DA* 55 - SDM Squeak?

Julie · 06-04-2012, 10:02 AM

Being my first SDM lens purchased used (in December 2011, I believe), I thought it was normal... However, after purchasing the DA* 50-135 (also used) and seeing how silent it is has left me wondering why my 55 squeaks?

It happens on K20d (but also on K-5 & K-7)- when I choose something I want to focus on, it will squeak once or twice before it locks focus and I get the confirmation beep.

I found this video --->

You Tube

,and it seems to be a similar sound- except mine will do it once or twice and when I shift the subject from something closer up to something further back. It also doesn't make that "thud" sound after the squeak. (and I don't know if it is just the audio quality of this video, but mine sounds a little quieter- but still noticeable.)

I've read about SDM failure on zooms such as 16-50 and 50-135, but on a prime like the 55?

gtl · 06-04-2012, 10:36 AM

Mine definitely doesn't make such screeching noises. Go get it changed or fixed under warranty if possible?

aurele · 06-04-2012, 10:41 AM

Ouch ! need some grease in the mechanics !

I really suggest you to send it back now.

(Mine don't do that sound either.)

**blackcloudbrew** · 06-04-2012, 10:54 AM

No that is not a noise I hear in mine. All I do hear is the very ultra sonic sound when SDM system is working.

Julie · 06-04-2012, 11:13 AM

Originally posted by gtl

Mine definitely doesn't make such screeching noises. Go get it changed or fixed under warranty if possible?

Originally posted by aurele

Ouch ! need some grease in the mechanics !

I really suggest you to send it back now.

(Mine don't do that sound either.)

Wish I could but I guess one of the problems with buying used is you don't get warranty.
Everything works fine mechanically and I'm not going to pitch-in another $300 towards getting a squeaky noise fixed ... if SDM ever does fail completely, then I might consider it...

Julie · 06-04-2012, 11:14 AM

Originally posted by blackcloudbrew

No that is not a noise I hear in mine. All I do hear is the very ultra sonic sound when SDM system is working.

Yes, that is what I hear with 50-135.

Julie · 06-04-2012, 11:16 AM

I'm going to check the serial # in the database and see if anyone has had problems with the 55 produced around the same time as mine...
(whoops, sorry for double post)

*edit* never mind, nothing helpful there- just reports of front/back focus (which mine has- corrected with AF adjustment of +1)

philbaum · 06-04-2012, 12:19 PM

Julie,
I think its just your lens talking to you, perhaps saying "Hi, i'm on the job again - just a moment - there, its in focus"

I don't think many if any of the slidiing surfaces in these lenses are lubricated - lubrication collects dust and may gum at the end of the life.

So what we probably have is dry on dry sliding surfaces which may squeak or not depending on a variety of factors. No big deal in my opinion. I agree with you - don't get it fixed unless it stops working, or if it stops traffic on main street

. I've never seen any correlation between squeaks and failure. My 50-135 doesn't squeak either but if it started i probably wouldn't do anything about it. i think these squeaks aren't very loud.

oeriies · 06-04-2012, 01:16 PM

My 50-135 squeaks. My 16-50 and 300 do not. It doesn't affect the performance of the 50-135, which is my favorite lens, but it is a little annoying. You might try rotating the screw drive on the back of the lens by putting a small straighthead screwdriver in it and turning it about a quarter of a turn past the resistance point in both directions. Do this with the lens set to manual focus. Do it a dozen or more times. This seems to loosen up whatever is causing the friction and reduces the squeaking noise.

Russ

Cannikin · 06-04-2012, 05:56 PM

My 55 does make a faint squeaking noise whenever the focus motor starts or changes directions. Not loud but definitely noticeable. My 60-250 doesn't make the same sound.

Works fine, and no changes in AF performance after 1.5 years. I wouldn't worry about it.

Julie · 06-04-2012, 06:05 PM

Originally posted by philbaum

Julie,
I think its just your lens talking to you, perhaps saying "Hi, i'm on the job again - just a moment - there, its in focus"

I don't think many if any of the slidiing surfaces in these lenses are lubricated - lubrication collects dust and may gum at the end of the life.

So what we probably have is dry on dry sliding surfaces which may squeak or not depending on a variety of factors. No big deal in my opinion. I agree with you - don't get it fixed unless it stops working, or if it stops traffic on main street

. I've never seen any correlation between squeaks and failure. My 50-135 doesn't squeak either but if it started i probably wouldn't do anything about it. i think these squeaks aren't very loud.

Originally posted by Cannikin

My 55 does make a faint squeaking noise whenever the focus motor starts or changes directions. Not loud but definitely noticeable. My 60-250 doesn't make the same sound.

Works fine, and no changes in AF performance after 1.5 years. I wouldn't worry about it.

Thanks for the reassurance, guys. As long as it works, I'm not complaining.

