GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR. 55-300mm back from "repair"

bobloadmire · 08-28-2009, 10:01 AM

i got my 55-300mm back from repair from pentax. Now it makes a weird sound when using the telephoto and images are still blurry. I have tried everything, and from 100-300mm on the lens, sharpness sucks. I have tried any combination of SR on and off, manual and auto focus, filters on and off, and a shutter of at least 1/1000, tripod or hand held. I cannot get NON-blurry results. my 18-55 works great, and is way sharper than my 55-300. Pentax said the cleaned the glass, replaced some elements, and adjusted autofocus, but its still a piece of crap. Its decent at 55mm, about the same as the kit lens, but no better. I'm am going to shoot pentax. i think i i just need to vent. What should i do though? i have never had problems with any other lens like this. even my old 50-200mm got better results than this.

jacksonpritt · 08-28-2009, 10:05 AM

I would suggest putting it on a tripod, taking a couple shots that show good examples of what you are talking about, and then sending those shots to Pentax's customer service to show them exactly what you're talking about.

I'm sorry you're stuck dealing with this!
Broken lenses are no fun at all, but Pentax's repair service is usually very good.

gfmucci · 08-28-2009, 10:31 AM

Communication is a very good thing. Why not phone customer service and have a chat. Tell them it's been worked on by them once and still bad and ask them the best way for you to demonstrate this to them. Ask if they will send you a new one in exchange for your malfunctioning one.

Samsungian · 08-28-2009, 10:43 AM

Here's a current thread on contacting pentax usa:

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-news-rumors/70736-contacting-pentax-usa.html

bobloadmire · 08-28-2009, 01:00 PM

yeah, they want me to mail it back to them again, so they can take another month and not fix anything. I'm getting pissed. pentax service blows. I asked and they will not give me an advanced RMA. I am moving, and am shooting a wedding, and they are bullshitting me. I don't think i will be in the pentax market for my next cam, not if they don't take care of their customers, and suck ass at repairs. I CAN STILL SEE DUST IN THE LENS! holy crap. Bummer, i liked my K20D too.

regor · 08-28-2009, 01:21 PM

Originally posted by bobloadmire

i got my 55-300mm back from repair from pentax. Now it makes a weird sound when using the telephoto and images are still blurry. I have tried everything, and from 100-300mm on the lens, sharpness sucks. I have tried any combination of SR on and off, manual and auto focus, filters on and off, and a shutter of at least 1/1000, tripod or hand held. I cannot get NON-blurry results. my 18-55 works great, and is way sharper than my 55-300. Pentax said the cleaned the glass, replaced some elements, and adjusted autofocus, but its still a piece of crap. Its decent at 55mm, about the same as the kit lens, but no better. I'm am going to shoot pentax. i think i i just need to vent. What should i do though? i have never had problems with any other lens like this. even my old 50-200mm got better results than this.

Have you considered an improper body calibration as the possible cause? Is it Back or Front focussing or is the image un-sharp even if not BF/FF'd ? i.e. is the problem focusing or the optical qualities ?

bobloadmire · 08-28-2009, 06:02 PM

yes i have. i have tried all the adjustments, and i have used 4 other lenses that work great. Its not a out of focus blur, its something else. it just looks diffracted.

Damn Brit · 08-28-2009, 06:10 PM

Moved to lens forum.

little laker · 08-28-2009, 06:34 PM

Originally posted by regor

Have you considered an improper body calibration as the possible cause? Is it Back or Front focussing or is the image un-sharp even if not BF/FF'd ? i.e. is the problem focusing or the optical qualities ?

improper body calibration would never explain a weird sound

Good sugestion though.

Lots of luck with it Bob

Dom · 08-29-2009, 02:12 AM

I'm with the OP I hate my 55-300 and I'm going to get it out of my life.

**ChipB** · 08-29-2009, 04:11 PM

Bummer - I've been using my Pentax DA 55-300 for 6-8 months now - love it - great color rendition and sharpness. No complaints.

Keep trying - it REALLY is a good lens!!

bobloadmire · 08-31-2009, 05:11 PM

call pentax today about my shatty lens. Hopefully they will give me an advanced RMA.

**cdurfor** · 09-01-2009, 07:39 AM

Of note, the Pentax repair time can be dropped to a week or less if you place a $25 check in the package and mark it RUSH! This may seem like a small charge to expedite the repair by 3 weeks.

**Ash** · 09-01-2009, 08:34 AM

Hope it works out.
It really ain't all that bad a lens.
Either carry this little gem around, or lug around a 70-200 with TC for the same range and better IQ...
I have both and still think I should keep my 55-300...

bobloadmire · 09-10-2009, 01:12 PM

UPDATES!!!

so after some stern talking, which i felt was deserved after a month RMA. (I was stern, not a dick) i got them to ship me out a new one in placement of the old one. HOLY CRAP! WHAT A HUGE DIFFERENCE! SOO ****ING SHARP! its turned my world upside down. Anywho, i also have some sunpak filters for it that also suck. I show you guys some before and after shots with the old lens, the new lens, and sunpak filters. my 52mm sunpaks are great. my 58mm sunpacks are terrible! don't know whats up. anywho, i'll be back later tonight.

