Dropped Lens- How to check?

Fobbo · 10-12-2019, 09:25 AM

Hello,

So today I made a very silly mistake. While sorting through the lenses I'm taking out for a walk, I accidentally placed one too close to the edge of the bed and with a bump my DFA 15-30 rolled off the edge and landed ~2 feet onto the wooden floor with a loud sound. It had both caps on, and fortunately upon a quick inspection I didn't see any visible damage to the lens. I quickly tested the lens and as far as I can tell everything seems to be in order. It zooms fine, The camera doesn't seem to be picking up any weird readings, and things seem to focus as far as I can tell. There is a little rattling sound when I shake but honestly I don't know if it was there before or not. While I hope I just got extremely lucky and nothing was damaged, is there a way I can properly check its function for any misaligned elements? I've heard taking a picture of a brick but as weird as it is the city I'm in doesn't have much that I can quickly find (Seriously). Also with it being a wide lens I'm a little concerned about my ability to tell the natural warping of the image due to it's wide view vs actual damage.

Is there a standard procedure for checking for possible internal damage?
I'm aware there has been threads regarding dropped lenses but they all mention visible damage but I really didn't spot any on mine.

Thanks in advance.

**aslyfox** · 10-12-2019, 09:39 AM

my thoughts

check the filter threads for damage and see if you can fit a filter if you have one

don't shake the lens any more

carefully work the focus manually and auto focus, preferably in a quiet room so you can listen carefully

any difference after the fall ?

take photos at different focal length

if you can, target an object similar to a brick's complexity, fine details, look at failure to capture details or distortion not usual for the lens

look at whether you lens work as noted in the in depth review

Quote:

HD Pentax-D FA 15-30mm F2.8 ED SDM WR
Introduction
With the launch of the K-1 full frame camera, Pentax released three constant aperture lenses covering a large range, from ultra-wide to telephoto.

Read more at: HD Pentax-D FA 15-30mm F2.8 ED SDM WR Review - Introduction | PentaxForums.com Reviews

Paul the Sunman · 10-12-2019, 12:30 PM

Originally posted by aslyfox

check the filter threads for damage and see if you can fit a filter if you have one
]

The DFA 15-30 has no filter threads.

**aslyfox** · 10-12-2019, 12:32 PM

Originally posted by Paul the Sunman

The DFA 15-30 has no filter threads.

oops

**BarryE** · 10-12-2019, 12:45 PM - **2 Likes**

Was the floor OK? The 15-30 is a heavy beast ;-)

Do you have any shots you can repeat, eg test shots you may have taken when you first bought The Beast to compare with?

08amczb · 10-12-2019, 12:45 PM

After checking the outside and the internals with a flashlight check autofocus first. It should work and focus correctly in the center. Then check the corners of a precisely focused image with wide open aperture. A brick wall from 1-5m would be ideal for testing... The corners should be equally unsharp/sharp. Test it with zooming to 15mm, 30mm and to about 22mm. Test the lens stoped down to F4 and to F5.6, the focus can shift at lower apertures. The lens should not make any weird sound. I think if its all ok, that is satisfying.

Paul the Sunman · 10-12-2019, 12:51 PM

I would suggest trying to reproduce, as closely as possible, a few shots you've taken with it previously at a variety of focal lengths and apertures. If you can't tell the difference, stop worrying.

Fenwoodian · 10-12-2019, 01:19 PM

.
I've dropped a few lenses in my day. Usually, they're no worse for the wear. However, a couple of drops totaled the lens (Sigma are you listening?).

In each damaged case, the sudden impact cracked/splintered the glass in one or more internal elements.

To check for such damage use a flashlight and some type of magnifier. Inspect each lens element (from both ends) looking for cracks or pieces of glass debris on the glass optical elements. You'll usually see the glass debris on the outer edges of the glass (where it attaches to the lens barrel).

Look for little "sliver like" pieces of glass (tiny/short glass hairs). Sometimes you'll even see small chunks of glass.
.

