50-135mm SDM problem not a myth

bng4bk · 09-26-2010, 07:02 AM

I wanted the Pentax DA* 50-135mm for my wedding shoots, and I wanted it bad! What an amazing lens with a near perfect range to compliment my Tam 17-50mm and allow more reach than my Tam 28-75mm! Countless hours of looking for an alternative to this lens and I have seen nothing in this range that is as good optically at both focal extremes and as usable wide open. I read debate after debate. Is the SDM failure only a vocal minority complaining or an inevitability for all owners?

Yesterday, I visited my local dealer, for one more fondling of this lens, ala Mike Myers and "the" Fender Strat in Wayne's World, "It will be mine. Oh yes, it will be mine!" Mounted on a KX body I turned it on and gave my best, "I know what I'm doing, I'm a pro" focus test and......nothing. Hmm, must need to flip both the lens AF/MF switch to AF. Oh it is. Must be that the camera switch needs to ...oh, it is. Sensing the retail clerks impatience with me, as though she had something more important to attend to, I handed her the camera back. She gave it her best, "stand back, I'M a professional" and nothing....After switching the switches, cycling the power and pointing it around the room a bit, it suddenly began to autofocus, as though it had just awakened and noticed the user would like to begin shooting now. And this is a brand new lens, albeit a display.

To make a short story long, I was prepared to purchase one of these with the longest, best extended warranty available, suck up the extra money and enjoy the amazing optics. But, I saw the infamous "wake up" issue first hand on a new lens. As much as I want it, I don't think I can live with the prospect of a $1000+ investment not working as it should. I guess the search continues. Meanwhile, I'll continue to use my DA 55-300mm for the longer shots, which seems to do much better than you'd think, albeit with significant speed/focusing/aperture limitations.

Just my .02 on the SDM issue.

KjetilH · 09-26-2010, 08:26 AM

I haven't seen any reports on HSM failure in the Sigma 50-150. It's probably not as good, but I can't complain. Mine hasn't failed yet, and focus issues are probably sorted out if you try the lens in the store. You lose WR, but the price difference is, after all, significant.

Good luck on finding the right lens, even if you have to omit the 'pixie dust' (which could be what's getting in the motors and ruining them).

mokey · 09-26-2010, 09:47 AM

I love my 50-135 dearly, but the SDM does have issues. It started to squeak during focusing, so I sent it to Pentax Canada (out of warranty I might add) They replaced the motor. (only charged me parts

)
It is working wonderful now. But it is always in the back of my mind....is it going to fail again? If you do get it, you will love it. Just get extended warranty.

ShiftR · 09-26-2010, 12:19 PM

Getting an extended warranty pretty much squashed my worries about anything happening to mine. I'm almost the kind of person who doesn't care that much how many times something has to get replaced or fixed as long as I don't have to pay for any aspect of it. So far, the warranty (as usual) has been a waste. I hope it stays that way.

sjwaldron · 09-26-2010, 03:48 PM

I noticed twice with my DA* 300 when I put it on, the screwdrive AF of the body and lens don't line up or something, preventing the lens from being able to AF with SDM. I just took the lens off and rotated the screw drive AF bit on the body and I was good to go after that. I don't know why that would make SDM not work, but it's interlinked with the screwdrive stuff I assume.

twitch · 09-26-2010, 04:04 PM

I bought a 50-135 with a 3 yr warranty. Having owned it now for only ~2 months, but used it a lot in the meantime, I can say I've never have a focus "wake up" problem. The SDM has been great; silent, accurate, and fast enough (but then I've been use to the 55-300 focus speed, lol). The IQ is amazing by the way, it seems every bit as good as my DA70 which is saying something.

bng4bk · 09-27-2010, 09:00 PM

Thanks for all the input on this subject. I was convinced that I should run away, and yet, thanks to your the responses, I feel all the more drawn to the pixie dust. So who has the best warranty on this? (without the gotchas). B&H has run out of them.

Jan67 · 10-13-2010, 04:17 AM

I consider to buy DA* 50-135 because of its excellent IQ but I am really afraid of SDM issue.
Do you think that SDM failures still remain or that production has in some way improved its quality ? There are not so many updates in related threads. Did Pentax reacted on petition regarding SDM ?
Do you expect any new version of DA* 50-135, with recently announced DC motor ?

Reportage · 10-13-2010, 04:53 AM

well, if Pentax is still using the same design as the 1st batch then be prepared. If Pentax has changed the design or components of the lens since then do take note of batch/serial number before buying a 2nd hand one.

as long covered by warranty or willing to pay for repairs then not really an issue. The big issue is if you get a really big job and the lens sdm decide to fail at that moment. Thats when knowing how to manual focus comes in handy.

mcjm78 · 10-13-2010, 06:06 AM

My 50-135 is about 2 years now, and its still working.

