SDM... problem still here or quietly fixed?

MysteryOnion · 12-02-2010, 06:03 AM

I'm not sure if this has been covered, but I need to know for an up and coming purchase. Does anyone know if the rampant SDM problems sighted in some forums has been solved or is it still a wild problem. I've not heard any word that the SDM motor was quietly upgraded on lenses sent in for repair, so chances are the same motor would be put in as the replacement. Also the odds of a new DC motor as a drop in upgrade is like waiting for Elvis to come home from the mother ship. I am in need of the *16-50/2.8 and the apparent possibility of any of the used or new lenses crapping out unexpectedly is still a possible thing... not good for me.

Any thoughts?

JHD · 12-02-2010, 06:24 AM

ever been to Vegas?

**Ahab** · 12-02-2010, 09:13 AM

It seems the number of reported failures has dwindled in the past year or so. My DA* 200 has been chugging merrily along so far.

paperbag846 · 12-02-2010, 09:19 AM

I think all internal focusing mechanisms have a failure rate... not specific to Pentax IMHO.

builttospill · 12-02-2010, 09:26 AM

Here's a thread on the same topic started not too long ago: https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-slr-lens-discussion/120657-superso...hing-past.html

amvic · 12-02-2010, 09:31 AM

Word has it (from a Pentax retailer) that a recent drought of SDM lens availability coincided with the arrival of a fix to the reliability issue.

MysteryOnion · 12-02-2010, 12:11 PM

Thanks everyone.

To bad there is no database for frequency of failures referenced by serial number and time.

snofox · 12-03-2010, 01:24 PM

Originally posted by MysteryOnion

Thanks everyone.

To bad there is no database for frequency of failures referenced by serial number and time.

Is this what you are looking for?

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-slr-lens-discussion/22297-da*-16-5...-database.html

Jodokast96 · 12-03-2010, 04:37 PM

7 months so far and all is good. Had a little scare today though. Turns out, the lens switch was on MF.

SpecialK · 12-03-2010, 07:42 PM

Quote:

I've not heard any word that the SDM motor was quietly upgraded...

Well, it is silent, after all :-)

I'd be confident with a new lens, and your money. I'd bet Pentax is getting tired of paying a tech for the repairs by now.

jimby · 12-03-2010, 09:28 PM

Don't know if this would count... I recently bought a Pentax DA* 60-250mm lens from Amazon. When it arrived the SDM was for all practical purposes dead. The lens mostly wouldn't focus at all, and for the rare times it did it would take 5 to 10 seconds to slowly rack into focus.

I sent it back for a replacement, and the second lens was fine.

yusuf · 12-03-2010, 09:40 PM

Unfortunately it still exists. A friend purchased 50-135mm early this year and it died within six months. Situation might be better for 16-50mm but I doubt.

ShiftR · 12-03-2010, 09:45 PM

Originally posted by yusuf

Unfortunately it still exists. A friend purchased 50-135mm early this year and it died within six months.

Was it new, from Pentax, or possibly unsold old stock? I know of a couple places that have some 50-135s that have been sitting since late 2008.

MysteryOnion · 12-04-2010, 06:11 PM

Well... I'm feeling it is going to be a dice roll and the odds seem to be good that I might land one with no problems. Thanks everyone, I'm going to be continuing with my plans to finally get one after the holidays.

snipenekkid · 12-04-2010, 07:54 PM

best way to check things out is to find out the serial number ranges of the most recently purchased SDM lenses. From then follow the failure reports. But if the serial numbers of the failed lenses are vastly lower, what ever that means in production terms, then perhaps the more recent, as in higher serial numbered lenses are different. But it seems to take between 6-18 months for the SDM failure to show up.

So, yup, a real database is needed to know for sure, or someone to crack open a couple lenses, one brand new and one a couple years old then compare the SDM components one piece at a time. Who has the money to make that happen?

