da*60-250 zoom problem

gumbee · 07-22-2013, 06:21 PM

My DA*60-250 zoom ring rotates from 60-250, but the lens does not extend much from 200-250 - about 3/16". The exif agrees with the zoom ring. But testing against a 55-300 lens it does not appear that it is extending much past 200. I purchased used. Does this sound like a case for Pentax service? . Or is there anything I could try myself without a good chance of munging up the lens?

I tested by placing the end of each lens at the same spot, focusing on the same object, and taking a series of pics with the increasing focal lengths. When comparing it appears that the DA*60-250 begins to fall behind the 55-300 at around 150mm and pretty much stopping at around 200. (I am assuming the 55-300 is correct - it at least extends at the same rate thru out when turning the ring).

Any ideas before I ship to service? (depending on cost, I could have purchased a new one

)

Thx

John

**jatrax** · 07-22-2013, 06:38 PM

Don't know if it helps but mine only extends about 3/16" between 200mm and 250mm. Never tested it against anything so I cannot help there.

siamthai · 07-22-2013, 07:14 PM

You can save your money

This is the way this zoom should be.

gumbee · 07-22-2013, 08:47 PM

Thanks for the info. I have since discovered that "focus breathing" is what I need to understand. Off to test a bit more with enlightened grey cells...

See...joining this forum saves money too!!!

thx again,
John

**jatrax** · 07-22-2013, 09:16 PM

Originally posted by gumbee

See...joining this forum saves money too!!!

That will change as soon as LBA sets in..............

carrrlangas · 07-22-2013, 09:50 PM

Originally posted by gumbee

Thanks for the info. I have since discovered that "focus breathing" is what I need to understand. Off to test a bit more with enlightened grey cells...

Being an Internal Focusing (IF) lens, it doesn´t have focus breathing. "IF" means the lens doesn´t extend or retracts while focusing, internal elements move instead. You can actually see this through the front element while focusing. So the little difference between 200mm and 250mm could be just the way the lens work.
However, you do loose magnification when focusing at closer distances because of IF. I think that if you focus closer than 9 (or was it 6?) meters at 250mm, it will have the field of view of a 200mm lens. Compare to your 55-300.

gumbee · 07-23-2013, 12:30 PM

Thx...I appreciate the elucidation.

kcmadr · 07-23-2013, 12:47 PM

Sounds exactly like my 60-250mm. The image enlarges a lot up to 200mm, and then very little appreciable difference between 200mm and 250mm. This is normal.

This lens does suffer quite noticeably from focus breathing. I have seen it mentioned that at minimum focus distance with the zoom ring at 250mm, the actual focal length is more like 160mm.

gumbee · 07-23-2013, 01:49 PM

that about matches what I am observing...love the lens, but would like the reach...replacing my da55-300. Might be looking at a da*300 instead. decisions, decisions...

thx again.
John

07-22-2013, 06:21 PM	#1
gumbee Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: WI Posts: 72	*da60-250 zoom problem** My DA60-250 zoom ring rotates from 60-250, but the lens does not extend much from 200-250 - about 3/16". The exif agrees with the zoom ring. But testing against a 55-300 lens it does not appear that it is extending much past 200. I purchased used. Does this sound like a case for Pentax service? . Or is there anything I could try myself without a good chance of munging up the lens? I tested by placing the end of each lens at the same spot, focusing on the same object, and taking a series of pics with the increasing focal lengths. When comparing it appears that the DA60-250 begins to fall behind the 55-300 at around 150mm and pretty much stopping at around 200. (I am assuming the 55-300 is correct - it at least extends at the same rate thru out when turning the ring). Any ideas before I ship to service? (depending on cost, I could have purchased a new one ) Thx John

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07-22-2013, 06:38 PM	#2
jatrax Site Supporter Join Date: May 2010 Location: Washington Cascades Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,991	Don't know if it helps but mine only extends about 3/16" between 200mm and 250mm. Never tested it against anything so I cannot help there.

07-22-2013, 07:14 PM	#3
siamthai Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Svealand Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 172	You can save your money This is the way this zoom should be.

07-22-2013, 08:47 PM	#4
gumbee Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: WI Posts: 72 Original Poster	Thanks for the info. I have since discovered that "focus breathing" is what I need to understand. Off to test a bit more with enlightened grey cells... See...joining this forum saves money too!!! thx again, John

07-22-2013, 09:16 PM	#5
jatrax Site Supporter Join Date: May 2010 Location: Washington Cascades Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,991	Originally posted by gumbee See...joining this forum saves money too!!! That will change as soon as LBA sets in..............

07-22-2013, 09:50 PM	#6
carrrlangas Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Joensuu (Finland) Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,761	Originally posted by gumbee Thanks for the info. I have since discovered that "focus breathing" is what I need to understand. Off to test a bit more with enlightened grey cells... Being an Internal Focusing (IF) lens, it doesn´t have focus breathing. "IF" means the lens doesn´t extend or retracts while focusing, internal elements move instead. You can actually see this through the front element while focusing. So the little difference between 200mm and 250mm could be just the way the lens work. However, you do loose magnification when focusing at closer distances because of IF. I think that if you focus closer than 9 (or was it 6?) meters at 250mm, it will have the field of view of a 200mm lens. Compare to your 55-300.

07-23-2013, 12:30 PM	#7
gumbee Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: WI Posts: 72 Original Poster	Thx...I appreciate the elucidation.

07-23-2013, 12:47 PM	#8
kcmadr Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Vancouver, BC Photos: Albums Posts: 614	Sounds exactly like my 60-250mm. The image enlarges a lot up to 200mm, and then very little appreciable difference between 200mm and 250mm. This is normal. This lens does suffer quite noticeably from focus breathing. I have seen it mentioned that at minimum focus distance with the zoom ring at 250mm, the actual focal length is more like 160mm.

07-23-2013, 01:49 PM	#9
gumbee Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: WI Posts: 72 Original Poster	that about matches what I am observing...love the lens, but would like the reach...replacing my da55-300. Might be looking at a da*300 instead. decisions, decisions... thx again. John