**dcmsox2004** · 10-13-2010, 06:28 AM

fwiw.... i also considered grabbing this lens.... but i don't have the patience for an expensive purchase to 'crap out', just when i don't want it to......
it would be one thing if we were talking about a relatively inexpensive consumer lens, but many use this lens for capturing important moments, i.e., weddings, anniversaries (which may be paying jobs), and having to pack a backup (always a good idea anyway) , 'just in case'... is just not acceptable retail practice....
what exacerbates this issue is the fact that pentax's service, here in the states, is now outsourced. many forum members have complained about slow turn around time for repair and poor communication as well.......
this also ties in to the degradation in the retail support afforded pentax users....
pentax corporate should be called in on the proverbial carpet..... but then again, i don't believe they have genuine concern for their customer base.....

Wheatfield · 10-13-2010, 07:20 AM

On one of the other forums I inhabit, a poster who apparently was talking to a tech from Pentax Europe told us that an apparently dead SDM motor may not be dead.
Something in the lens discharges and kills the operation if the lens is left to sit too long.
Mount the lens, turn the camera on and leave it sit for a few minutes (obviously auto shut off must be disengaged) and the lens should start working.
Personally, I don't believe it, but I put it out there FWIW.

JeffJS · 10-13-2010, 07:38 AM

I've had mine since Nov '07 and have yet to have an issue with it. Sometimes it sits in the bag for months at a time. I'm not suggesting that people who have reported problems are being untruthful though. As to the what if it fails during a shoot crowd... Most people using cameras have two hands. With all the complaining about the focus speed (which I don't find any slower than my other lenses), the left hand sometimes works better anyway. Catch In Focus works beautifully with this lens. Dead SDM does not change the ability of the lens to gather and focus light. Finish the shoot, and send the lens in.

mikemike · 10-13-2010, 07:56 AM

If the DC motor is actually new, do you all think that a DA* II 16-50 and DA* II 50-135 are around the corner?

09-26-2010, 07:02 AM	#1
bng4bk Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Boise, Id Posts: 58	50-135mm SDM problem not a myth I wanted the Pentax DA* 50-135mm for my wedding shoots, and I wanted it bad! What an amazing lens with a near perfect range to compliment my Tam 17-50mm and allow more reach than my Tam 28-75mm! Countless hours of looking for an alternative to this lens and I have seen nothing in this range that is as good optically at both focal extremes and as usable wide open. I read debate after debate. Is the SDM failure only a vocal minority complaining or an inevitability for all owners? Yesterday, I visited my local dealer, for one more fondling of this lens, ala Mike Myers and "the" Fender Strat in Wayne's World, "It will be mine. Oh yes, it will be mine!" Mounted on a KX body I turned it on and gave my best, "I know what I'm doing, I'm a pro" focus test and......nothing. Hmm, must need to flip both the lens AF/MF switch to AF. Oh it is. Must be that the camera switch needs to ...oh, it is. Sensing the retail clerks impatience with me, as though she had something more important to attend to, I handed her the camera back. She gave it her best, "stand back, I'M a professional" and nothing....After switching the switches, cycling the power and pointing it around the room a bit, it suddenly began to autofocus, as though it had just awakened and noticed the user would like to begin shooting now. And this is a brand new lens, albeit a display. To make a short story long, I was prepared to purchase one of these with the longest, best extended warranty available, suck up the extra money and enjoy the amazing optics. But, I saw the infamous "wake up" issue first hand on a new lens. As much as I want it, I don't think I can live with the prospect of a $1000+ investment not working as it should. I guess the search continues. Meanwhile, I'll continue to use my DA 55-300mm for the longer shots, which seems to do much better than you'd think, albeit with significant speed/focusing/aperture limitations. Just my .02 on the SDM issue.

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09-26-2010, 08:26 AM	#2
KjetilH Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Oslo Photos: Gallery Posts: 309	I haven't seen any reports on HSM failure in the Sigma 50-150. It's probably not as good, but I can't complain. Mine hasn't failed yet, and focus issues are probably sorted out if you try the lens in the store. You lose WR, but the price difference is, after all, significant. Good luck on finding the right lens, even if you have to omit the 'pixie dust' (which could be what's getting in the motors and ruining them).

09-26-2010, 09:47 AM	#3
mokey Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: BC Posts: 219	I love my 50-135 dearly, but the SDM does have issues. It started to squeak during focusing, so I sent it to Pentax Canada (out of warranty I might add) They replaced the motor. (only charged me parts ) It is working wonderful now. But it is always in the back of my mind....is it going to fail again? If you do get it, you will love it. Just get extended warranty.

