Problem with Pentax DA 16-50 F2.8 lens on K3

ifegent · 07-09-2014, 10:54 PM

I bought DA 16050 F2.8 lens when I had a K20D. It worked fine.
I've new bought a K3 and it will only work on manual focus. On auto focus it locks up the camera. Other lens work fine and I tried it again on my K20D and it worked fine again.
Help please?

Ian

AussieTrev · 07-10-2014, 12:30 AM

Might need a service call. I have that combo and it is fine, my regular lens.

Sandy Hancock · 07-10-2014, 03:03 AM

Do you have another SDM-enabled body to test it on? If the SDM is dead you could convert it to screw drive; I did, and will never look back.
My other SDM lenses are just fine on my K-3, so I don't think it's the camera.

Na Horuk · 07-10-2014, 04:10 AM

Originally posted by ifegent

On auto focus it locks up the camera.

Can you describe this in detail?
You have the lens on the camera, you turn the camera on.. then what?
Also, please make sure your batteries are fully charged and you are using the latest firmware on your camera.

ifegent · 07-10-2014, 04:12 AM

Convert to screw drive? how do you do that?

Ian

Sandy Hancock · 07-10-2014, 04:25 AM

Originally posted by ifegent

Convert to screw drive? how do you do that?

Like THIS.

ifegent · 07-10-2014, 04:25 AM

Originally posted by Na Horuk

Can you describe this in detail?
You have the lens on the camera, you turn the camera on.. then what?
Also, please make sure your batteries are fully charged and you are using the latest firmware on your camera.

If I have the camera and lens on auto focus the focus symbol in the view finder flashes when I half depress the shutter and nothing happens. I can't fully depress the shutter button to take a photo. My battery is fully charged. I'll check the firmware.

Thanks
Ian

Sandy Hancock · 07-10-2014, 05:31 AM

It sounds like your SDM is dead, and with the camera set to focus priority the shutter will not fire. This happened to both of my DA*16-50's
You either need to get the lens repaired (which I did with one, and then sold it) or hack it into screw drive (which I did to the one I still have).

stevebrot · 07-10-2014, 07:16 AM

Originally posted by Sandy Hancock

Do you have another SDM-enabled body to test it on?

I think the OP stated that the lens continues to work fine on their K20D (SDM body), so it would appear that the SDM is not dead. Conversion to screw mount might not hurt, but may not help either. I believe the process is irreversible, no? Other lenses work fine on the K-3, but it is not clear whether those lenses are SDM or screw mount. Since the K-3 is still under warranty, I believe that Ricoh/Pentax support might be the best option at this point.

Steve

ifegent · 07-10-2014, 05:05 PM

Originally posted by Na Horuk

Can you describe this in detail?
You have the lens on the camera, you turn the camera on.. then what?
Also, please make sure your batteries are fully charged and you are using the latest firmware on your camera.

Thanks Na
I updated the firmware and hey presto! It now works.
Great relief as I'm heading to Europe for 10 weeks next week.

Ian

**RobA_Oz** · 07-10-2014, 05:34 PM

Originally posted by stevebrot

I think the OP stated that the lens continues to work fine on their K20D (SDM body), so it would appear that the SDM is not dead. Conversion to screw mount might not hurt, but may not help either. I believe the process is irreversible, no? Other lenses work fine on the K-3, but it is not clear whether those lenses are SDM or screw mount. Since the K-3 is still under warranty, I believe that Ricoh/Pentax support might be the best option at this point.

Steve

The screw mount conversion is done in lens firmware, so it is reversible, assuming of course that a glitch in uploading doesn't brick anything (I haven't heard of this happening, btw). After a couple of years of frustration with my DA*16-50, I converted mine and, while the extra focussing noise is noticeable to me, it hasn't been a problem and it's certainly faster than SDM was on my K20D, K-5 and K-3, but that just might have been the drive slowly clagging up.

stevebrot · 07-10-2014, 07:58 PM

Originally posted by RobA_Oz

The screw mount conversion is done in lens firmware, so it is reversible

I am familiar with how it is done, but don't remember a step where the existing firmware is saved off.

Steve

**RobA_Oz** · 07-13-2014, 06:29 AM

Originally posted by stevebrot

I am familiar with how it is done, but don't remember a step where the existing firmware is saved off.

Steve

From recollection, it is a lookup table that is changed and there was a step to save the original configuration as a text file.

Gerdup · 07-14-2014, 11:48 AM

Originally posted by ifegent

I bought DA 16050 F2.8 lens when I had a K20D. It worked fine.
I've new bought a K3 and it will only work on manual focus. On auto focus it locks up the camera. Other lens work fine and I tried it again on my K20D and it worked fine again.
Help please?

Ian

Ian. I'm experiencing the same. Are you using the same memory card in the K-3 and the K20D?

I'm going to try a different memory card as i think it might be the problem...??

rawr · 07-14-2014, 10:13 PM

Originally posted by ifegent

I updated the firmware and hey presto! It now works.

This is interesting.

The firmware update either did something clever:
- directly (eg to the way SDM lenses are handled), or
- indirectly (perhaps the process of updating the firmware reset to the defaults some of the camera custom settings for focus priority AF etc that were causing the OP's original problems).

