Is the 17-70 SDM only?

jake123 · 04-19-2008, 07:35 PM

Is the 17-70 SDM only?

Also, to what magnification can it focus to(if anyone knows)?

Thanks.

I live in Canada, and I have the priviledge of cheap prodigital prices... so I am looking forward to the lens on my K100D.

drabina · 04-19-2008, 08:02 PM

Are you asking about the Pentax version that hasn't been released yet or about the Sigma version?

jake123 · 04-19-2008, 08:21 PM

Pentax, of course.

k100d · 04-19-2008, 09:34 PM

no one is sure, but in the News and Rumours section, there's a thread with some samples and initial indications are that it may be SDM only

frank · 04-19-2008, 11:18 PM

Some of my friends (long time Pentax users） have used this lens (preproduction?), and they confirmed it's SDM only

The pins for screw driven AF are not even on the lens mount ...

axl · 04-20-2008, 02:10 AM

Originally posted by frank

Some of my friends (long time Pentax users） have used this lens (preproduction?), and they confirmed it's SDM only

The pins for screw driven AF are not even on the lens mount ...

I wanted to wait for that lens to come out and consider it as my walkaround lens, but with SDM only, I think it's out of the list, at least until I get body with SDM

shame...

heatherslightbox · 04-20-2008, 05:08 AM

In the meantime, you can always pick up the Sigma version. Never mind that it has variable aperture--it produces excellent pics.

Heather

LDB · 04-20-2008, 07:47 AM

What does SDM mean?

thear · 04-20-2008, 08:14 AM

Pentax SDM = Sonic Drive Motor

Sigma HSM = Hyper Sonic Motor

SDM/HSM provides faster and quieter auto focus than screw.

k100d · 04-20-2008, 08:44 AM

Originally posted by frank

Some of my friends (long time Pentax users） have used this lens (preproduction?), and they confirmed it's SDM only

The pins for screw driven AF are not even on the lens mount ...

... hopefully Pentax doesn't phase out the screwdriver drive

selfnoise · 04-20-2008, 09:12 AM

It's unfortunate but thankfully you can still get the 16-45 (at pretty good prices) as well as several good third-party zooms. I think it's foolish of Pentax to release an essentially consumer-grade lens without the body-driven focus when they don't even know how well/quickly the K200D will sell.

jake123 · 04-20-2008, 09:13 AM

That will be dissappointing if its SDM only...

The Sigma version is Sigma... not that it is bad, just that it is always better to have a green ring...

I don't need it now, so I can still wait and see.

Bart · 04-20-2008, 11:10 AM

Isn't this what the "Rear converter for SDM" on the Roadmap is for?
So you could use SDM-only lenses on a non-SDM body?

jake123 · 04-20-2008, 08:16 PM

Originally posted by Bart

Isn't this what the "Rear converter for SDM" on the Roadmap is for?
So you could use SDM-only lenses on a non-SDM body?

I fink it is a teleconverter.

LDB · 04-20-2008, 09:12 PM

Originally posted by thear

Pentax SDM = Sonic Drive Motor
Sigma HSM = Hyper Sonic Motor
SDM/HSM provides faster and quieter auto focus than screw.

Originally posted by k100d

... hopefully Pentax doesn't phase out the screwdriver drive

Originally posted by jake123

That will be dissappointing if its SDM only...

OK, so the first reply sounds like SDM is a good thing, the second like maybe it's not the best and the third like it's a bad thing. Can someone expand on SDM or suggest something to read on it? Thanks.

04-19-2008, 07:35 PM	#1
jake123 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada Posts: 130	Is the 17-70 SDM only? Is the 17-70 SDM only? Also, to what magnification can it focus to(if anyone knows)? Thanks. I live in Canada, and I have the priviledge of cheap prodigital prices... so I am looking forward to the lens on my K100D.

04-20-2008, 02:10 AM	#6
axl Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Nove Zamky, Slovakia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,183	:( Originally posted by frank Some of my friends (long time Pentax users） have used this lens (preproduction?), and they confirmed it's SDM only The pins for screw driven AF are not even on the lens mount ... I wanted to wait for that lens to come out and consider it as my walkaround lens, but with SDM only, I think it's out of the list, at least until I get body with SDM shame...

04-20-2008, 08:14 AM	#9
thear Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 83	Pentax SDM = Sonic Drive Motor Sigma HSM = Hyper Sonic Motor SDM/HSM provides faster and quieter auto focus than screw. Last edited by thear; 04-20-2008 at 06:40 PM.

04-20-2008, 11:10 AM	#13
Bart Pentaxian Join Date: May 2007 Location: WW community of Pentax users Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,646	SDM only Isn't this what the "Rear converter for SDM" on the Roadmap is for? So you could use SDM-only lenses on a non-SDM body?

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04-19-2008, 08:02 PM	#2
drabina Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: NJ Posts: 525	Are you asking about the Pentax version that hasn't been released yet or about the Sigma version?

04-19-2008, 08:21 PM	#3
jake123 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada Posts: 130 Original Poster	Pentax, of course.

04-19-2008, 09:34 PM	#4
k100d Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Toronto Posts: 3,911	no one is sure, but in the News and Rumours section, there's a thread with some samples and initial indications are that it may be SDM only

04-19-2008, 11:18 PM	#5
frank Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Singapore Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,202	Some of my friends (long time Pentax users） have used this lens (preproduction?), and they confirmed it's SDM only The pins for screw driven AF are not even on the lens mount ...

04-20-2008, 05:08 AM	#7
heatherslightbox Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Gainesville, FL Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,599	In the meantime, you can always pick up the Sigma version. Never mind that it has variable aperture--it produces excellent pics. Heather

04-20-2008, 07:47 AM	#8
LDB Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 63	What does SDM mean?

04-20-2008, 08:44 AM	#10
k100d Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Toronto Posts: 3,911	Originally posted by frank Some of my friends (long time Pentax users） have used this lens (preproduction?), and they confirmed it's SDM only The pins for screw driven AF are not even on the lens mount ... ... hopefully Pentax doesn't phase out the screwdriver drive

04-20-2008, 09:12 AM	#11
selfnoise Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Westbrook, ME, USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 288	It's unfortunate but thankfully you can still get the 16-45 (at pretty good prices) as well as several good third-party zooms. I think it's foolish of Pentax to release an essentially consumer-grade lens without the body-driven focus when they don't even know how well/quickly the K200D will sell.

04-20-2008, 09:13 AM	#12
jake123 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada Posts: 130 Original Poster	That will be dissappointing if its SDM only... The Sigma version is Sigma... not that it is bad, just that it is always better to have a green ring... I don't need it now, so I can still wait and see.

04-20-2008, 08:16 PM	#14
jake123 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada Posts: 130 Original Poster	Originally posted by Bart Isn't this what the "Rear converter for SDM" on the Roadmap is for? So you could use SDM-only lenses on a non-SDM body? I fink it is a teleconverter.

04-20-2008, 09:12 PM	#15
LDB Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 63	Originally posted by thear Pentax SDM = Sonic Drive Motor Sigma HSM = Hyper Sonic Motor SDM/HSM provides faster and quieter auto focus than screw. Originally posted by k100d ... hopefully Pentax doesn't phase out the screwdriver drive Originally posted by jake123 That will be dissappointing if its SDM only... OK, so the first reply sounds like SDM is a good thing, the second like maybe it's not the best and the third like it's a bad thing. Can someone expand on SDM or suggest something to read on it? Thanks.