55-300mm PLM + KP live view AF issue

nneo · 04-14-2022, 10:18 PM

Hello,

I just got this lens for my KP.

But I got AF issue in Live view mode, it nerver focus, always ended up with the red square, tried to change between AF modes and settings.

No issue in view finder.

When I changed lens to my old 16-85, it works perfectly in live view.

Any ideas ? May be I got a defective copy ?

**jbinpg** · 04-14-2022, 11:10 PM - **2 Likes**

First thing to do is to make sure your camera is updated to the latest firmware.

nneo · 04-14-2022, 11:36 PM

Yes, mine is the lastest 1.31

epago · 04-14-2022, 11:56 PM - **1 Like**

Clean the lens contacts ...
Bye.

**mikesbike** · 04-15-2022, 12:05 AM

Did you buy this lens new?

nneo · 04-15-2022, 04:00 AM

Actually, it's used, but in good condition, including with the original box, papers, hood.

**seventhdr** · 04-15-2022, 05:11 AM

Another question.

Does it focus through the view finder?

Regards

Chris

AfterPentax Mark II · 04-15-2022, 05:18 AM

Originally posted by nneo

Hello,

I just got this lens for my KP.

But I got AF issue in Live view mode, it nerver focus, always ended up with the red square, tried to change between AF modes and settings.

No issue in view finder.

When I changed lens to my old 16-85, it works perfectly in live view.

Any ideas ? May be I got a defective copy ?

AAAH, you did not tell us on what kind of scene you tried to focus. Focusing in Live View is different from the view finder. I do not think that either the camera or the lens is faulty, but the choice of subject might be the villain. The red square means that it is unable to focus on the scene you presented the camera and lens with. That the 16-85 works well might be due to the fact that the 16-85 begins at f3.5 and the PLM at f4.5. The difference between enough or just not enough light to focus...

swanlefitte · 04-15-2022, 07:13 AM

The following information could help. Have you tried multiple subjects? On a tripod? Different focal lengths? Or perhaps you were too close to focus.

I find my shake or subject movement can mess up focus. On a tripod in dim light it performs amazing. In real life I make a tree branch then bird eye the shifting subject. It struggles to lock focus on one before the shift.

nneo · 04-16-2022, 04:29 AM

Originally posted by seventhdr

Another question.

Does it focus through the view finder?

Regards

Chris

Yes, AF works perfectly through view finder.

I tried only static objects, different scenes, indoor, outdoor, different focal lengths, cleaned lens and body contacts, nothing change.

Didn't try a tripod yet, but does a tripod impact that much, because no issue through view finder.

nneo · 04-16-2022, 07:03 AM

More info, tried video mode, it can focus on objects when recording, weird

swanlefitte · 04-16-2022, 07:24 AM

If you tested many ways the tripod isn't much help.
I just tested mine with the 1.4x tc on. It was extremely slow and rarely achieved focus but fast in vf. Without the tc it was fast and focused. I tried other lenses that use the inner contacts to focus. The 18-50 and the Sigma 18-35. They had no problem.

I have to think a contact isn't making a strong connection between my lens and tc. Every other combo works including the 55-300 plm without the tc.

I tried a quick clean of the contacts and it persists. A quick look and one contact on my lens appears slightly deeper in the lens. So far that is my guess.

04-14-2022, 10:18 PM	#1
nneo New Member Join Date: Jan 2020 Posts: 5	55-300mm PLM + KP live view AF issue Hello, I just got this lens for my KP. But I got AF issue in Live view mode, it nerver focus, always ended up with the red square, tried to change between AF modes and settings. No issue in view finder. When I changed lens to my old 16-85, it works perfectly in live view. Any ideas ? May be I got a defective copy ?

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04-14-2022, 11:10 PM - 2 Likes	#2
jbinpg Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Prince George, BC Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,546	First thing to do is to make sure your camera is updated to the latest firmware.

04-14-2022, 11:36 PM	#3
nneo New Member Join Date: Jan 2020 Posts: 5 Original Poster	Yes, mine is the lastest 1.31

04-14-2022, 11:56 PM - 1 Like	#4
epago Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 43	Clean the lens contacts ... Bye.

04-15-2022, 12:05 AM	#5
mikesbike Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Southeastern Michigan Posts: 4,549	Did you buy this lens new?

04-15-2022, 04:00 AM	#6
nneo New Member Join Date: Jan 2020 Posts: 5 Original Poster	Actually, it's used, but in good condition, including with the original box, papers, hood.

04-15-2022, 05:11 AM	#7
seventhdr Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Christchurch, New Zealand Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,439	Another question. Does it focus through the view finder? Regards Chris

04-15-2022, 05:18 AM	#8
AfterPentax Mark II Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2021 Posts: 1,461	Originally posted by nneo Hello, I just got this lens for my KP. But I got AF issue in Live view mode, it nerver focus, always ended up with the red square, tried to change between AF modes and settings. No issue in view finder. When I changed lens to my old 16-85, it works perfectly in live view. Any ideas ? May be I got a defective copy ? AAAH, you did not tell us on what kind of scene you tried to focus. Focusing in Live View is different from the view finder. I do not think that either the camera or the lens is faulty, but the choice of subject might be the villain. The red square means that it is unable to focus on the scene you presented the camera and lens with. That the 16-85 works well might be due to the fact that the 16-85 begins at f3.5 and the PLM at f4.5. The difference between enough or just not enough light to focus...

04-15-2022, 07:13 AM	#9
swanlefitte Pentaxian Join Date: May 2015 Location: Minneapolis Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,068	The following information could help. Have you tried multiple subjects? On a tripod? Different focal lengths? Or perhaps you were too close to focus. I find my shake or subject movement can mess up focus. On a tripod in dim light it performs amazing. In real life I make a tree branch then bird eye the shifting subject. It struggles to lock focus on one before the shift.

04-16-2022, 04:29 AM	#10
nneo New Member Join Date: Jan 2020 Posts: 5 Original Poster	Originally posted by seventhdr Another question. Does it focus through the view finder? Regards Chris Yes, AF works perfectly through view finder. I tried only static objects, different scenes, indoor, outdoor, different focal lengths, cleaned lens and body contacts, nothing change. Didn't try a tripod yet, but does a tripod impact that much, because no issue through view finder.

04-16-2022, 07:03 AM	#11
nneo New Member Join Date: Jan 2020 Posts: 5 Original Poster	More info, tried video mode, it can focus on objects when recording, weird

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04-16-2022, 07:24 AM	#12
swanlefitte Pentaxian Join Date: May 2015 Location: Minneapolis Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,068	If you tested many ways the tripod isn't much help. I just tested mine with the 1.4x tc on. It was extremely slow and rarely achieved focus but fast in vf. Without the tc it was fast and focused. I tried other lenses that use the inner contacts to focus. The 18-50 and the Sigma 18-35. They had no problem. I have to think a contact isn't making a strong connection between my lens and tc. Every other combo works including the 55-300 plm without the tc. I tried a quick clean of the contacts and it persists. A quick look and one contact on my lens appears slightly deeper in the lens. So far that is my guess.