**kiwi_jono** · 10-12-2019, 10:30 PM - **1 Like**

Plenty of good advice here already. I don't have this particular lens but the rattle may just be the normal aperture mechanism (as most lenses do).

Assuming Zoom, AF and manual focus are is all operating fine, then I would check out the optical side of the lens (as its possible to dislodge or move a lens element. Assuming there are no signs of damage to the elements when you look through the lens, take some photos and have a look the results. A flat surface, like a brick wall, can be useful to gauge the sharpness across the frame. There are plenty of guides in the forums and the internet generally on what to look for, but its likely if somethings damaged you will notice it.

These things are built pretty solidly, so hopefully its fine - good luck!

Paul the Sunman · 10-12-2019, 10:33 PM

Originally posted by Fobbo

Hello,
There is a little rattling sound when I shake but honestly I don't know if it was there before or not.

Yes, it's normal.

**Kerrowdown** · 10-13-2019, 01:13 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Fobbo

Dropped Lens- How to check?

To be honest... take a few pictures and they look OK it's all good.

Don't get too wrapped around the axle with all this testing malarky, it fails later then get it fixed.

**bwgv001** · 10-13-2019, 08:28 AM

lucky you, it seems your lens is fine.

pschlute · 10-13-2019, 09:09 AM

Originally posted by BarryE

Was the floor OK? The 15-30 is a heavy beast ;-)

That lens would break a toe bone or two quite easily.

Mercifulfate · 10-14-2019, 05:23 AM

As others have said. Use it and see what happens.

PentaPrime · 02-16-2020, 06:02 PM

So what happened with this?? I'm curious because mine also took a tumble today, from about 2-2.5 feet while inside a padded camera bag. The lens cap on mine is cracked but the glass seems okay, however I suspect the aperture mechanism is not working properly. It doesn't seem to move much when I adjust it.

10-12-2019, 09:25 AM	#1
Fobbo New Member Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Taipei Posts: 15	Dropped Lens- How to check? Hello, So today I made a very silly mistake. While sorting through the lenses I'm taking out for a walk, I accidentally placed one too close to the edge of the bed and with a bump my DFA 15-30 rolled off the edge and landed ~2 feet onto the wooden floor with a loud sound. It had both caps on, and fortunately upon a quick inspection I didn't see any visible damage to the lens. I quickly tested the lens and as far as I can tell everything seems to be in order. It zooms fine, The camera doesn't seem to be picking up any weird readings, and things seem to focus as far as I can tell. There is a little rattling sound when I shake but honestly I don't know if it was there before or not. While I hope I just got extremely lucky and nothing was damaged, is there a way I can properly check its function for any misaligned elements? I've heard taking a picture of a brick but as weird as it is the city I'm in doesn't have much that I can quickly find (Seriously). Also with it being a wide lens I'm a little concerned about my ability to tell the natural warping of the image due to it's wide view vs actual damage. Is there a standard procedure for checking for possible internal damage? I'm aware there has been threads regarding dropped lenses but they all mention visible damage but I really didn't spot any on mine. Thanks in advance.

10-12-2019, 01:19 PM	#8
Fenwoodian Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,875	. I've dropped a few lenses in my day. Usually, they're no worse for the wear. However, a couple of drops totaled the lens (Sigma are you listening?). In each damaged case, the sudden impact cracked/splintered the glass in one or more internal elements. To check for such damage use a flashlight and some type of magnifier. Inspect each lens element (from both ends) looking for cracks or pieces of glass debris on the glass optical elements. You'll usually see the glass debris on the outer edges of the glass (where it attaches to the lens barrel). Look for little "sliver like" pieces of glass (tiny/short glass hairs). Sometimes you'll even see small chunks of glass. . Last edited by Fenwoodian; 10-12-2019 at 01:34 PM.