12-02-2010, 06:03 AM	#1
MysteryOnion Giveaway winner! Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: beantown Photos: Albums Posts: 944	SDM... problem still here or quietly fixed? I'm not sure if this has been covered, but I need to know for an up and coming purchase. Does anyone know if the rampant SDM problems sighted in some forums has been solved or is it still a wild problem. I've not heard any word that the SDM motor was quietly upgraded on lenses sent in for repair, so chances are the same motor would be put in as the replacement. Also the odds of a new DC motor as a drop in upgrade is like waiting for Elvis to come home from the mother ship. I am in need of the *16-50/2.8 and the apparent possibility of any of the used or new lenses crapping out unexpectedly is still a possible thing... not good for me. Any thoughts?

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12-02-2010, 06:24 AM	#2
JHD Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Photos: Albums Posts: 1,406	ever been to Vegas?

12-02-2010, 09:13 AM	#3
Ahab Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Arnold, Md. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 762	It seems the number of reported failures has dwindled in the past year or so. My DA* 200 has been chugging merrily along so far.

12-02-2010, 09:19 AM	#4
paperbag846 Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,395	I think all internal focusing mechanisms have a failure rate... not specific to Pentax IMHO.

12-02-2010, 09:26 AM	#5
builttospill Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Utah, Idaho Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,398	Here's a thread on the same topic started not too long ago: https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-slr-lens-discussion/120657-superso...hing-past.html

12-02-2010, 09:31 AM	#6
amvic Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: UK/Italy Photos: Gallery Posts: 30	Word has it (from a Pentax retailer) that a recent drought of SDM lens availability coincided with the arrival of a fix to the reliability issue.

12-02-2010, 12:11 PM	#7
MysteryOnion Giveaway winner! Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: beantown Photos: Albums Posts: 944 Original Poster	Thanks everyone. To bad there is no database for frequency of failures referenced by serial number and time.

12-03-2010, 01:24 PM	#8
snofox Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Fredericton New Brunswick Canada Photos: Albums Posts: 334	Originally posted by MysteryOnion Thanks everyone. To bad there is no database for frequency of failures referenced by serial number and time. Is this what you are looking for? https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-slr-lens-discussion/22297-da*-16-5...-database.html

12-03-2010, 04:37 PM	#9
Jodokast96 Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Erial, NJ USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,134	7 months so far and all is good. Had a little scare today though. Turns out, the lens switch was on MF.

12-03-2010, 07:42 PM	#10
SpecialK Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: So California Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,481	Quote: I've not heard any word that the SDM motor was quietly upgraded... Well, it is silent, after all :-) I'd be confident with a new lens, and your money. I'd bet Pentax is getting tired of paying a tech for the repairs by now.

12-03-2010, 09:28 PM	#11
jimby Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 77	Don't know if this would count... I recently bought a Pentax DA* 60-250mm lens from Amazon. When it arrived the SDM was for all practical purposes dead. The lens mostly wouldn't focus at all, and for the rare times it did it would take 5 to 10 seconds to slowly rack into focus. I sent it back for a replacement, and the second lens was fine.

12-03-2010, 09:40 PM	#12
yusuf Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Palo Alto, CA Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,497	Unfortunately it still exists. A friend purchased 50-135mm early this year and it died within six months. Situation might be better for 16-50mm but I doubt.

12-03-2010, 09:45 PM	#13
ShiftR Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Virginia Posts: 62	Originally posted by yusuf Unfortunately it still exists. A friend purchased 50-135mm early this year and it died within six months. Was it new, from Pentax, or possibly unsold old stock? I know of a couple places that have some 50-135s that have been sitting since late 2008.

12-04-2010, 06:11 PM	#14
MysteryOnion Giveaway winner! Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: beantown Photos: Albums Posts: 944 Original Poster	Well... I'm feeling it is going to be a dice roll and the odds seem to be good that I might land one with no problems. Thanks everyone, I'm going to be continuing with my plans to finally get one after the holidays.

12-04-2010, 07:54 PM	#15
snipenekkid Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 95	best way to check things out is to find out the serial number ranges of the most recently purchased SDM lenses. From then follow the failure reports. But if the serial numbers of the failed lenses are vastly lower, what ever that means in production terms, then perhaps the more recent, as in higher serial numbered lenses are different. But it seems to take between 6-18 months for the SDM failure to show up. So, yup, a real database is needed to know for sure, or someone to crack open a couple lenses, one brand new and one a couple years old then compare the SDM components one piece at a time. Who has the money to make that happen?