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eddy16112 · 08-01-2012, 11:30 AM

I did not use this lens for couple of months and when I use it yesterday, I found it was not auto focusing.

I tried to replace new batteries for my K200D, but the SDM still failure. If I sent the lens back to Pentax, usually, how much will they cost to repair the SDM? I see a lot of SDM failure in the forum, I am afraid it will failure again after repair.

LeDave · 08-01-2012, 12:39 PM

Be patient, someone will reply

Anvh · 08-01-2012, 02:06 PM

Actually be patient might be an answer, i've heard stories about the SDM locking up after a time not using sometimes they start to come alive again.

I would suggest manual focus the lens a couple of times to free the sealing a bit, making it run slightly smoother and keep trying.
Throw in some lithium batteries, the slightly higher voltage might give it a kick start.

You can open up the back of the lens and access the motor if you feel daring...

Franky2step · 08-01-2012, 02:29 PM

Originally posted by Anvh

Actually be patient might be an answer, i've heard stories about the SDM locking up after a time not using sometimes they start to come alive again.

I would suggest manual focus the lens a couple of times to free the sealing a bit, making it run slightly smoother and keep trying.
Throw in some lithium batteries, the slightly higher voltage might give it a kick start.

You can open up the back of the lens and access the motor if you feel daring...

Happened once to my 60-250, manually focused a couple times, been fine ever since.

eddy16112 · 08-01-2012, 03:10 PM

Originally posted by Anvh

Actually be patient might be an answer, i've heard stories about the SDM locking up after a time not using sometimes they start to come alive again.

I would suggest manual focus the lens a couple of times to free the sealing a bit, making it run slightly smoother and keep trying.
Throw in some lithium batteries, the slightly higher voltage might give it a kick start.

You can open up the back of the lens and access the motor if you feel daring...

Thanks, actually the SDM failed before, I replaced my K200D with new batteries and after several mins charging, the lens could recover, but this time, I let the lens charging for a while day, and it's still dead, so I am thinking the SDM totally dead this time.

**blackcloudbrew** · 08-01-2012, 03:13 PM

One silly trick is to put the lens on a AF film camera and focus with it. That supposed to move the screw drive in the lens and 'may' resolve the issue.

Anvh · 08-01-2012, 04:01 PM

Originally posted by eddy16112

Thanks, actually the SDM failed before, I replaced my K200D with new batteries and after several mins charging, the lens could recover, but this time, I let the lens charging for a while day, and it's still dead, so I am thinking the SDM totally dead this time.

You dont charge anything in the lens the motor inside the lens is directly driven by the camera so that doesnt work.
Normal batteries give you 1,5 volt each and rechargable give you 1,2 volt, lithium give you 1,7 volt and that boost might give it the oophf it need.

Anvh · 08-01-2012, 04:04 PM

Originally posted by blackcloudbrew

One silly trick is to put the lens on a AF film camera and focus with it. That supposed to move the screw drive in the lens and 'may' resolve the issue.

Doesnt work.
There is a clutch inside the AF mechanisms so if you turn for example the focus ring you don't turn the screw-drive or the SDM motor and it work other way around as well. Would be very bad if you use the SDM that it would turn the motor inside the camera as well.

liukaitc · 08-01-2012, 05:47 PM

I paid 300 bucks for repair my 16-50
but mine seems not only for SDM repair

this is the service they did
clean and repair sand/grit type substance
replace SDM auto focus motor
replace main circuit
repair and adjust electrical circuit
replace misc. electrical parts
general cleaning and lubrication
check and adjust all function to specifications
re-estimate: need to replace main PCB as well

**G_Money** · 08-01-2012, 05:59 PM

I paid $300 to fix the SDM on my DA*60-250. That's what Pentax Canada quoted me for a repair, but they ended up replacing the lens with a newer one.

**Fontan** · 08-01-2012, 06:55 PM - **1 Like**

My 50-135's SDM got busted and I never bothered to fix it. I just use it as manual focus only because I like the optics so much. I ain't gonna give another penny to Pentax over this. They can kiss my

bossa · 08-01-2012, 07:02 PM

My 50-135 is at the CR Kennedy (Pentax Australian distributor) getting SDM repaired as we speak. Lucky for me the lens had 5 weeks remaining on warranty. I'm not sure if I'll sell or keep it when it returns.

LeDave · 08-01-2012, 07:03 PM

Originally posted by bossa

My 50-135 is at the CR Kennedy (Pentax Australian distributor) getting SDM repaired as we speak. Lucky for me the lens had 5 weeks remaining on warranty. I'm not sure if I'll sell or keep it when it returns.

Doesn't Pentax give another 6 month warranty after the repair? Or do they not do that and I heard it wrong?

liukaitc · 08-01-2012, 07:11 PM

Originally posted by LeDave

Doesn't Pentax give another 6 month warranty after the repair? Or do they not do that and I heard it wrong?

mine only got 90 days after repair.

LeDave · 08-01-2012, 07:13 PM

Originally posted by liukaitc

mine only got 90 days after repair.

Ah man that sucks big time. So discouraging for my DA* 50-135 though I love it to death.

08-01-2012, 11:30 AM	#1
eddy16112 New Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 10	*DA50-135 SDM failure, how much to repair?** I did not use this lens for couple of months and when I use it yesterday, I found it was not auto focusing. I tried to replace new batteries for my K200D, but the SDM still failure. If I sent the lens back to Pentax, usually, how much will they cost to repair the SDM? I see a lot of SDM failure in the forum, I am afraid it will failure again after repair.

