Forgot Password
Pentax Camera Forums Home
 

View Poll Results: What would you do if you experience a SDM failure of a $800+ lens?
I have experienced it, still with Pentax 1633.33%
I have experienced it, left Pentax 24.17%
I will stay with Pentax 1429.17%
I do not know what I would do 1327.08%
I left Pentax because of fear in SDM failure 36.25%
Voters: 48. You may not vote on this poll

Reply
Show Printable Version Search this Thread
08-01-2012, 07:20 PM   #1
Veteran Member
LeDave's Avatar

Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Minneapolis - St. Paul
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 3,067
What would you do if you experience a SDM failure of a $800+ lens?

I know that the options for I have experienced it, left Pentax and I left Pentax because of fear in SDM failure is certain to be inaccurate due to the fact that members have left before they could vote on the poll.

I forgot the option, I will leave Pentax. So if you want to click that option, just kindly check I left Pentax because of fear of SDM failure.


Last edited by LeDave; 08-02-2012 at 10:38 AM.
08-01-2012, 07:34 PM - 1 Like   #2
Loyal Site Supporter
Loyal Site Supporter




Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Tumbleweed, Arizona
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 5,700
I have eliminated the potential of the failure, by not acquiring any SMD lenses.

08-01-2012, 07:47 PM   #3
Pentaxian
SpecialK's Avatar

Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: So California
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 16,479
I'm in a funny spot not liking SDM in theory (based on other people's complaints), however, my Sigma 150-500 has the equivalent HSM, and in fact the serial number is in the range that Sigma mentioned may have a possible focusing (or lack of it) problem. Fortunately, I have not experienced an issue, and it came with a 6-year (I think) warranty.
08-01-2012, 08:05 PM   #4
Veteran Member
Docrwm's Avatar

Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Somewhere in the Southern US
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 12,285
QuoteOriginally posted by interested_observer Quote
I have eliminated the potential of the failure, by not acquiring any SMD lenses.

Ditto here. Just have the DC 18-135 with its 0 failure rate

08-01-2012, 09:41 PM   #5
hcc
Pentaxian
hcc's Avatar

Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 3,999
QuoteOriginally posted by interested_observer Quote
I have eliminated the potential of the failure, by not acquiring any SMD lenses.
+1
It is a pity that the option could not be added to the poll. It would have been interesting IMHO.
08-01-2012, 09:56 PM   #6
Veteran Member
wlachan's Avatar

Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Canada
Photos: Albums
Posts: 2,625
I would fill it with mysterious white powder then ship it back to their Japan headquarter as special gift, if I would ever buy my first SDM. Any donor?
08-01-2012, 11:21 PM   #7
Pentaxian




Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Palo Alto, CA
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 2,497
QuoteOriginally posted by interested_observer Quote
I have eliminated the potential of the failure, by not acquiring any SMD lenses.

+1, bitten once, I will never purchase SDM glass again

08-02-2012, 02:11 AM   #8
PEG Moderator
Loyal Site Supporter
Kerrowdown's Avatar

Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 57,760
QuoteOriginally posted by interested_observer Quote
I have eliminated the potential of the failure, by not acquiring any SMD lenses.
+1, I knew there was a reason for me being still manual only
08-02-2012, 05:39 AM   #9
Veteran Member
Tom S.'s Avatar

Join Date: May 2008
Location: S.E. Michigan
Photos: Albums
Posts: 4,317
I have experienced it. The out come is until it is shown the problem no longer exists or Pentax offers an extended warranty to cover it, I won't buy any more SDM lenses. Using it as an excuse to jump ship seems a bit extreme to me though.
08-02-2012, 06:11 AM   #10
Loyal Site Supporter
Loyal Site Supporter




Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Gladys, Virginia
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 27,606
At this point I am pretty invested in Pentax, I own several (three) SDM lenses and if they broke, I would definitely just go ahead and fix them. I do hope that eventually Pentax releases DA * lenses with a better drive system, but for the time being, the optics are worth it to me and I would go ahead and get them fixed.

The DA *16-50 is the weakest one, but it is also one that is sort of the best range (and I have a six year Mack Warranty on it), so I wouldn't have any choice but to get it fixed.
08-02-2012, 06:14 AM   #11
Pentaxian




Join Date: Nov 2011
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 4,309
QuoteOriginally posted by hcc Quote
It is a pity that the option could not be added to the poll.
+1.

Without the option "Stay with Pentax, but avoid their SDM lenses,"
it's hard to enter the poll and not skew the results.
08-02-2012, 06:17 AM   #12
Pentaxian
normhead's Avatar

Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Near Algonquin Park
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 40,442
Another baseless SDM bashing thread.... a concept for you people. Buy only from dealers that offer extended warranties, and look at it as part of the purchase price of the lens. If that makes the lens too expensive, then move to another manufacturer that offers better warranties for less money. Or get Tamrons or other lenses that have better warranties.