Julie · 06-04-2012, 06:08 PM

Originally posted by oeriies

My 50-135 squeaks. My 16-50 and 300 do not. It doesn't affect the performance of the 50-135, which is my favorite lens, but it is a little annoying. You might try rotating the screw drive on the back of the lens by putting a small straighthead screwdriver in it and turning it about a quarter of a turn past the resistance point in both directions. Do this with the lens set to manual focus. Do it a dozen or more times. This seems to loosen up whatever is causing the friction and reduces the squeaking noise.

Russ

Thanks for the suggestion Russ, but the 55 doesn't have screw drive, it only has SDM focusing. (50-135 has both SDM and screw drive, I'm assuming the same for 16-50?)

**germar** · 06-05-2012, 08:51 PM

I hate to possibly add bad news, but my DA*16-50 also made this exact noise for about two or three years. During that time I had many instances of the SDM motor needing to be "awakened" by manually rotating the focus ring several turns after mounting, and failed focus attempts on subject with good light/contrast. The lens finally died this last Christmas and required a 200 dollar motor replacement. I am sorry to say this, but I don't think I'd buy or keep another DA * lens that made that squeak. Best of luck with this.

Boris · 06-06-2012, 12:39 AM

Nothing of this sort on my DA* 16-50/2.8... To me personally it sounds a bit odd....

zapp · 06-07-2012, 03:10 AM

Originally posted by Julie

Wish I could but I guess one of the problems with buying used is you don't get warranty.
Everything works fine mechanically and I'm not going to pitch-in another $300 towards getting a squeaky noise fixed ... if SDM ever does fail completely, then I might consider it...

The person selling the lens to you should have mentioned this problem. Even eBay policies would accept a return in this case.

THE LENS DOES NOT WORK FINE MECHANICALLY - it makes funky mechanical sounds. It may explode on your camera one day

. Well, it won't explode, but what would you actually call a mechanical problem... Sounds odd??? Come on guys something is wrong with this lens, it will probably fail in the future, and the sound is perfect for taking images in silent places - it's a feature isn't it.
Have it fixed, wait for it to fail completely or sell it to some other poor person. Maybe the sounds is due to Pentax quality control, maybe it indicates that the previous owner did something really bad to the lens.

06-04-2012, 12:19 PM	#8
philbaum Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Port Townsend, Washington State, USA Posts: 3,659	Julie, I think its just your lens talking to you, perhaps saying "Hi, i'm on the job again - just a moment - there, its in focus" I don't think many if any of the slidiing surfaces in these lenses are lubricated - lubrication collects dust and may gum at the end of the life. So what we probably have is dry on dry sliding surfaces which may squeak or not depending on a variety of factors. No big deal in my opinion. I agree with you - don't get it fixed unless it stops working, or if it stops traffic on main street. I've never seen any correlation between squeaks and failure. My 50-135 doesn't squeak either but if it started i probably wouldn't do anything about it. i think these squeaks aren't very loud.

06-04-2012, 05:56 PM	#10
Cannikin Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: SW Washington Posts: 833	My 55 does make a faint squeaking noise whenever the focus motor starts or changes directions. Not loud but definitely noticeable. My 60-250 doesn't make the same sound. Works fine, and no changes in AF performance after 1.5 years. I wouldn't worry about it. Last edited by Cannikin; 06-04-2012 at 06:01 PM.

06-04-2012, 06:05 PM	#11
Julie Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Illinois Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,069 Original Poster	Originally posted by philbaum Julie, I think its just your lens talking to you, perhaps saying "Hi, i'm on the job again - just a moment - there, its in focus" I don't think many if any of the slidiing surfaces in these lenses are lubricated - lubrication collects dust and may gum at the end of the life. So what we probably have is dry on dry sliding surfaces which may squeak or not depending on a variety of factors. No big deal in my opinion. I agree with you - don't get it fixed unless it stops working, or if it stops traffic on main street. I've never seen any correlation between squeaks and failure. My 50-135 doesn't squeak either but if it started i probably wouldn't do anything about it. i think these squeaks aren't very loud. Originally posted by Cannikin My 55 does make a faint squeaking noise whenever the focus motor starts or changes directions. Not loud but definitely noticeable. My 60-250 doesn't make the same sound. Works fine, and no changes in AF performance after 1.5 years. I wouldn't worry about it. Thanks for the reassurance, guys. As long as it works, I'm not complaining.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
For Sale - Sold: Rokinon 35/1.4 MF, F-50 1.7,Tamron 1.4x SDM , Kenko 2X SDM	manishved	Sold Items	12	06-06-2012 12:42 PM
No more SDM failures? -Pentax smc DA* 50-135mm F2.8 ED (IF) SDM	Taviali	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	12	03-13-2012 10:01 AM
645D, K-m2 and NEW LENSES DA10-16/4 SDM, DA20/2 SDM, DA*28/2 SDM	ogl	Pentax News and Rumors	165	08-11-2010 03:26 AM
DA 17-70mm SDM vs DA* 16-50mm SDM?	shang	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	4	07-02-2010 06:09 AM
Lens offer from Amazon: DA* 50-135 SDM & DA* 16-50 SDM	f8	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	4	03-25-2008 04:45 AM

06-04-2012, 10:36 AM	#2
gtl Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 349	Mine definitely doesn't make such screeching noises. Go get it changed or fixed under warranty if possible?

