DA 50-200mm f/4.5-5.6 ED WR Typical Behavior?

fullmental · 07-28-2015, 09:33 AM

Hi everyone, still new to Pentax cameras and DSLRs in general, so I wanted to ask a question about the two lenses I bought. I acquired both the DA 18-55mm AL WR and the DA 50-200mm ED WR. The 18-55mm lens is incredibly fast, almost never hunts during autofocus, and is nearly silent when not autofocusing. The 50-200mm lens on the other hand is much more likely to hunt during autofocus (even at 50mm, it's slower to focus than the other lens at 55mm), plus the camera itself is noisier when the larger lens is in use (I'm guessing IS, right?). Is this sort of variation in performance normal for a different focal length lenses in the same series/this lens in general, or did I happen to get a dud lens? I don't want to hold onto a lens that is showing signs it might not last a good long time, but I also don't want to return a perfectly good one if that's the normal behavior, because it's also within my personal tolerance for lens performance.

Last edited by fullmental; 07-28-2015 at 09:39 AM.

th1952 · 07-28-2015, 06:37 PM

Originally posted by fullmental

Hi everyone, still new to Pentax cameras and DSLRs in general, so I wanted to ask a question about the two lenses I bought. I acquired both the DA 18-55mm AL WR and the DA 50-200mm ED WR. The 18-55mm lens is incredibly fast, almost never hunts during autofocus, and is nearly silent when not autofocusing. The 50-200mm lens on the other hand is much more likely to hunt during autofocus (even at 50mm, it's slower to focus than the other lens at 55mm), plus the camera itself is noisier when the larger lens is in use (I'm guessing IS, right?). Is this sort of variation in performance normal for a different focal length lenses in the same series/this lens in general, or did I happen to get a dud lens? I don't want to hold onto a lens that is showing signs it might not last a good long time, but I also don't want to return a perfectly good one if that's the normal behavior, because it's also within my personal tolerance for lens performance.

I don't have the 18-55, but I do have the 50-200 WR. It's certainly not a fast focusing lens, nor is it quiet. It does provide extra reach and my copy produces pretty fairly sharp images. Are you getting decent images out of the lens?

fullmental · 07-28-2015, 07:03 PM

Originally posted by th1952

I don't have the 18-55, but I do have the 50-200 WR. It's certainly not a fast focusing lens, nor is it quiet. It does provide extra reach and my copy produces pretty fairly sharp images. Are you getting decent images out of the lens?

Yes, the images look fine, perhaps a bit softer handheld than I would have liked but nothing out of the ordinary. On a tripod using manual focus I can get exceptionally sharp images if I want to. I did note the AF is just a tad off from ideal focus, but that happens with the other lens too and just about every other camera I've ever used, for that matter. If it's not supposed to be quiet when not focusing/manual focusing, then I guess I don't have anything to worry about.

**RKKS08** · 07-30-2015, 03:08 PM

Originally posted by fullmental

If it's not supposed to be quiet when not focusing/manual focusing, then I guess I don't have anything to worry about.

I don't quite understand.

The only noise you should be able to hear could be sensor movement from shake reduction.
But with my K200D (the *istDS doesn't offer SR) I cannot hear it, and if, SR should only work while holding the shutter release half pressed down.

fullmental · 07-30-2015, 04:43 PM

Maybe it is the SR movement, it would make sense. I've never had a camera that has SR before. I did some more testing and it indeed happens only when the SR icon is lit.

07-28-2015, 09:33 AM	#1
fullmental Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Posts: 57	DA 50-200mm f/4.5-5.6 ED WR Typical Behavior? Hi everyone, still new to Pentax cameras and DSLRs in general, so I wanted to ask a question about the two lenses I bought. I acquired both the DA 18-55mm AL WR and the DA 50-200mm ED WR. The 18-55mm lens is incredibly fast, almost never hunts during autofocus, and is nearly silent when not autofocusing. The 50-200mm lens on the other hand is much more likely to hunt during autofocus (even at 50mm, it's slower to focus than the other lens at 55mm), plus the camera itself is noisier when the larger lens is in use (I'm guessing IS, right?). Is this sort of variation in performance normal for a different focal length lenses in the same series/this lens in general, or did I happen to get a dud lens? I don't want to hold onto a lens that is showing signs it might not last a good long time, but I also don't want to return a perfectly good one if that's the normal behavior, because it's also within my personal tolerance for lens performance. Last edited by fullmental; 07-28-2015 at 09:39 AM.

07-28-2015, 07:03 PM	#3
fullmental Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Posts: 57 Original Poster	Originally posted by th1952 I don't have the 18-55, but I do have the 50-200 WR. It's certainly not a fast focusing lens, nor is it quiet. It does provide extra reach and my copy produces pretty fairly sharp images. Are you getting decent images out of the lens? Yes, the images look fine, perhaps a bit softer handheld than I would have liked but nothing out of the ordinary. On a tripod using manual focus I can get exceptionally sharp images if I want to. I did note the AF is just a tad off from ideal focus, but that happens with the other lens too and just about every other camera I've ever used, for that matter. If it's not supposed to be quiet when not focusing/manual focusing, then I guess I don't have anything to worry about. Last edited by fullmental; 07-28-2015 at 07:11 PM.

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07-28-2015, 06:37 PM	#2
th1952 Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Berea, Ohio Posts: 446	Originally posted by fullmental Hi everyone, still new to Pentax cameras and DSLRs in general, so I wanted to ask a question about the two lenses I bought. I acquired both the DA 18-55mm AL WR and the DA 50-200mm ED WR. The 18-55mm lens is incredibly fast, almost never hunts during autofocus, and is nearly silent when not autofocusing. The 50-200mm lens on the other hand is much more likely to hunt during autofocus (even at 50mm, it's slower to focus than the other lens at 55mm), plus the camera itself is noisier when the larger lens is in use (I'm guessing IS, right?). Is this sort of variation in performance normal for a different focal length lenses in the same series/this lens in general, or did I happen to get a dud lens? I don't want to hold onto a lens that is showing signs it might not last a good long time, but I also don't want to return a perfectly good one if that's the normal behavior, because it's also within my personal tolerance for lens performance. I don't have the 18-55, but I do have the 50-200 WR. It's certainly not a fast focusing lens, nor is it quiet. It does provide extra reach and my copy produces pretty fairly sharp images. Are you getting decent images out of the lens?

07-30-2015, 03:08 PM	#4
RKKS08 Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Frankfurt am Main Posts: 1,241	Originally posted by fullmental If it's not supposed to be quiet when not focusing/manual focusing, then I guess I don't have anything to worry about. I don't quite understand. The only noise you should be able to hear could be sensor movement from shake reduction. But with my K200D (the *istDS doesn't offer SR) I cannot hear it, and if, SR should only work while holding the shutter release half pressed down.

07-30-2015, 04:43 PM	#5
fullmental Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Posts: 57 Original Poster	Maybe it is the SR movement, it would make sense. I've never had a camera that has SR before. I did some more testing and it indeed happens only when the SR icon is lit.