can provide would be much appreciated.

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03-04-2012, 09:32 AM	#2
RonHendriks1966 Banned Join Date: Jan 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,675	Well I do fiddle with all my lenses and adjust AF. So I would just try that and when it is good, go with that lens.

03-04-2012, 09:43 AM	#3
SpecialK Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: So California Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,480	I suggest going to Canikon, and soon.

03-04-2012, 09:51 AM	#4
Wheatfield Moderator Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: The wheatfields of Canada Posts: 15,981	Pick another brand. If you can't do a simple AF adjustment, perhaps go back to P&S cameras. As an aside, Canon got pilloried by their users for not offering micro adjust on their cameras. Last edited by Wheatfield; 03-04-2012 at 12:03 PM.

03-04-2012, 10:00 AM	#5
Clicker Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,241	Hi and welcome to the forums i would also say use the K5's ability to fine tune your lens. I use Canon DSLR right now with L lenses i was surprised how many had to actually calibrate their lenses after spending so much on just one lens but i'm also lucky as to not be in that group thus far. Anyhow it's pretty much a friendly group once you get pass some sarcasm

03-04-2012, 10:53 AM	#6
Frogfish Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Shanghai Posts: 4,490	All brands may need micro-focusing depending on your luck, read this to understand why : LensRentals.com - "This lens is soft" and other myths And good luck with your 3rd lens. It seems you have been amazingly unlucky but once you get past it you have a superb camera and lens to get you started.

03-04-2012, 11:20 AM	#7
dgaies Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Maryland / Washington DC Posts: 3,917	Originally posted by Frogfish It seems you have been amazingly unlucky but once you get past it you have a superb camera and lens to get you started. Actually, from my personal experience with several copies of the DA55, and based on my conversations with many other who own that lens, it's actually quite common for the DA55 to need a fairly substantial amount of positive AF adjustment. I know both copies I've owned needed somewhere in the +6 to +8 range. That said, the OP needs to decide whther he's willing to go ahead and fine tune his lenses, accept poor performance or move on to something else. Last edited by dgaies; 03-04-2012 at 02:10 PM.

03-04-2012, 11:29 AM	#8
PentaxBlues New Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 2 Original Poster	Originally posted by Frogfish All brands may need micro-focusing depending on your luck, read this to understand why : LensRentals.com - "This lens is soft" and other myths And good luck with your 3rd lens. It seems you have been amazingly unlucky but once you get past it you have a superb camera and lens to get you started. Good article. Very informative. Maybe I'll try AF with 3rd lens.