My barely 1-month old Pentax 50-200mm suddenly won't focus at infinity (was ok when new, and up to about 2-3 weeks of use), at any focal length (erratic at best - off the mark 90-95% of the time). It has no problems focusing at closer distances though. I've tried all AF settings (auto, select, center, manual), and it just misses, and it does so on the K10D as well as on the DS! My other lenses (even manual ones) work fine, so I'm sure it's with the lens. It's still under warranty, but Sanly (where I bought it from) says it might take up to 2 months to repair (they have to send it to Japan daw!!!).

Would appreciate any advice from our friends in the forum.
Thanks very much.
Cheers!

Sorry to hear that Marlon. Short of checking if the the electrical contacts on the lens and body are clear/clean, I can't think of any other option for you except to send it back to Sanly's.
Nols

Thanks Noli, I also tried cleaning the len's electrical contacts - guess it's back to lugging my old A70-210 then (at least for the next couple of months). I've heard some similar experiences over at dpreview - makes me wonder about the QC at Pentax's plant in Vietnam where they make these lenses...oh well...

Semi-OT...

I wonder if there's a better way than to make you wait 2-3 months while they send your lens off to Japan like:

1) lend you a loaner...
2) outright replacement (your unit goes to Japan; gets fixed and comes back as a refurb unit)...
3) return item/get refund (invoking our legal right to return items less % % for restocking fee etc.)...

??? :Thinking:

Hi Bong - would explore these options once I get to bring the lens to Sanly - really disappointed about the long wait. I was hoping that Sanly would have their technicians trained up already on digital at this point that's why I bought my K10D, flash and some lenses from them. I was just thinking maybe Camerahaus (SuperEast Asia) may be better equipped for repairs - they were able to fix my DS last year under warranty when the e-dial malfuncitoned.
Thanks...

This would be an interesting issue, especially if Pentax is to attract pros with its latest offering. Professionals depend on their equipment for their livelihood and 2 or so months downtime is not a good thing. Amateurs does not deserve any less treatment either.

Thus far, most of my new equipment are bought "gray" through friends and relatives traveling abroad to save on the total cost; I figure I could use the same route if they need servicing. On my part, that may cause some rethinking regarding buying through the local suppliers and some might even rethink even buying Pentax at all unless we can lobby some change.

I have the same problem with Sanly before when my 80-200mm lens malfunctioned, they still have to send it to Japan for repairs, and it will take two or three months also, I thought they can fix the problem here,that was ten years ago,hanngang ngayon pala ganun pa rin sila

All the while I thought they had the expertise to repair items themselves. Having to send the lens to Japan and wait 3 months is truly disappointing about the local distributor. :Sick::Sick: Perhaps insist to accompany the lens to Japan at Sanly's expense!!! :Grin:




Hi Bong - would explore these options once I get to bring the lens to Sanly - really disappointed about the long wait. I was hoping that Sanly would have their technicians trained up already on digital at this point that's why I bought my K10D, flash and some lenses from them. I was just thinking maybe Camerahaus (SuperEast Asia) may be better equipped for repairs - they were able to fix my DS last year under warranty when the e-dial malfuncitoned.
Thanks...

I think it was Fred Ileto who also posted about having to wait month(s?) for his newly purchased lens to be fixed. That does not sound good.

I know that in Henry's (henrys.com) and other shops in NY, there is a category called "refurbished" units (not brand new, not used, not demo or open box). I understand that to be when a client turns in a bad copy they replace the item outrightly and send the bad unit back to the manufacter. The client happily goes on with his new unit and later, the defective one comes back to the dealer who sells it as a "refurbished" unit (usually around or less than the price of a demo or open box item).

before nga they can't even clean lens fungi, I have to send it to Wells Photo for cleaning, at least the after sales service improved

i bought my *ist (film) from them years ago. when it malfunctioned within the warranty period, sanly replaced it outright. that replacement unit, brand new, never faltered until i sold recently.

then i got the DS. while under warranty, the shutter block broke, but this time, no outright replacement. they sent the unit to japan for repairs and it was kind of sanly to loan me their DS for the time being.

took a while to get mine back but japan fixed it up real good.

i got my K10d from sanly too. brand new of course. had to send it back to japan though as the aperture block broke, good it happened under warranty.

well this time, NO OUTRIGHT REPLACEMENT, and NO SERVICE UNIT that i can borrow.

so i bought another K10 while waiting for my first one to arrive.


1. sanly will help as much as they could.

2. it is unfortunate though that they have to send digital equipment back to japan for repairs. according to willy tan, sanly's owner, it's not practical for sanly to spend millions for equipment needed to repair digital cams and lenses when local sales are not that big. they'll surely honor the warranties and the shipping costs that come with it but that's the hard truth. it's japan for repairs.

3. i wouldn't know how camerahaus services pentax equipment. i know that sanly is the only authorized distributor of pentax here in the phils. if the authorized distributor needs to send the stuff back to japan for repairs under a legitimate warranty, i wonder where camerahaus sends their pentax equipment for repairs. (there's a store in quiapo where one can get less expensive nikon and canon equipment but hey, if it breaks down under warranty, they just send it to the back room, ground floor of pilar building in hidalgo.) i'm not saying camerahaus sends their pentax stuff there too, but since i know i'm dealing with the authorized pentax dealer here, i think i have the right to wonder about other things.

4. i know that not all of us can afford to buy another unit when our first one breaks down. don't get me wrong. i'm not rich and so can't really afford to buy anything on a whim. but my working relationship with sanly allows me certain privileges that unfortunately are not available to all.

i am saddened when things like this happen. sanly should be able to service our equipment here but they can't because of their policy previously stated. i wish things were totally different. i get pissed because of that but i love pentax as a brand, i love my pentax cameras, and i love my pentax lenses. i'll still walk this path and do my best to live with the shortcomings.

just my 2 cents mga bro.

joey

- have japan repair your lens bro.

Maybe Sanly is running out of trained people to do repair or the training cost has increased. I think it happens in any company who sell or peform repairs on things. Like were i work, when our company is not capable of doing this kind of repair (lack materials, tooling, training, etc), we shipped it out to the OEM's.

Maybe the best thing is to ask Sanly or any Distributor who performs repairs which accessories or parts are they capable of repairing on site without sending the part to the OEMs.