FA 31mm limited focus ring is loose?

kuau · 05-06-2010, 01:42 PM

Hi,
I just purchased a used FA 31mm limited lens from the marketplace here and I noticed that the focusing collar when I rotate back and forth, it is quite loose. Is this normal for the FA31?? I also notice that it slightly sticks near infinity.
Do I have a "bad" copy of the lens?

Steven

kuau · 05-06-2010, 02:10 PM

Other than that, I took a few pictures with the lens on my K7 and they are tack sharp...

iasonis · 05-06-2010, 03:51 PM

No it is not suppose to be loose, but if it doesnt effect your images then I guess dont worry unless your a perfectionist and can exchange it.

pcarfan · 05-06-2010, 05:10 PM

What do you mean by loose ?, if it is wobbly then it is defective. If you mean it is easy to rotate, then that is somewhat difficult to quantify. I can rotate it with just one finger, so don't have to grasp it. It is the same with the FA43 and the FA77 is a little tighter. Hope this helps.

kuau · 05-06-2010, 05:18 PM

Originally posted by pcarfan

What do you mean by loose ?, if it is wobbly then it is defective. If you mean it is easy to rotate, then that is somewhat difficult to quantify. I can rotate it with just one finger, so don't have to grasp it. It is the same with the FA43 and the FA77 is a little tighter. Hope this helps.

Lets see loose to me means the focus collar is very easy to rotate and also as I rotate the collar one back and forth the drag is not consistent and seems to loosen as I rotate towards infinity.
No I am not a perfectionist but for a lens that costs more than $900.00 I was expecting a little more, but I have no other FA limited lenses to compare it with.

Steven

pcarfan · 05-06-2010, 06:47 PM

The drag is consistent with mine, and I think it should be.

scorpioh · 05-06-2010, 06:54 PM

Mine is consistent too.

kuau · 05-06-2010, 07:03 PM

Thanks pcarfan and scorpioh that's what I though also. I think mine needs to be checked.
Steven

JeffJS · 05-06-2010, 07:31 PM

Have you contacted the seller?

NONE of my FA (and DA) lenses have (had) heavily or even moderately damped focus rings including the FA LTD lenses. If the M42, K, M, or A lenses did, Then I would be concerned.

henryjing · 05-06-2010, 08:03 PM

You should define the loose clearly, and I think I can define the condition consistent too.

kuau · 05-07-2010, 03:10 PM

I did some more testing today with my FA 31mm limited lens using live view and manual focus,
there seems to be to much "wiggle" in the collar, when I get confirmed focus the collar to easily slips so it's hard to "lock" the focus.

Steven

henryjing · 05-07-2010, 03:21 PM

Originally posted by kuau

I did some more testing today with my FA 31mm limited lens using live view and manual focus,
there seems to be to much "wiggle" in the collar, when I get confirmed focus the collar to easily slips so it's hard to "lock" the focus.

Steven

I have used this lens with my ME super edition, and I have never experienced what like you said.

henryjing · 05-07-2010, 03:24 PM

Check this.
I seldom used this lens on my K-7 or K-x, because of the "1.5" factor on the APS-C.
I took several pics with 31 on my ME, no problem at all.

henryjing · 05-07-2010, 03:26 PM

Also check this.

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-slr-lens-discussion/96314-little-shake-fa-31-a.html

here is a thread I post the day I got this lens from B&H, you can check the date.

KjetilH · 05-07-2010, 03:56 PM

My DA40 shows some of the same tendencies, especially being a bit "sticky" when rotating the focus ring. It was dropped into the ground by the previous owner, I understood it as it was in the pouch, and it is not possible to notice any damage.
Judging from this "behaviour", it may have been rough handled. It does not affect IQ or AF though, I suppose the focus mechanism took the blow.

I would suggest examining the lens, both exterior and if the lens tube is wobbly. My lens has some quick-shift problems, but it was cheap enough that I don't really care. Don't conclude too quick though, consider this a suggestion backed up by one single case.

05-06-2010, 01:42 PM	#1
kuau Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Park City, Utah Posts: 208	FA 31mm limited focus ring is loose? Hi, I just purchased a used FA 31mm limited lens from the marketplace here and I noticed that the focusing collar when I rotate back and forth, it is quite loose. Is this normal for the FA31?? I also notice that it slightly sticks near infinity. Do I have a "bad" copy of the lens? Steven

05-07-2010, 03:24 PM	#13
henryjing Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: United States Posts: 467	Check this. I seldom used this lens on my K-7 or K-x, because of the "1.5" factor on the APS-C. I took several pics with 31 on my ME, no problem at all. Last edited by henryjing; 04-14-2011 at 06:27 PM.