SDM as an excuse for changing systems is just silly. People who are interested in changing systems can find better reasons than SDM, especially since there are so many non-SDM pentax lenses available.

SO what would you do if you experienced a motor failure on a Canon or Nikon system, would you then switch to Pentax? If that's the case, because of Pentax's small market share there would be a lot more people switching from Canon and Nikon than going the other way.

Oh , and I own an SDM lens and have never experienced a failure.. where's my check box? Oh ya, this isn't designed to be anything but a Canikon supporting Pentax bashing thread.
08-02-2012, 08:11 AM   #13
Loyal Site Supporter
Loyal Site Supporter




Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Tumbleweed, Arizona
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 5,700
Hi Norm, What I said was simple, I eliminated the source of the failure by not purchasing the product. I really do not need f2.8 and screwdrive is just fine for me. The fewer sources of failure, the better. The purpose of lenses is the collection and focusing of the light. I also purchase few if any warranties with any products I acquire. They should last. Pentax tossed in the 2 year extended warranty with my K20 and for the $20 its a wonderful deal - which I took advantage of for my K5. If Pentax would offer the same coverage for lenses - I probably would participate if I had the need to purchased the lens.

One of the primary reasons I continued with Pentax into digital, was the in-body stabilization (I still have my Spotmatic from 1970). Keeps the lenses' design much simpler. I can't see having stabilization and focusing circuity/motors within a lens - that is putting way too much additional capability into a lens that is guaranteed to fail some place down the line. 5, 10, 15 years in the future, will parts still be available? I don't know. Lenses tend to be forever, so keeping them as simple and straight forward as possible, just helps to ensure that.

Pentax needs to continue to keep the screwdrive capability within their body designs. So far its been a very dependable system. Others have removed screwdrive from their entry level models, forcing you to either all manual or buying motor driven auto focus lenses. That has the same results of lack of choice.

Don't need it , don't want it, so I didn't get it....

08-02-2012, 08:18 AM   #14
Loyal Site Supporter
Loyal Site Supporter




Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Gladys, Virginia
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 27,606
QuoteOriginally posted by normhead Quote
Another baseless SDM bashing thread.... a concept for you people. Buy only from dealers that offer extended warranties, and look at it as part of the purchase price of the lens. If that makes the lens too expensive, then move to another manufacturer that offers better warranties for less money. Or get Tamrons or other lenses that have better warranties.

SDM as an excuse for changing systems is just silly. People who are interested in changing systems can find better reasons than SDM, especially since there are so many non-SDM pentax lenses available.

SO what would you do if you experienced a motor failure on a Canon or Nikon system, would you then switch to Pentax? If that's the case, because of Pentax's small market share there would be a lot more people switching from Canon and Nikon than going the other way.

Oh , and I own an SDM lens and have never experienced a failure.. where's my check box? Oh ya, this isn't designed to be anything but a Canikon supporting Pentax bashing thread.
The interesting thing is that Canon/Nikon lenses have an additional complexity, which is that they have VR/IS in many of their lenses. I know several individuals who have had to send their lenses in for repair due to VR/IS problems. The more bells and whistles on a lens, the more likely that something will fail. That said, I don't think lens motor or VR problems would be a reason to change to a different company, unless there were other areas where you were dissatisfied with your equipment.
08-02-2012, 10:37 AM   #15
Veteran Member
LeDave's Avatar

Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Minneapolis - St. Paul
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 3,067
Original Poster
I forgot the option I will leave Pentax, wow what a fail.
Reply

Bookmarks
  • Submit Thread to Facebook Facebook
  • Submit Thread to Twitter Twitter
  • Submit Thread to Digg Digg
Tags - Make this thread easier to find by adding keywords to it!
failure, fear, k-mount, option, pentax, pentax lens, sdm, sdm failure, slr lens
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
SDM failure, camrea or lens? Thomas Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 2 10-10-2010 07:32 AM
SDM Lens Failure stevebrot Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 79 07-10-2010 05:02 PM
Second SDM failure for DA*16-50mm lens candgpics Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 19 07-07-2010 04:16 AM



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 05:07 AM. | See also: NikonForums.com, CanonForums.com part of our network of photo forums!
  • Red (Default)
  • Green
  • Gray
  • Dark
  • Dark Yellow
  • Dark Blue
  • Old Red
  • Old Green
  • Old Gray
  • Dial-Up Style
Hello! It's great to see you back on the forum! Have you considered joining the community?
register
Creating a FREE ACCOUNT takes under a minute, removes ads, and lets you post! [Dismiss]
Top