[Rondec]

Rob,
Exactly. I would add that if you look at the Zooms apart from the Primes with SDM the picture is clearer that SDM + Zoom = serious design/manufacture problems.

The hard part is that analyzing it, I would be willing to bet that there are significantly higher numbers of 16-50 and 50-135 lenses sold than any of the DA * primes (or the 60-250).

[Docrwm]

The hard part is that analyzing it, I would be willing to bet that there are significantly higher numbers of 16-50 and 50-135 lenses sold than any of the DA * primes (or the 60-250).

I believe that you are right. However, if you do a class analysis SDM vs. DC you see a startling result - 0 vs. 100+ failures. It's not the complexity of the process, remember that the DC came out after Pentax had the chance to analyze all the SDM failures. I think they did a good job - from an engineering standpoint - of fixing the original problem. The real error has been saying that there isn't a design fault with the SDMs.

[Tom S.]

Ah yes in such a way, well sorry that you live in the USA maybe it's time to move?

Move to Europe? No thanks! Members of my family have already been there twice to help stop your World Wars.

[Anvh]

That's many years ago, things have changed you know

[Tom S.]

That's many years ago, things have changed you know

Yeah, now you're working to bail out the "pigs" Portugal, Italy, Ireland, Greece and Spain. Good luck with that Euro thing.

[Docrwm]

Move to Europe? No thanks! Members of my family have already been there twice to help stop your World Wars.

Don't forget stopping the Communists and freeing Eastern Europe with our wrong-headed nuclear and military policies under Reagan too.

[robgo2]

Ur saying they are putting the old type of SDM in the lenses, sounds a bit strange to me.

That is what I was told by someone at Pentax USA. I was stunned to learn that they are replacing a defective mechanism with the the identical mechanism, but that would explain the rash of people who have experienced second and even third SDM failures. One would have hoped that Pentax would perform the repairs using upgraded parts, but perhaps the flaw is in the basic design of the SDM and, thus, is not fixable in a permanent way. If that is, indeed, the case, Pentax would garner buckets of good will by offering a lifetime warranty for any SDM unit that they repair. Oh, wait, that might hurt quarterly profits, which makes it unthinkable, even if it would enlarge the base of loyal customers.

Rob

[robgo2]

Don't forget stopping the Communists and freeing Eastern Europe with our wrong-headed nuclear and military policies under Reagan too.

My how this thread has taken a nasty, jingoistic turn that is beyond "off topic". Let's keep things civil and get back to discussing things that are at least remotely related to photography.

Rob

[Docrwm]

My how this thread has taken a nasty, jingoistic turn that is beyond "off topic". Let's keep things civil and get back to discussing things that are at least remotely related to photography.

Rob

I don't tolerate Anti-Americanism, however vogue or hip it is, from anyone. There is a pattern with some members here of taking shots at the US whenever they can. Also, look for the beginning, please don't quote out of context. Oh, and that is Civil, perhaps not to your taste but it's civil.

[robgo2]

I don't tolerate Anti-Americanism, however vogue or hip it is, from anyone. There is a pattern with some members here of taking shots at the US whenever they can. Also, look for the beginning, please don't quote out of context. Oh, and that is Civil, perhaps not to your taste but it's civil.

My comments were not directed only at you, but at all the snipers in this thread. However, it does seem to me that some people cannot distinguish between good natured kidding and a genuine insult. That's called being overly sensitive. I think that may be how wars sometimes get started.

I will repeat: Let's get back to photography.

Rob

[Docrwm]

My comments were not directed only at you, but at all the snipers in this thread. However, it does seem to me that some people cannot distinguish between good natured kidding and a genuine insult. That's called being over sensitive. I think that may be how wars sometimes get started.

I will repeat: Let's get back to photography.

Rob

Thanks, but you quoted me. Also, my point stands that it was not a reaction to a single post but to a pattern of posts. Genuine insults, and ongoing digs, are not ok -even if only directed at the US.

[twitch]

Ur saying they are putting the old type of SDM in the lenses, sounds a bit strange to me.

There is no new type, there is only the "old" type. I know the post you are refering to when Ben thought he'd received better replacement SDM motor in his lens, however he has since realised they weren't better and that replacement SDM has since failed him again. At the time the whole new SDM thing was merely speculation, there was no hard evidence for it and it has since proven to be a false hope.

We still have the same SDM-POS we always had. We can only hope DC (or better) becomes the standard for any new lenses.

[normhead]

Amazing that Pentax can have two dud lenses with very high failure rates... and still lead the pack, overall in terms of initial quality. Those other camera companies must have some real duds.

I've never been tempted to purchase either the 15-50 or the 50-135... I guess what you guys are saying is don't ever get tempted. What ever the pblem is, and just from this thread it's beginning to dawn on me that perhaps the problem isn't SDM. Perhaps the problem is the mechanics of the 16-50 and 50-135. Sloppy tolerances in the gear train/ clutch etc, could cause a motor failure. TIghtening up a few tolerances in manufacture would possibly fix that. Putting in the same SDM motor you took out wouldn't.

[Docrwm]

Amazing that Pentax can have two dud lenses with very high failure rates... and still lead the pack, overall in terms of initial quality. Those other camera companies must have some real duds.

I've never been tempted to purchase either the 15-50 or the 50-135... I guess what you guys are saying is don't ever get tempted. What ever the pblem is, and just from this thread it's beginning to dawn on me that perhaps the problem isn't SDM. Perhaps the problem is the mechanics of the 16-50 and 50-135. Sloppy tolerances in the gear train/ clutch etc, could cause a motor failure. TIghtening up a few tolerances in manufacture would possibly fix that. Putting in the same SDM motor you took out wouldn't.

It's actually more than 2 dud lenses. Must say something about how bad the others are with their design and QC.

[lytrytyr]

Don't forget stopping the Communists

SDM lenses are assembled in a communist country:

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/vm.html