05-07-2010, 03:56 PM	#15
KjetilH Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Oslo Photos: Gallery Posts: 309	My DA40 shows some of the same tendencies, especially being a bit "sticky" when rotating the focus ring. It was dropped into the ground by the previous owner, I understood it as it was in the pouch, and it is not possible to notice any damage. Judging from this "behaviour", it may have been rough handled. It does not affect IQ or AF though, I suppose the focus mechanism took the blow. I would suggest examining the lens, both exterior and if the lens tube is wobbly. My lens has some quick-shift problems, but it was cheap enough that I don't really care. Don't conclude too quick though, consider this a suggestion backed up by one single case. Last edited by KjetilH; 05-10-2010 at 04:34 AM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
SMC Pentax-M f1.4 50mm loose front ring?	theperception2008	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	6	05-04-2011 08:06 PM
Tamron 17-50mm/2.8 Loose Filter Ring?	Venturi	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	4	06-18-2010 06:57 AM
DA L 18-55mm manual focus ring too loose	jamesv93	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	2	11-28-2009 12:03 AM
How much focus would I loose mounting a m39 on my pentax?	melander	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	5	02-09-2009 05:57 PM
31mm Limited	benjikan	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	19	04-09-2007 09:22 PM

05-06-2010, 02:10 PM	#2
kuau Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Park City, Utah Posts: 208 Original Poster	Other than that, I took a few pictures with the lens on my K7 and they are tack sharp...

05-06-2010, 03:51 PM	#3
iasonis Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: West Harrison, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 30	No it is not suppose to be loose, but if it doesnt effect your images then I guess dont worry unless your a perfectionist and can exchange it.

05-06-2010, 05:10 PM	#4
pcarfan Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Dayton, Ohio Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,978	What do you mean by loose ?, if it is wobbly then it is defective. If you mean it is easy to rotate, then that is somewhat difficult to quantify. I can rotate it with just one finger, so don't have to grasp it. It is the same with the FA43 and the FA77 is a little tighter. Hope this helps.

05-06-2010, 05:18 PM	#5
kuau Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Park City, Utah Posts: 208 Original Poster	Originally posted by pcarfan What do you mean by loose ?, if it is wobbly then it is defective. If you mean it is easy to rotate, then that is somewhat difficult to quantify. I can rotate it with just one finger, so don't have to grasp it. It is the same with the FA43 and the FA77 is a little tighter. Hope this helps. Lets see loose to me means the focus collar is very easy to rotate and also as I rotate the collar one back and forth the drag is not consistent and seems to loosen as I rotate towards infinity. No I am not a perfectionist but for a lens that costs more than $900.00 I was expecting a little more, but I have no other FA limited lenses to compare it with. Steven

05-06-2010, 06:47 PM	#6
pcarfan Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Dayton, Ohio Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,978	The drag is consistent with mine, and I think it should be.

05-06-2010, 06:54 PM	#7
scorpioh Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Singapore Photos: Gallery Posts: 182	Mine is consistent too.

05-06-2010, 07:03 PM	#8
kuau Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Park City, Utah Posts: 208 Original Poster	Thanks pcarfan and scorpioh that's what I though also. I think mine needs to be checked. Steven

05-06-2010, 07:31 PM	#9
JeffJS Inactive Account Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Michigan, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,484	Have you contacted the seller? NONE of my FA (and DA) lenses have (had) heavily or even moderately damped focus rings including the FA LTD lenses. If the M42, K, M, or A lenses did, Then I would be concerned.

05-06-2010, 08:03 PM	#10
henryjing Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: United States Posts: 467	You should define the loose clearly, and I think I can define the condition consistent too.

05-07-2010, 03:10 PM	#11
kuau Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Park City, Utah Posts: 208 Original Poster	I did some more testing today with my FA 31mm limited lens using live view and manual focus, there seems to be to much "wiggle" in the collar, when I get confirmed focus the collar to easily slips so it's hard to "lock" the focus. Steven

05-07-2010, 03:21 PM	#12
henryjing Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: United States Posts: 467	Originally posted by kuau I did some more testing today with my FA 31mm limited lens using live view and manual focus, there seems to be to much "wiggle" in the collar, when I get confirmed focus the collar to easily slips so it's hard to "lock" the focus. Steven I have used this lens with my ME super edition, and I have never experienced what like you said.

05-07-2010, 03:26 PM	#14
henryjing Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: United States Posts: 467	Also check this. https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-slr-lens-discussion/96314-little-shake-fa-31-a.html here is a thread I post the day I got this lens from B&H, you can check the date.