06-04-2012, 10:41 AM	#3
aurele Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Paris, France Photos: Albums Posts: 3,217	Ouch ! need some grease in the mechanics ! I really suggest you to send it back now. (Mine don't do that sound either.)

06-04-2012, 10:54 AM	#4
blackcloudbrew Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Cotati, California USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,460	No that is not a noise I hear in mine. All I do hear is the very ultra sonic sound when SDM system is working.

06-04-2012, 11:13 AM	#5
Julie Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Illinois Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,069 Original Poster	Originally posted by gtl Mine definitely doesn't make such screeching noises. Go get it changed or fixed under warranty if possible? Originally posted by aurele Ouch ! need some grease in the mechanics ! I really suggest you to send it back now. (Mine don't do that sound either.) Wish I could but I guess one of the problems with buying used is you don't get warranty. Everything works fine mechanically and I'm not going to pitch-in another $300 towards getting a squeaky noise fixed ... if SDM ever does fail completely, then I might consider it...

06-04-2012, 11:14 AM	#6
Julie Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Illinois Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,069 Original Poster	Originally posted by blackcloudbrew No that is not a noise I hear in mine. All I do hear is the very ultra sonic sound when SDM system is working. Yes, that is what I hear with 50-135.

06-04-2012, 11:16 AM	#7
Julie Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Illinois Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,069 Original Poster	I'm going to check the serial # in the database and see if anyone has had problems with the 55 produced around the same time as mine... (whoops, sorry for double post) edit never mind, nothing helpful there- just reports of front/back focus (which mine has- corrected with AF adjustment of +1)

06-04-2012, 01:16 PM	#9
oeriies Inactive Account Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 121	My 50-135 squeaks. My 16-50 and 300 do not. It doesn't affect the performance of the 50-135, which is my favorite lens, but it is a little annoying. You might try rotating the screw drive on the back of the lens by putting a small straighthead screwdriver in it and turning it about a quarter of a turn past the resistance point in both directions. Do this with the lens set to manual focus. Do it a dozen or more times. This seems to loosen up whatever is causing the friction and reduces the squeaking noise. Russ

06-04-2012, 06:08 PM	#12
Julie Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Illinois Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,069 Original Poster	Originally posted by oeriies My 50-135 squeaks. My 16-50 and 300 do not. It doesn't affect the performance of the 50-135, which is my favorite lens, but it is a little annoying. You might try rotating the screw drive on the back of the lens by putting a small straighthead screwdriver in it and turning it about a quarter of a turn past the resistance point in both directions. Do this with the lens set to manual focus. Do it a dozen or more times. This seems to loosen up whatever is causing the friction and reduces the squeaking noise. Russ Thanks for the suggestion Russ, but the 55 doesn't have screw drive, it only has SDM focusing. (50-135 has both SDM and screw drive, I'm assuming the same for 16-50?)

06-05-2012, 08:51 PM	#13
germar Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: North Palm Beach, Florida Photos: Gallery Posts: 728	I hate to possibly add bad news, but my DA16-50 also made this exact noise for about two or three years. During that time I had many instances of the SDM motor needing to be "awakened" by manually rotating the focus ring several turns after mounting, and failed focus attempts on subject with good light/contrast. The lens finally died this last Christmas and required a 200 dollar motor replacement. I am sorry to say this, but I don't think I'd buy or keep another DA lens that made that squeak. Best of luck with this.

06-06-2012, 12:39 AM	#14
Boris Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Israel Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 932	Nothing of this sort on my DA* 16-50/2.8... To me personally it sounds a bit odd....

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

06-07-2012, 03:10 AM	#15
zapp Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 2,385	Originally posted by Julie Wish I could but I guess one of the problems with buying used is you don't get warranty. Everything works fine mechanically and I'm not going to pitch-in another $300 towards getting a squeaky noise fixed ... if SDM ever does fail completely, then I might consider it... The person selling the lens to you should have mentioned this problem. Even eBay policies would accept a return in this case. THE LENS DOES NOT WORK FINE MECHANICALLY - it makes funky mechanical sounds. It may explode on your camera one day . Well, it won't explode, but what would you actually call a mechanical problem... Sounds odd??? Come on guys something is wrong with this lens, it will probably fail in the future, and the sound is perfect for taking images in silent places - it's a feature isn't it. Have it fixed, wait for it to fail completely or sell it to some other poor person. Maybe the sounds is due to Pentax quality control, maybe it indicates that the previous owner did something really bad to the lens.