07-09-2014, 10:54 PM	#1
ifegent New Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 4	Problem with Pentax DA 16-50 F2.8 lens on K3 I bought DA 16050 F2.8 lens when I had a K20D. It worked fine. I've new bought a K3 and it will only work on manual focus. On auto focus it locks up the camera. Other lens work fine and I tried it again on my K20D and it worked fine again. Help please? Ian

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Verdict on latest revision of DA* 16-50 f2.8?	cbope	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	34	03-23-2014 08:32 AM
For Sale - Sold: DA* 16-50 f2.8 with ~6 months guarantee	hoanpham	Sold Items	8	12-04-2013 01:25 PM
Pentax 16-50 DA* F2.8 and 50-135 DA* F2.8 - what's the best way to use them ?	Foma2	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	15	09-15-2013 01:23 AM
For Sale - Sold: Pentax DA 16-50mm F2.8+ DA 50-135mm F2.8+DA 55mm F1.4 +AF540 flash	ljay1129	Sold Items	4	11-25-2012 12:34 AM
For Sale - Sold: Pentax DA* 16-50 f2.8 lens	kent vinyard	Sold Items	2	10-21-2008 11:25 AM

07-10-2014, 12:30 AM	#2
AussieTrev Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,590	Might need a service call. I have that combo and it is fine, my regular lens.

07-10-2014, 03:03 AM	#3
Sandy Hancock Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Adelaide Hills, South Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,275	Do you have another SDM-enabled body to test it on? If the SDM is dead you could convert it to screw drive; I did, and will never look back. My other SDM lenses are just fine on my K-3, so I don't think it's the camera.

07-10-2014, 04:10 AM	#4
Na Horuk Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Slovenia, probably Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,186	Originally posted by ifegent On auto focus it locks up the camera. Can you describe this in detail? You have the lens on the camera, you turn the camera on.. then what? Also, please make sure your batteries are fully charged and you are using the latest firmware on your camera.

07-10-2014, 04:12 AM	#5
ifegent New Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 4 Original Poster	Convert to screw drive? how do you do that? Ian

07-10-2014, 04:25 AM	#6
Sandy Hancock Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Adelaide Hills, South Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,275	Originally posted by ifegent Convert to screw drive? how do you do that? Like THIS.

07-10-2014, 04:25 AM	#7
ifegent New Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 4 Original Poster	Originally posted by Na Horuk Can you describe this in detail? You have the lens on the camera, you turn the camera on.. then what? Also, please make sure your batteries are fully charged and you are using the latest firmware on your camera. If I have the camera and lens on auto focus the focus symbol in the view finder flashes when I half depress the shutter and nothing happens. I can't fully depress the shutter button to take a photo. My battery is fully charged. I'll check the firmware. Thanks Ian

07-10-2014, 05:31 AM	#8
Sandy Hancock Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Adelaide Hills, South Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,275	It sounds like your SDM is dead, and with the camera set to focus priority the shutter will not fire. This happened to both of my DA*16-50's You either need to get the lens repaired (which I did with one, and then sold it) or hack it into screw drive (which I did to the one I still have).

07-10-2014, 07:16 AM	#9
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by Sandy Hancock Do you have another SDM-enabled body to test it on? I think the OP stated that the lens continues to work fine on their K20D (SDM body), so it would appear that the SDM is not dead. Conversion to screw mount might not hurt, but may not help either. I believe the process is irreversible, no? Other lenses work fine on the K-3, but it is not clear whether those lenses are SDM or screw mount. Since the K-3 is still under warranty, I believe that Ricoh/Pentax support might be the best option at this point. Steve

07-10-2014, 05:05 PM	#10
ifegent New Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 4 Original Poster	Originally posted by Na Horuk Can you describe this in detail? You have the lens on the camera, you turn the camera on.. then what? Also, please make sure your batteries are fully charged and you are using the latest firmware on your camera. Thanks Na I updated the firmware and hey presto! It now works. Great relief as I'm heading to Europe for 10 weeks next week. Ian

07-10-2014, 05:34 PM	#11
RobA_Oz Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Tasmania, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,209	Originally posted by stevebrot I think the OP stated that the lens continues to work fine on their K20D (SDM body), so it would appear that the SDM is not dead. Conversion to screw mount might not hurt, but may not help either. I believe the process is irreversible, no? Other lenses work fine on the K-3, but it is not clear whether those lenses are SDM or screw mount. Since the K-3 is still under warranty, I believe that Ricoh/Pentax support might be the best option at this point. Steve The screw mount conversion is done in lens firmware, so it is reversible, assuming of course that a glitch in uploading doesn't brick anything (I haven't heard of this happening, btw). After a couple of years of frustration with my DA*16-50, I converted mine and, while the extra focussing noise is noticeable to me, it hasn't been a problem and it's certainly faster than SDM was on my K20D, K-5 and K-3, but that just might have been the drive slowly clagging up.

07-10-2014, 07:58 PM	#12
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by RobA_Oz The screw mount conversion is done in lens firmware, so it is reversible I am familiar with how it is done, but don't remember a step where the existing firmware is saved off. Steve

07-13-2014, 06:29 AM	#13
RobA_Oz Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Tasmania, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,209	Originally posted by stevebrot I am familiar with how it is done, but don't remember a step where the existing firmware is saved off. Steve From recollection, it is a lookup table that is changed and there was a step to save the original configuration as a text file.

07-14-2014, 11:48 AM	#14
Gerdup Inactive Account Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 11	Originally posted by ifegent I bought DA 16050 F2.8 lens when I had a K20D. It worked fine. I've new bought a K3 and it will only work on manual focus. On auto focus it locks up the camera. Other lens work fine and I tried it again on my K20D and it worked fine again. Help please? Ian Ian. I'm experiencing the same. Are you using the same memory card in the K-3 and the K20D? I'm going to try a different memory card as i think it might be the problem...??

07-14-2014, 10:13 PM	#15
rawr Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 11,913	Originally posted by ifegent I updated the firmware and hey presto! It now works. This is interesting. The firmware update either did something clever: - directly (eg to the way SDM lenses are handled), or - indirectly (perhaps the process of updating the firmware reset to the defaults some of the camera custom settings for focus priority AF etc that were causing the OP's original problems).