SDM lenses- are they totally quiet?

gosman · 01-17-2015, 05:46 PM

I have a new Pentax 16-50 2.8 SDM lens. The SDM lenses have a bad history of quality problems. While my new lens focuses fine it does make a slight noise as the glass aligns into focus. So those of you with SDM lenses, is yours totally quite? I can send it back to Adaroma but don't rally want the hassle unless it is necessary. So how quite is quite!

Adam · 01-17-2015, 06:27 PM

Originally posted by gosman

I have a new Pentax 16-50 2.8 SDM lens. The SDM lenses have a bad history of quality problems. While my new lens focuses fine it does make a slight noise as the glass aligns into focus. So those of you with SDM lenses, is yours totally quite? I can send it back to Adaroma but don't rally want the hassle unless it is necessary. So how quite is quite!

This sounds normal. DC is a little quieter but both systems are hard to hear unless you're really close to the lens.

Venom3300 · 01-17-2015, 06:41 PM

My Da* 300 has a slight squeak to it. According to photozone it depends on the copy.

wibbly · 01-17-2015, 07:06 PM

SDM lenses are absolutely dead quiet....

Because most of the time they don't work! Bazinga!

Jk, there is certainly some mechanical noise. Things are moving remember.

Driline · 01-17-2015, 08:19 PM

Both my 16-50 and 50-135 are very quiet. No squeak. No noise.

gosman · 01-17-2015, 10:00 PM

You seem to be the only one with a dead quite SDM lens Driline. Please everyone check theirs and join in on the survey.

exnito · 01-18-2015, 12:01 AM

My DA*300 had the same sqeaking sound and i send it back to stock.
They had to replace something, because now it is quiet while focusing.

gosman · 01-18-2015, 12:06 AM

Exnito- how quite is quite? When you focus, can you hear the glass moving?

Brooke Meyer · 01-18-2015, 12:11 AM

50-135 in a dead silent room, I can barely hear it move. 17-70, silent.

exnito · 01-18-2015, 12:28 AM

Originally posted by gosman

Exnito- how quite is quite? When you focus, can you hear the glass moving?

Don't worry. You will hear a silent voice of glass moving.
But my first experience with this lens was that it was very loud. The squeak was so loud my wife had hear it from 2m away.
But after the service it's o.k.

---------- Post added 01-18-15 at 10:05 AM ----------

Vocaroo | Voice message

This was the sound when I send it to service. Now it's much more quieter

DeadJohn · 01-18-2015, 01:17 AM

There's a high frequency but low volume sound from my 16-50. I only hear it in quiet surroundings.

**jbinpg** · 01-18-2015, 02:48 AM

My DA*300 is quite whisper quiet. Has never disturbed any animals within its focusing range.

JohnX · 01-18-2015, 03:06 AM

Of course there's noise. Something is moving!

How loud is subjective.

Don't forget you're holding the camera/lens combo to your face. That being the case it'll be much louder to you than to an observer some feet/yards away.

The SDM lenses DO NOT have a history of 'quality problems' . Some early versions of the 50-135 and 16-50 had SDM failures. Other marques also had SDM-equivalent failures so this was/is not Pentax specific, and is not a QC issue. It was a design issue, however.

I have an early 50-135 which continues to perform flawlessly. Either I'm very lucky and/or it's due to my fortnightly habit of 'exercising' all my kit whether or not it's been used in the intervening period.

One relatively common comment amongst those reporting SDM failures was it happened after a period of non-use.

Looking at the issue logically, anything that is as mechanically complex as a SDM lens is likely to suffer problems over time if not used as lubricants in gear chains, etc, will thicken, so when they are used extra strain is put on the motor as it has to overcome ' stiction'.

As is said about a variety of things, 'use it, or lose it'.

RMabo · 01-18-2015, 04:20 AM

My DA 17-70 f/4 SDM is near silent. Not totally silent, there is a slight very slight low volume high frequency sound when the lens turns into focus. It is hardly noticeable. And I have had no quality problems with this lens. I'm happy with my copy. Good colours, nice feel, although a bit large and heavy on a small body... but images are nice.

