Lens Trouble

Sara Grace · 10-22-2012, 01:48 PM

Hi, I'm Sara Grace and I need a little help. I have a Pentax Kx DSLR. First, let me say that I am NOT a camera guru, but I surely love taking photos and am learning a few things. I take my camera everywhere. Anyway, my husband and I previously owned the old Sears brand 35mm, which we understand was made my Pentax for Sears. All the lens for that camera would fit any of the Pentax cameras. So, I bought this camera not quite 2 years ago. It has recently become stuck in manual mode. (Yes, only I could manage that, I'm sure.) My camera goes everywhere with me, even to work on occasion.

I wanted a larger lens that those I have, so I found a Sigma 70-300mm and my hubby bought it for me. It has worked great until recently. Not long ago, I was trying to take pics with it and it would not snap the shot. I kept working and working with it and it would do nothing. I pulled out my book to troubleshoot, which was not use at all. Finally, I thought I'd just take the batteries out and put a new set in, although those that were in there still had plenty of juice. Well, it started working fine. Then yesterday, I'd put the large lens on to take some photos at the lake. It would not do a thing. I went back to the car and put my smaller lens on and it just snapped away. Do you think it could be the batteries or do I not have the setting correct? Help please!!

oxidized · 10-22-2012, 02:02 PM

So you are only operating the camera in manual mode? The only time I have experienced this kind of problem is when I am using auto focus and the camera cannot lock onto a focus point because its too dark, it hunts around and then just stops (refusing to take the picture). Have you tried using the lens in manual focus mode?

Parallax · 10-22-2012, 02:03 PM

Welcome to the forum! I've moved this from the Welcomes and Introduction forum as you will likely get a quicker answer here.

MysteryOnion · 10-22-2012, 02:04 PM

Exactly which Sigma 70-300?

I read something earlier about optical stabilized lenses eat battery power.

Kona · 10-22-2012, 02:08 PM

My K-r has a setting somewhere to not fire without focus confirmation. Are you sure you're getting focus locks with it? I found it quite annoying and disabled it since it could be quite inaccurate (particularly for macro work). May also just want to clean the contacts. I've noticed some lenses acting oddly when contacts are dirty.

usmcxm35 · 10-22-2012, 04:08 PM

Have you tried to take pictures while in Live View Mode? That way you can work the lens a little and see what's going on.

Sagitta · 10-22-2012, 04:20 PM

Silly question, but are the contacts on the lens dirty? Try cleaning them if they seem off, there could be a coating of whatever on the lens mount thats causing the camera to not recognize the lens.

Sara Grace · 10-23-2012, 10:03 AM

Thank you. I will.

Sara Grace · 10-23-2012, 10:08 AM

Thank you. I'm getting a lot of helpful info that I have not tried. I will try it though.

Sara Grace · 10-23-2012, 10:09 AM

No, I've not worked in live mode at all. I'm not all so savvy when it comes to this camera. I'll try this too. Thank you.

Sara Grace · 10-23-2012, 10:11 AM

I'm not exactly sure which Sigma I have. I'll have to look when I get home. Thank you.

Sara Grace · 10-23-2012, 10:13 AM

I can only use the manual focus. Pentax support told me it was locked in manual focus. It won't auto focus at all.

Sara Grace · 10-23-2012, 10:15 AM

Thank you all for the suggestions. I'll be sure to try them when I get home. When my camera doesn't work properly, it's right up there with having trouble with your car!!LOL

