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01-25-2010, 02:53 PM   #436
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9017075 is fine so far -- about 500 shots on it.

01-28-2010, 07:18 PM   #437
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So far no problems with s/n#9021096. I bought this lens in Hong Kong, Jan,2010, I like this len back to orginal Pentax color tone.
01-30-2010, 10:51 AM   #438
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Burned- DOA

I'm feeling the burn... took a chance and ordered sn# 9028366... SDM failed immediately during initial tests. I thought it was focusing slowly at first, then it quit completely after it's first few shots. Now I'm stuck with the shipping cost to send it back to Adorama ($25). I was looking for something weather-sealed, and great IQ. I guess I'll wait for Pentax to start having some QC before I ignore all the bad press on one of their lenses. I did have some time to take some sample pics to compare to my Sigma 18-50. I went and ordered the Pentax 18-55 WR, and will share all three comparison results when I can. I guess I'm glad it failed now, then after their warranty period. Okay Pentax lets try a 16-50 2.8 weather sealed lens without SDM! You can do it! Admit your mistake and move forward! You won't make any money selling paperweights for cameras!!!! .......end of rant.
02-05-2010, 03:56 PM   #439
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9029024 here still going strong.....had it for about 5 months now. Boy though, does it ever feel like a gamble to own one. Glad I bought it with my mastercard which doubles the warranty to 4 years.

02-27-2010, 12:11 PM   #440
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9028533. Had about a month. Haven't seen any problems yet.
Edit: Failed after 5 months.

Last edited by Clinton; 06-05-2010 at 06:13 PM.
02-27-2010, 08:59 PM   #441
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Looking for advice guys,

I could really use something in the 16~50 range. I'm seriously looking at the DA*16-50/2.8 but this thread scares the hell out of me. Is this lens worth taking a chance on?

Tom G

Last edited by 8540tomg; 02-27-2010 at 09:07 PM. Reason: typo
02-28-2010, 08:22 AM   #442
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QuoteOriginally posted by 8540tomg Quote
Looking for advice guys,

I could really use something in the 16~50 range. I'm seriously looking at the DA*16-50/2.8 but this thread scares the hell out of me. Is this lens worth taking a chance on?

Tom G
We love the one that we purchased. It's great for the times when the DA* 50-135mm just wont work.

I'm a little suspicious that it has something to do with the combination of camera and lens as earlier in the discussion there's someone talking about buying a lens from amazon warehouse deals that someone else had marked as bad (although maybe it went back to pentax for adjustment?)

FWIW ours is mounted on a K-7.

Just make sure and purchase it from somewhere that you can return it to. Worst case, you can always send it to Pentax for repair. We got ours form the amazon warehouse deals for I think $650.

03-01-2010, 12:01 PM   #443
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QuoteOriginally posted by 8540tomg Quote
Looking for advice guys,

I could really use something in the 16~50 range. I'm seriously looking at the DA*16-50/2.8 but this thread scares the hell out of me. Is this lens worth taking a chance on?

Tom G
Yes. Look at the serial number Bayes' theorem results (a few pages back) to make sure what the fourth digit is.

Keep in mind this is a thread for people who actually want to voice issues with the lens. There are still lots of people out there who purchased the lens and have no clue what Pentaxforums.com is.
03-02-2010, 02:09 AM   #444
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This is nonsense...

... we should not have to go to such extremes as tracking serial numbers to find a good lens. When will this stop for goodness sake, when will people say enough is enough? I'm sick of feeling obligated to do a lens test every time I purchase a new one. I'm sick of it. I'm sick of beta testing software that I've paid to utilize fully. I'm sick of people not standing up for themselves en masse. Sheep. Pathetic consumerist sheep. All of us.
03-06-2010, 10:42 PM   #445
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QuoteOriginally posted by MD Optofonik Quote
... we should not have to go to such extremes as tracking serial numbers to find a good lens. When will this stop for goodness sake, when will people say enough is enough? I'm sick of feeling obligated to do a lens test every time I purchase a new one. I'm sick of it. I'm sick of beta testing software that I've paid to utilize fully. I'm sick of people not standing up for themselves en masse. Sheep. Pathetic consumerist sheep. All of us.
You do make a good point. It maybe extreme, but a class action suit may make them take responsibility and admit there is a problem with the SDM. I would want them to do what Microsoft did with the XBox, add a few years warranty to the end of the exisiting warranty.
04-02-2010, 09:25 PM   #446
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I spoke too soon in Feb. SDM is starting to fail. She'll come back with pushing, but looks like she'll be going in for repair shortly. Too bad. SN#9029024.

Man, I love the pics I'm getting out of this thing though.....it's a love hate relationship.....

04-08-2010, 11:19 AM   #447
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just sold mine after 2 months. I couldn't take the thought of paying $900 for something that could fail on me after the warranty period...

...screw that. I couldn't take the thought of it failing PERIOD!
04-23-2010, 09:02 AM   #448
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SDM failure after 18 months

The SDM on my DA*16-50 S/N 9023660 has died, 18 months after getting it back from repair under warranty from Japan - the repair was for a jammed zoom and bad de-centering.

It's a shame, I have loved the performance of this lens after repair - it is my most used lens, and has produced some terrific images.

Strangely, it has failed in a weird way on my K10 - nothing but MF settings on the camera and lens will work with the lens now, AV and TV produce constantly fluctuating settings, and I can't get the menu screen to show up for more than a brief flash at all with the lens mounted.

On my old DS it aperture info transmits fine to the body, and of course it switches to the old in-body AF motor. It's almost as though there has been some freak electrical malfunction between the K10 and the lens, My DA* 50-135 works fine on the K10, although the SDM is so sluggish I expect it to fail before long.

So both lenses will have to go in for repair - the 16-50 for the second time, no longer under warranty, the 50-135 I'd better get in before the warranty expires.

These are otherwise such great lenses - I wonder how many times in its life I will have to get the 16-50 repaired?
04-25-2010, 12:15 AM   #449
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QuoteOriginally posted by pakhead Quote
These are otherwise such great lenses - I wonder how many times in its life I will have to get the 16-50 repaired?
If this keeps up it might only be a couple of more times, before they discontinue the lens and run out of parts
04-26-2010, 04:26 AM   #450
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QuoteOriginally posted by 8540tomg Quote
I could really use something in the 16~50 range. I'm seriously looking at the DA*16-50/2.8 but this thread scares the hell out of me. Is this lens worth taking a chance on?

X2

is there any understanding of the issues via serial numbers?
ive been keeping an eye on this thread, but nothing jumps out. also no idea of the failure rate.

i'd love a 16-50 but need some reassurance
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