08-01-2012, 02:29 PM	#4
Franky2step Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Niagara Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 793	50-135 SDM failure Originally posted by Anvh Actually be patient might be an answer, i've heard stories about the SDM locking up after a time not using sometimes they start to come alive again. I would suggest manual focus the lens a couple of times to free the sealing a bit, making it run slightly smoother and keep trying. Throw in some lithium batteries, the slightly higher voltage might give it a kick start. You can open up the back of the lens and access the motor if you feel daring... Happened once to my 60-250, manually focused a couple times, been fine ever since.

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08-01-2012, 12:39 PM	#2
LeDave Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Minneapolis - St. Paul Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,067	Be patient, someone will reply

08-01-2012, 02:06 PM	#3
Anvh Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 4,616	Actually be patient might be an answer, i've heard stories about the SDM locking up after a time not using sometimes they start to come alive again. I would suggest manual focus the lens a couple of times to free the sealing a bit, making it run slightly smoother and keep trying. Throw in some lithium batteries, the slightly higher voltage might give it a kick start. You can open up the back of the lens and access the motor if you feel daring...

08-01-2012, 03:10 PM	#5
eddy16112 New Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 10 Original Poster	Originally posted by Anvh Actually be patient might be an answer, i've heard stories about the SDM locking up after a time not using sometimes they start to come alive again. I would suggest manual focus the lens a couple of times to free the sealing a bit, making it run slightly smoother and keep trying. Throw in some lithium batteries, the slightly higher voltage might give it a kick start. You can open up the back of the lens and access the motor if you feel daring... Thanks, actually the SDM failed before, I replaced my K200D with new batteries and after several mins charging, the lens could recover, but this time, I let the lens charging for a while day, and it's still dead, so I am thinking the SDM totally dead this time.

08-01-2012, 03:13 PM	#6
blackcloudbrew Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Cotati, California USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,461	One silly trick is to put the lens on a AF film camera and focus with it. That supposed to move the screw drive in the lens and 'may' resolve the issue.

08-01-2012, 04:01 PM	#7
Anvh Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 4,616	Originally posted by eddy16112 Thanks, actually the SDM failed before, I replaced my K200D with new batteries and after several mins charging, the lens could recover, but this time, I let the lens charging for a while day, and it's still dead, so I am thinking the SDM totally dead this time. You dont charge anything in the lens the motor inside the lens is directly driven by the camera so that doesnt work. Normal batteries give you 1,5 volt each and rechargable give you 1,2 volt, lithium give you 1,7 volt and that boost might give it the oophf it need.

08-01-2012, 04:04 PM	#8
Anvh Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 4,616	Originally posted by blackcloudbrew One silly trick is to put the lens on a AF film camera and focus with it. That supposed to move the screw drive in the lens and 'may' resolve the issue. Doesnt work. There is a clutch inside the AF mechanisms so if you turn for example the focus ring you don't turn the screw-drive or the SDM motor and it work other way around as well. Would be very bad if you use the SDM that it would turn the motor inside the camera as well.

08-01-2012, 05:47 PM	#9
liukaitc Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: New York Photos: Albums Posts: 1,008	I paid 300 bucks for repair my 16-50 but mine seems not only for SDM repair this is the service they did clean and repair sand/grit type substance replace SDM auto focus motor replace main circuit repair and adjust electrical circuit replace misc. electrical parts general cleaning and lubrication check and adjust all function to specifications re-estimate: need to replace main PCB as well

08-01-2012, 05:59 PM	#10
G_Money Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: London, Ontario, Canada Posts: 598	I paid $300 to fix the SDM on my DA*60-250. That's what Pentax Canada quoted me for a repair, but they ended up replacing the lens with a newer one.

08-01-2012, 06:55 PM - 1 Like	#11
Fontan Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: 5th floor Posts: 1,610	My 50-135's SDM got busted and I never bothered to fix it. I just use it as manual focus only because I like the optics so much. I ain't gonna give another penny to Pentax over this. They can kiss my

08-01-2012, 07:02 PM	#12
bossa Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Adelaide Posts: 4,546	My 50-135 is at the CR Kennedy (Pentax Australian distributor) getting SDM repaired as we speak. Lucky for me the lens had 5 weeks remaining on warranty. I'm not sure if I'll sell or keep it when it returns.

08-01-2012, 07:03 PM	#13
LeDave Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Minneapolis - St. Paul Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,067	Originally posted by bossa My 50-135 is at the CR Kennedy (Pentax Australian distributor) getting SDM repaired as we speak. Lucky for me the lens had 5 weeks remaining on warranty. I'm not sure if I'll sell or keep it when it returns. Doesn't Pentax give another 6 month warranty after the repair? Or do they not do that and I heard it wrong?

08-01-2012, 07:11 PM	#14
liukaitc Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: New York Photos: Albums Posts: 1,008	Originally posted by LeDave Doesn't Pentax give another 6 month warranty after the repair? Or do they not do that and I heard it wrong? mine only got 90 days after repair.

08-01-2012, 07:13 PM	#15
LeDave Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Minneapolis - St. Paul Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,067	Originally posted by liukaitc mine only got 90 days after repair. Ah man that sucks big time. So discouraging for my DA* 50-135 though I love it to death.

DA*50-135 SDM failure, how much to repair?

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