DIY SDM repair!

**tcbubbleleo** · 04-02-2012, 01:44 PM

Originally posted by calicojack

Jeez, I can almost see the dust falling on the rear element of that 40mm.

yeah, I saw the dust too, is funny you are mentioned it now, I broke out the good O' Giottos starting to puff

another thing is I had a not so high grade UV put on it; and I have not tried the f/2.8 yet.....never have confident on any lens b4 aperture opened to the largest, maybe I should tried it some day.......

nixite · 04-04-2012, 08:58 AM - **1 Like**

cool, its really work!

just now fix problem with 50-135

starbase218 · 07-12-2012, 12:05 PM

Just wanted to say thanks for this excellent guide. The AF on my 16-50 was more or less jammed and although I'm not sure the problem is solved entirely, it certainly made a big difference. Besides, it was kind of interesting to see some of the inner parts of a lens.

Calculus · 07-30-2012, 05:35 AM

You made me a happy person because this DIY SDM repair guide worked!

Initially my DA*16-50 refuses to focus, but I could still hear the motor inside turning. So before I send it in for repairs, I decided to try to repair it myself. And for the record, my DA* 16-50 died last week, the second time in a little over a year since I bought it from SRS Microsys.

Once again, thank you for the guide.

andreysunny · 08-05-2012, 12:53 PM

Thank you very much!It really works!Today I've repair my 16-50. When I twist this SDM at first time nothing happens, then I dissasemble the lens second time (I thought The cause may be in af/mf swither on lens) and I twist The SDM with more range - from left, where it stops to the right, where it stops.Then I twis it about the senter, assemble lens and put it on my k20d. Nothing happens.... and suddenly I feel slightly movement inside...Lens began focusing! That's the miracle!

Pentaxtic · 08-05-2012, 01:29 PM

Haha That's awesome! It's alive...IT'S ALIVE!!!!!!!!!!!

WillyKano · 08-07-2012, 01:58 PM

Following excactly the instructions I got my lens again autofocusing within two hours.
Most of the time I spent on reattaching the spring on the AF-ring and there after the contacts with their springs.

But, everything works perfect now !

Many thanks for the technical guidance !

WillyKano

snake · 08-08-2012, 12:35 AM

So then what's the story? The screw keeps tightening over time with motion or is it that the motor simply seizes (as some have said with lack of use, they encounter similar problems)?

Has a replacement motor been sourced that we can buy ourselves?

Alizarine · 09-11-2012, 10:07 PM

Good thing I found this article! Now those "broken SDM" lenses I can buy for a bargain... but can only hope this repair works. But of course, I can always think positive! Thanks OP!

Belcik · 09-12-2012, 06:04 AM

I do not own any SDM thing yet, though thinking about them a lot...Few ideas:

1. Is there a possibility to check the SDM motor by applying "some current" somewhere? Most of people go back and forth trying to check if DIY worked.
2. Would it be complicated to change the motor itself (of course, depends how it is fixed into the lens body)
3. Someone has already stated that one cannot make scredriver working due to intelligent communication between body and camera. IS there really no way to trick both of them?

Anyway the manual makes me less scary about the SDM lenses - thanks

Alizarine · 09-12-2012, 08:07 AM

Originally posted by Belcik

3. Someone has already stated that one cannot make scredriver working due to intelligent communication between body and camera. IS there really no way to trick both of them?

This is what I'm looking forward too. I'm hoping some software genius out there figures out how to use the Debug Menu software to make the AF switchable between SDM and screwdrive. I'm pretty sure the "lock" on the screwdrive AF is mostly software; because if not then older bodies like the *istD series won't AF at all with the DA*s. But they do, in screwdrive mode.

So something tells me it's either there's something in the lens or part of the firmware that tells the screwdrive to not operate on newer bodies.

erkara · 09-19-2012, 11:45 PM

Hi all,

Just wanted to add another success story and give big thanks to the community of the help.

Biggest hurdel were the contacts with the springs but otherwise no problems.

Alizarine · 09-20-2012, 12:55 AM

Originally posted by erkara

Hi all, Just wanted to add another success story and give big thanks to the community of the help. Biggest hurdel were the contacts with the springs but otherwise no problems.

Wonderful first post there. Welcome to PentaxForums!

hope to see photos from your just-repaired SDM lens

teuflor · 10-06-2012, 02:24 AM

also fixed it

20min work for an working SDM.

very very cool!

got problems with putting back the gasket

hongzhibin1987 · 10-06-2012, 08:29 PM

Hummm the Chinese is from Se Ying Wu Ji, i think one of the two biggest photography forum back there.
Anyway, congratulations to this repair! =)

07-12-2012, 12:05 PM	#123
starbase218 Inactive Account Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Planet Earth, Sol system, Milky Way galaxy, Universe Posts: 1,119	Just wanted to say thanks for this excellent guide. The AF on my 16-50 was more or less jammed and although I'm not sure the problem is solved entirely, it certainly made a big difference. Besides, it was kind of interesting to see some of the inner parts of a lens. Last edited by starbase218; 07-12-2012 at 12:15 PM.

