Another 16-50 dead

[BrendanPK]

Well looks like I may be getting yet another DA*16-50
I had my first one around 7-8months before it started acting weird, sent it in and got a new one.
Got my latest about the same time, maybe a little longer, and same issues again So come Monday Its being sent off. I have to admint I love the PPS services I am using it for the first time for loner equipment (getting a 15-50 on loan) and hopefully everything will mesh well.
Last time I sent in a camera for repair, 4 days later I had it back, Hopefully this will be the same.

Oh and for those wondering, PPS has not gotten any k7's or DA*60-250 for loan

[Andi Lo]

This time it's still under warranty I hope? I wonder if it dies outside warranty if there it's better to just buy a new one or if pentax will repair it for a reasonable fee... Is your serial number a late one or an early one?

Either way I still think I'm going for a Sigma / Tamron if I ever need this range, hopefully by that time they have a HSM version.

[Ash]

Seems there are a number of SDM/HSM failures, not just with Pentax lenses.
Not as robust as the screw-drive mechanism I gather...

Hope it works out for you.

[wowtip]

Sorry to hear that Brendan.

Originally Posted by Ash

Seems there are a number of SDM/HSM failures, not just with Pentax lenses.
Not as robust as the screw-drive mechanism I gather...

Yes, SDM/HSM might be more silent and in some cases faster, but of what use is that if the motor fails? This is one of the reasons I chose Pentax over other brands, they don't put stabilization in lenses. The less electronics / gyros / motors in the lenses the less possible points of failure. KISS principle, anyone?

This is kind of sad, the 16-50 and even more so the 50-135 looks like great zooms, weather sealed and all. But I am not going to give out that kind of money for a lens where there is good possibility that it will be MF only in a few years time.

At least Pentax could provide an option in camera to select if to use SDM or screwdrive, as many have suggested. Then you could at least use it with AF if SDM fails outside the warranty.

[Andi Lo]

Originally Posted by wowtip

Yes, SDM/HSM might be more silent and in some cases faster, but of what use is that if the motor fails? This is one of the reasons I chose Pentax over other brands, they don't put stabilization in lenses. The less electronics / gyros / motors in the lenses the less possible points of failure. KISS principle, anyone?

On the other hand maybe our cameras won't last as long internally, but I guess it's a bit too early to tell with the earliest SR generation only 5-6 years old.

[little laker]

Originally Posted by wowtip

This is kind of sad, the 16-50 and even more so the 50-135 looks like great zooms, weather sealed and all. But I am not going to give out that kind of money for a lens where there is good possibility that it will be MF only in a few years time.

You would think that these motor drive lenses would still give you manual focus operation when the motors die. But you'd often be WRONG.

At least with Canon mount (and Sigma mount being the same electronics) when the motors go the entire lens appears to fail.
I've seen it happen a few times, the last time the motors (on my lens) tried constantly cycling making the camera useless.

[Bart]

If only the screw drive would kick in when the SDM dies...