09-26-2010, 12:19 PM	#4
ShiftR Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Virginia Posts: 62	Getting an extended warranty pretty much squashed my worries about anything happening to mine. I'm almost the kind of person who doesn't care that much how many times something has to get replaced or fixed as long as I don't have to pay for any aspect of it. So far, the warranty (as usual) has been a waste. I hope it stays that way.

09-26-2010, 03:48 PM	#5
sjwaldron Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,235	I noticed twice with my DA* 300 when I put it on, the screwdrive AF of the body and lens don't line up or something, preventing the lens from being able to AF with SDM. I just took the lens off and rotated the screw drive AF bit on the body and I was good to go after that. I don't know why that would make SDM not work, but it's interlinked with the screwdrive stuff I assume.

09-26-2010, 04:04 PM	#6
twitch Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 4,571	I bought a 50-135 with a 3 yr warranty. Having owned it now for only ~2 months, but used it a lot in the meantime, I can say I've never have a focus "wake up" problem. The SDM has been great; silent, accurate, and fast enough (but then I've been use to the 55-300 focus speed, lol). The IQ is amazing by the way, it seems every bit as good as my DA70 which is saying something.

09-27-2010, 09:00 PM	#7
bng4bk Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Boise, Id Posts: 58 Original Poster	Thanks for all the input on this subject. I was convinced that I should run away, and yet, thanks to your the responses, I feel all the more drawn to the pixie dust. So who has the best warranty on this? (without the gotchas). B&H has run out of them.

10-13-2010, 04:17 AM	#8
Jan67 Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Prague Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 84	I consider to buy DA* 50-135 because of its excellent IQ but I am really afraid of SDM issue. Do you think that SDM failures still remain or that production has in some way improved its quality ? There are not so many updates in related threads. Did Pentax reacted on petition regarding SDM ? Do you expect any new version of DA* 50-135, with recently announced DC motor ?

10-13-2010, 04:53 AM	#9
Reportage Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 739	well, if Pentax is still using the same design as the 1st batch then be prepared. If Pentax has changed the design or components of the lens since then do take note of batch/serial number before buying a 2nd hand one. as long covered by warranty or willing to pay for repairs then not really an issue. The big issue is if you get a really big job and the lens sdm decide to fail at that moment. Thats when knowing how to manual focus comes in handy.

10-13-2010, 06:06 AM	#10
mcjm78 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Perth, Australia Posts: 268	My 50-135 is about 2 years now, and its still working.

10-13-2010, 06:28 AM	#11
dcmsox2004 Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: rhode island Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,522	fwiw.... i also considered grabbing this lens.... but i don't have the patience for an expensive purchase to 'crap out', just when i don't want it to...... it would be one thing if we were talking about a relatively inexpensive consumer lens, but many use this lens for capturing important moments, i.e., weddings, anniversaries (which may be paying jobs), and having to pack a backup (always a good idea anyway) , 'just in case'... is just not acceptable retail practice.... what exacerbates this issue is the fact that pentax's service, here in the states, is now outsourced. many forum members have complained about slow turn around time for repair and poor communication as well....... this also ties in to the degradation in the retail support afforded pentax users.... pentax corporate should be called in on the proverbial carpet..... but then again, i don't believe they have genuine concern for their customer base.....

10-13-2010, 07:20 AM	#12
Wheatfield Moderator Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: The wheatfields of Canada Posts: 15,986	On one of the other forums I inhabit, a poster who apparently was talking to a tech from Pentax Europe told us that an apparently dead SDM motor may not be dead. Something in the lens discharges and kills the operation if the lens is left to sit too long. Mount the lens, turn the camera on and leave it sit for a few minutes (obviously auto shut off must be disengaged) and the lens should start working. Personally, I don't believe it, but I put it out there FWIW.

10-13-2010, 07:38 AM	#13
JeffJS Inactive Account Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Michigan, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,484	I've had mine since Nov '07 and have yet to have an issue with it. Sometimes it sits in the bag for months at a time. I'm not suggesting that people who have reported problems are being untruthful though. As to the what if it fails during a shoot crowd... Most people using cameras have two hands. With all the complaining about the focus speed (which I don't find any slower than my other lenses), the left hand sometimes works better anyway. Catch In Focus works beautifully with this lens. Dead SDM does not change the ability of the lens to gather and focus light. Finish the shoot, and send the lens in.

10-13-2010, 07:56 AM	#14
mikemike Inactive Account Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: New Orleans Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,053	If the DC motor is actually new, do you all think that a DA* II 16-50 and DA* II 50-135 are around the corner?