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10-12-2019, 09:39 AM	#2
aslyfox Seeker of Knowledge Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Topeka, Kansas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 24,583	my thoughts check the filter threads for damage and see if you can fit a filter if you have one don't shake the lens any more carefully work the focus manually and auto focus, preferably in a quiet room so you can listen carefully any difference after the fall ? take photos at different focal length if you can, target an object similar to a brick's complexity, fine details, look at failure to capture details or distortion not usual for the lens look at whether you lens work as noted in the in depth review Quote: HD Pentax-D FA 15-30mm F2.8 ED SDM WR Introduction With the launch of the K-1 full frame camera, Pentax released three constant aperture lenses covering a large range, from ultra-wide to telephoto. Read more at: HD Pentax-D FA 15-30mm F2.8 ED SDM WR Review - Introduction \| PentaxForums.com Reviews

10-12-2019, 12:30 PM	#3
Paul the Sunman Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Melbourne Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,847	Originally posted by aslyfox check the filter threads for damage and see if you can fit a filter if you have one ] The DFA 15-30 has no filter threads.

10-12-2019, 12:32 PM	#4
aslyfox Seeker of Knowledge Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Topeka, Kansas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 24,583	Originally posted by Paul the Sunman The DFA 15-30 has no filter threads. oops

10-12-2019, 12:45 PM - 2 Likes	#5
BarryE Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Hampshire, UK Posts: 1,654	Was the floor OK? The 15-30 is a heavy beast ;-) Do you have any shots you can repeat, eg test shots you may have taken when you first bought The Beast to compare with?

10-12-2019, 12:45 PM	#6
08amczb Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 796	After checking the outside and the internals with a flashlight check autofocus first. It should work and focus correctly in the center. Then check the corners of a precisely focused image with wide open aperture. A brick wall from 1-5m would be ideal for testing... The corners should be equally unsharp/sharp. Test it with zooming to 15mm, 30mm and to about 22mm. Test the lens stoped down to F4 and to F5.6, the focus can shift at lower apertures. The lens should not make any weird sound. I think if its all ok, that is satisfying.

10-12-2019, 12:51 PM	#7
Paul the Sunman Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Melbourne Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,847	I would suggest trying to reproduce, as closely as possible, a few shots you've taken with it previously at a variety of focal lengths and apertures. If you can't tell the difference, stop worrying.

10-12-2019, 10:30 PM - 1 Like	#9
kiwi_jono Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Christchurch, New Zealand Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,437	Plenty of good advice here already. I don't have this particular lens but the rattle may just be the normal aperture mechanism (as most lenses do). Assuming Zoom, AF and manual focus are is all operating fine, then I would check out the optical side of the lens (as its possible to dislodge or move a lens element. Assuming there are no signs of damage to the elements when you look through the lens, take some photos and have a look the results. A flat surface, like a brick wall, can be useful to gauge the sharpness across the frame. There are plenty of guides in the forums and the internet generally on what to look for, but its likely if somethings damaged you will notice it. These things are built pretty solidly, so hopefully its fine - good luck!

10-12-2019, 10:33 PM	#10
Paul the Sunman Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Melbourne Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,847	Originally posted by Fobbo Hello, There is a little rattling sound when I shake but honestly I don't know if it was there before or not. Yes, it's normal.

10-13-2019, 01:13 AM - 1 Like	#11
Kerrowdown PEG Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake Photos: Gallery Posts: 57,867	Originally posted by Fobbo Dropped Lens- How to check? To be honest... take a few pictures and they look OK it's all good. Don't get too wrapped around the axle with all this testing malarky, it fails later then get it fixed.

10-13-2019, 08:28 AM	#12
bwgv001 Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Alabama Photos: Gallery Posts: 698	lucky you, it seems your lens is fine.

10-13-2019, 09:09 AM	#13
pschlute Moderator Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Surrey, UK Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,219	Originally posted by BarryE Was the floor OK? The 15-30 is a heavy beast ;-) That lens would break a toe bone or two quite easily.

10-14-2019, 05:23 AM	#14
Mercifulfate Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 92	As others have said. Use it and see what happens.

02-16-2020, 06:02 PM	#15
PentaPrime Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Calgary Posts: 65	So what happened with this?? I'm curious because mine also took a tumble today, from about 2-2.5 feet while inside a padded camera bag. The lens cap on mine is cracked but the glass seems okay, however I suspect the aperture mechanism is not working properly. It doesn't seem to move much when I adjust it.