10-22-2012, 01:48 PM	#1
Sara Grace New Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 7	Lens Trouble Hi, I'm Sara Grace and I need a little help. I have a Pentax Kx DSLR. First, let me say that I am NOT a camera guru, but I surely love taking photos and am learning a few things. I take my camera everywhere. Anyway, my husband and I previously owned the old Sears brand 35mm, which we understand was made my Pentax for Sears. All the lens for that camera would fit any of the Pentax cameras. So, I bought this camera not quite 2 years ago. It has recently become stuck in manual mode. (Yes, only I could manage that, I'm sure.) My camera goes everywhere with me, even to work on occasion. I wanted a larger lens that those I have, so I found a Sigma 70-300mm and my hubby bought it for me. It has worked great until recently. Not long ago, I was trying to take pics with it and it would not snap the shot. I kept working and working with it and it would do nothing. I pulled out my book to troubleshoot, which was not use at all. Finally, I thought I'd just take the batteries out and put a new set in, although those that were in there still had plenty of juice. Well, it started working fine. Then yesterday, I'd put the large lens on to take some photos at the lake. It would not do a thing. I went back to the car and put my smaller lens on and it just snapped away. Do you think it could be the batteries or do I not have the setting correct? Help please!!

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Trouble auto-focusing with K7 SLR and Tamron 18-200mm lens	Joan55	Troubleshooting and Beginner Help	4	07-01-2012 08:06 PM
Pentax-M lens -- trouble stopping down	bklonoski	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	2	09-02-2011 07:59 PM
K-R trouble focusing in low light with Live View using Pentax 18-55 kit lens	sportv	Pentax K-r	8	01-02-2011 06:42 PM
still having trouble with this lens	Deiberson	Troubleshooting and Beginner Help	4	12-27-2009 02:44 PM
Help! Having trouble with lens lineup...	maxwell1295	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	11	04-24-2008 04:56 PM

10-22-2012, 02:02 PM	#2
oxidized Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: USA - Delaware Photos: Albums Posts: 435	So you are only operating the camera in manual mode? The only time I have experienced this kind of problem is when I am using auto focus and the camera cannot lock onto a focus point because its too dark, it hunts around and then just stops (refusing to take the picture). Have you tried using the lens in manual focus mode?

10-22-2012, 02:03 PM	#3
Parallax Senior Moderator Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: South Dakota Photos: Gallery Posts: 19,333	Welcome to the forum! I've moved this from the Welcomes and Introduction forum as you will likely get a quicker answer here.

10-22-2012, 02:04 PM	#4
MysteryOnion Giveaway winner! Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: beantown Photos: Albums Posts: 944	Exactly which Sigma 70-300? I read something earlier about optical stabilized lenses eat battery power.

10-22-2012, 02:08 PM	#5
Kona Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Victoria Photos: Albums Posts: 201	My K-r has a setting somewhere to not fire without focus confirmation. Are you sure you're getting focus locks with it? I found it quite annoying and disabled it since it could be quite inaccurate (particularly for macro work). May also just want to clean the contacts. I've noticed some lenses acting oddly when contacts are dirty.

10-22-2012, 04:08 PM	#6
usmcxm35 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: New York, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 215	Have you tried to take pictures while in Live View Mode? That way you can work the lens a little and see what's going on.

10-22-2012, 04:20 PM	#7
Sagitta Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Maine Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,081	Silly question, but are the contacts on the lens dirty? Try cleaning them if they seem off, there could be a coating of whatever on the lens mount thats causing the camera to not recognize the lens.

10-23-2012, 10:03 AM	#8
Sara Grace New Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 7 Original Poster	Thank you. I will.

10-23-2012, 10:08 AM	#9
Sara Grace New Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 7 Original Poster	Thank you. I'm getting a lot of helpful info that I have not tried. I will try it though.

10-23-2012, 10:09 AM	#10
Sara Grace New Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 7 Original Poster	No, I've not worked in live mode at all. I'm not all so savvy when it comes to this camera. I'll try this too. Thank you.

10-23-2012, 10:11 AM	#11
Sara Grace New Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 7 Original Poster	I'm not exactly sure which Sigma I have. I'll have to look when I get home. Thank you.

10-23-2012, 10:13 AM	#12
Sara Grace New Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 7 Original Poster	I can only use the manual focus. Pentax support told me it was locked in manual focus. It won't auto focus at all.

10-23-2012, 10:15 AM	#13
Sara Grace New Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 7 Original Poster	Thank you all for the suggestions. I'll be sure to try them when I get home. When my camera doesn't work properly, it's right up there with having trouble with your car!!LOL