08-07-2012, 01:58 PM	#127
WillyKano Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Tremelo Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 38	Deblocking my Pentax 16-50 f2.8 SMC DA* Following excactly the instructions I got my lens again autofocusing within two hours. Most of the time I spent on reattaching the spring on the AF-ring and there after the contacts with their springs. But, everything works perfect now ! Many thanks for the technical guidance ! WillyKano

09-19-2012, 11:45 PM	#132
erkara New Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Kirkkonummi Photos: Albums Posts: 2	Instruction works like a charm Hi all, Just wanted to add another success story and give big thanks to the community of the help. Biggest hurdel were the contacts with the springs but otherwise no problems.

10-06-2012, 02:24 AM	#134
teuflor Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Augsburg Posts: 26	also fixed it 20min work for an working SDM. very very cool! got problems with putting back the gasket Last edited by teuflor; 10-06-2012 at 02:30 AM.

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04-02-2012, 01:44 PM	#121
tcbubbleleo Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Temple City CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 726	Originally posted by calicojack Jeez, I can almost see the dust falling on the rear element of that 40mm. yeah, I saw the dust too, is funny you are mentioned it now, I broke out the good O' Giottos starting to puff another thing is I had a not so high grade UV put on it; and I have not tried the f/2.8 yet.....never have confident on any lens b4 aperture opened to the largest, maybe I should tried it some day.......

04-04-2012, 08:58 AM - 1 Like	#122
nixite Junior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Novosibirsk, Russia Photos: Gallery Posts: 37	cool, its really work! just now fix problem with 50-135

07-30-2012, 05:35 AM	#124
Calculus New Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: localhost Posts: 3	You made me a happy person because this DIY SDM repair guide worked! Initially my DA16-50 refuses to focus, but I could still hear the motor inside turning. So before I send it in for repairs, I decided to try to repair it myself. And for the record, my DA 16-50 died last week, the second time in a little over a year since I bought it from SRS Microsys. Once again, thank you for the guide.

08-05-2012, 12:53 PM	#125
andreysunny New Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 1	Thank you very much!It really works!Today I've repair my 16-50. When I twist this SDM at first time nothing happens, then I dissasemble the lens second time (I thought The cause may be in af/mf swither on lens) and I twist The SDM with more range - from left, where it stops to the right, where it stops.Then I twis it about the senter, assemble lens and put it on my k20d. Nothing happens.... and suddenly I feel slightly movement inside...Lens began focusing! That's the miracle!

08-05-2012, 01:29 PM	#126
Pentaxtic Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Vancouver Photos: Gallery Posts: 417	Haha That's awesome! It's alive...IT'S ALIVE!!!!!!!!!!!

08-08-2012, 12:35 AM	#128
snake Banned Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: NY/Germany Posts: 1,183	So then what's the story? The screw keeps tightening over time with motion or is it that the motor simply seizes (as some have said with lack of use, they encounter similar problems)? Has a replacement motor been sourced that we can buy ourselves?

09-11-2012, 10:07 PM	#129
Alizarine Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Manila Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,185	Good thing I found this article! Now those "broken SDM" lenses I can buy for a bargain... but can only hope this repair works. But of course, I can always think positive! Thanks OP!

09-12-2012, 06:04 AM	#130
Belcik Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Russia,Moscow Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 377	I do not own any SDM thing yet, though thinking about them a lot...Few ideas: 1. Is there a possibility to check the SDM motor by applying "some current" somewhere? Most of people go back and forth trying to check if DIY worked. 2. Would it be complicated to change the motor itself (of course, depends how it is fixed into the lens body) 3. Someone has already stated that one cannot make scredriver working due to intelligent communication between body and camera. IS there really no way to trick both of them? Anyway the manual makes me less scary about the SDM lenses - thanks

09-12-2012, 08:07 AM	#131
Alizarine Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Manila Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,185	Originally posted by Belcik 3. Someone has already stated that one cannot make scredriver working due to intelligent communication between body and camera. IS there really no way to trick both of them? This is what I'm looking forward too. I'm hoping some software genius out there figures out how to use the Debug Menu software to make the AF switchable between SDM and screwdrive. I'm pretty sure the "lock" on the screwdrive AF is mostly software; because if not then older bodies like the istD series won't AF at all* with the DAs. But they do, in screwdrive mode. So something tells me it's either there's something in the lens* or part of the firmware that tells the screwdrive to not operate on newer bodies.

09-20-2012, 12:55 AM	#133
Alizarine Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Manila Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,185	Originally posted by erkara Hi all, Just wanted to add another success story and give big thanks to the community of the help. Biggest hurdel were the contacts with the springs but otherwise no problems. Wonderful first post there. Welcome to PentaxForums! hope to see photos from your just-repaired SDM lens

10-06-2012, 08:29 PM	#135
hongzhibin1987 Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 464	Hummm the Chinese is from Se Ying Wu Ji, i think one of the two biggest photography forum back there. Anyway, congratulations to this repair! =)