08-28-2009, 10:01 AM	#1
bobloadmire Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 50	GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR. 55-300mm back from "repair" i got my 55-300mm back from repair from pentax. Now it makes a weird sound when using the telephoto and images are still blurry. I have tried everything, and from 100-300mm on the lens, sharpness sucks. I have tried any combination of SR on and off, manual and auto focus, filters on and off, and a shutter of at least 1/1000, tripod or hand held. I cannot get NON-blurry results. my 18-55 works great, and is way sharper than my 55-300. Pentax said the cleaned the glass, replaced some elements, and adjusted autofocus, but its still a piece of crap. Its decent at 55mm, about the same as the kit lens, but no better. I'm am going to shoot pentax. i think i i just need to vent. What should i do though? i have never had problems with any other lens like this. even my old 50-200mm got better results than this.

08-28-2009, 10:43 AM	#4
Samsungian Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Colorado USA Posts: 1,337	Here's a current thread on contacting pentax usa Here's a current thread on contacting pentax usa: https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-news-rumors/70736-contacting-pentax-usa.html

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08-28-2009, 10:05 AM	#2
jacksonpritt Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Berkeley, CA Posts: 124	I would suggest putting it on a tripod, taking a couple shots that show good examples of what you are talking about, and then sending those shots to Pentax's customer service to show them exactly what you're talking about. I'm sorry you're stuck dealing with this! Broken lenses are no fun at all, but Pentax's repair service is usually very good.

08-28-2009, 10:31 AM	#3
gfmucci Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: The Villages, FL Posts: 70	Communication is a very good thing. Why not phone customer service and have a chat. Tell them it's been worked on by them once and still bad and ask them the best way for you to demonstrate this to them. Ask if they will send you a new one in exchange for your malfunctioning one.

08-28-2009, 01:00 PM	#5
bobloadmire Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 50 Original Poster	yeah, they want me to mail it back to them again, so they can take another month and not fix anything. I'm getting pissed. pentax service blows. I asked and they will not give me an advanced RMA. I am moving, and am shooting a wedding, and they are bullshitting me. I don't think i will be in the pentax market for my next cam, not if they don't take care of their customers, and suck ass at repairs. I CAN STILL SEE DUST IN THE LENS! holy crap. Bummer, i liked my K20D too.

08-28-2009, 01:21 PM	#6
regor Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Victoria, BC Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 356	Originally posted by bobloadmire i got my 55-300mm back from repair from pentax. Now it makes a weird sound when using the telephoto and images are still blurry. I have tried everything, and from 100-300mm on the lens, sharpness sucks. I have tried any combination of SR on and off, manual and auto focus, filters on and off, and a shutter of at least 1/1000, tripod or hand held. I cannot get NON-blurry results. my 18-55 works great, and is way sharper than my 55-300. Pentax said the cleaned the glass, replaced some elements, and adjusted autofocus, but its still a piece of crap. Its decent at 55mm, about the same as the kit lens, but no better. I'm am going to shoot pentax. i think i i just need to vent. What should i do though? i have never had problems with any other lens like this. even my old 50-200mm got better results than this. Have you considered an improper body calibration as the possible cause? Is it Back or Front focussing or is the image un-sharp even if not BF/FF'd ? i.e. is the problem focusing or the optical qualities ?

08-28-2009, 06:02 PM	#7
bobloadmire Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 50 Original Poster	yes i have. i have tried all the adjustments, and i have used 4 other lenses that work great. Its not a out of focus blur, its something else. it just looks diffracted.

08-28-2009, 06:34 PM	#9
little laker Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,697	Originally posted by regor Have you considered an improper body calibration as the possible cause? Is it Back or Front focussing or is the image un-sharp even if not BF/FF'd ? i.e. is the problem focusing or the optical qualities ? improper body calibration would never explain a weird sound Good sugestion though. Lots of luck with it Bob

08-29-2009, 02:12 AM	#10
Dom Guest	I'm with the OP I hate my 55-300 and I'm going to get it out of my life.

08-29-2009, 04:11 PM	#11
ChipB Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Eau Claire, WI Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,701	Bummer - I've been using my Pentax DA 55-300 for 6-8 months now - love it - great color rendition and sharpness. No complaints. Keep trying - it REALLY is a good lens!!

08-31-2009, 05:11 PM	#12
bobloadmire Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 50 Original Poster	call pentax today about my shatty lens. Hopefully they will give me an advanced RMA.

09-01-2009, 07:39 AM	#13
cdurfor Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Washington, DC Photos: Gallery Posts: 581	Of note, the Pentax repair time can be dropped to a week or less if you place a $25 check in the package and mark it RUSH! This may seem like a small charge to expedite the repair by 3 weeks.

09-01-2009, 08:34 AM	#14
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920	Hope it works out. It really ain't all that bad a lens. Either carry this little gem around, or lug around a 70-200 with TC for the same range and better IQ... I have both and still think I should keep my 55-300...

09-10-2009, 01:12 PM	#15
bobloadmire Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 50 Original Poster	UPDATES!!! so after some stern talking, which i felt was deserved after a month RMA. (I was stern, not a dick) i got them to ship me out a new one in placement of the old one. HOLY CRAP! WHAT A HUGE DIFFERENCE! SOO ****ING SHARP! its turned my world upside down. Anywho, i also have some sunpak filters for it that also suck. I show you guys some before and after shots with the old lens, the new lens, and sunpak filters. my 52mm sunpaks are great. my 58mm sunpacks are terrible! don't know whats up. anywho, i'll be back later tonight.