**WPRESTO** · 01-18-2015, 07:12 AM

Whenever one of my SDM focuses, there is a faint sound like "your technique isn't up to my standards."

01-17-2015, 05:46 PM	#1
gosman Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Texas Posts: 263	SDM lenses- are they totally quiet? I have a new Pentax 16-50 2.8 SDM lens. The SDM lenses have a bad history of quality problems. While my new lens focuses fine it does make a slight noise as the glass aligns into focus. So those of you with SDM lenses, is yours totally quite? I can send it back to Adaroma but don't rally want the hassle unless it is necessary. So how quite is quite!

01-17-2015, 06:27 PM	#2
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 51,595	Originally posted by gosman I have a new Pentax 16-50 2.8 SDM lens. The SDM lenses have a bad history of quality problems. While my new lens focuses fine it does make a slight noise as the glass aligns into focus. So those of you with SDM lenses, is yours totally quite? I can send it back to Adaroma but don't rally want the hassle unless it is necessary. So how quite is quite! This sounds normal. DC is a little quieter but both systems are hard to hear unless you're really close to the lens. Adam PentaxForums.com Webmaster (Site Usage Guide \| Site Help \| My Photography) PentaxForums.com server and development costs are user-supported. You can help cover these costs by donating or purchasing one of our Pentax eBooks. Or, buy your photo gear from our affiliates, Adorama, B&H Photo, KEH, or Topaz Labs, and get FREE Marketplace access - click here to see how! Trusted Pentax retailers:

01-18-2015, 03:06 AM	#13
JohnX Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: London Posts: 1,116	Of course there's noise. Something is moving! How loud is subjective. Don't forget you're holding the camera/lens combo to your face. That being the case it'll be much louder to you than to an observer some feet/yards away. The SDM lenses DO NOT have a history of 'quality problems' . Some early versions of the 50-135 and 16-50 had SDM failures. Other marques also had SDM-equivalent failures so this was/is not Pentax specific, and is not a QC issue. It was a design issue, however. I have an early 50-135 which continues to perform flawlessly. Either I'm very lucky and/or it's due to my fortnightly habit of 'exercising' all my kit whether or not it's been used in the intervening period. One relatively common comment amongst those reporting SDM failures was it happened after a period of non-use. Looking at the issue logically, anything that is as mechanically complex as a SDM lens is likely to suffer problems over time if not used as lubricants in gear chains, etc, will thicken, so when they are used extra strain is put on the motor as it has to overcome ' stiction'. As is said about a variety of things, 'use it, or lose it'. Last edited by JohnX; 01-18-2015 at 04:18 AM.

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01-17-2015, 06:41 PM	#3
Venom3300 Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 714	My Da* 300 has a slight squeak to it. According to photozone it depends on the copy.

01-17-2015, 07:06 PM	#4
wibbly Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Edmonton Posts: 600	SDM lenses are absolutely dead quiet.... Because most of the time they don't work! Bazinga! Jk, there is certainly some mechanical noise. Things are moving remember.

01-17-2015, 08:19 PM	#5
Driline Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: IOWA Where the Tall Corn Grows Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,697	Both my 16-50 and 50-135 are very quiet. No squeak. No noise.

01-17-2015, 10:00 PM	#6
gosman Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Texas Posts: 263 Original Poster	You seem to be the only one with a dead quite SDM lens Driline. Please everyone check theirs and join in on the survey.

01-18-2015, 12:01 AM	#7
exnito Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Martin Posts: 53	My DA*300 had the same sqeaking sound and i send it back to stock. They had to replace something, because now it is quiet while focusing.

01-18-2015, 12:06 AM	#8
gosman Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Texas Posts: 263 Original Poster	Exnito- how quite is quite? When you focus, can you hear the glass moving?

01-18-2015, 12:11 AM	#9
Brooke Meyer Guest	50-135 in a dead silent room, I can barely hear it move. 17-70, silent.

01-18-2015, 12:28 AM	#10
exnito Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Martin Posts: 53	Originally posted by gosman Exnito- how quite is quite? When you focus, can you hear the glass moving? Don't worry. You will hear a silent voice of glass moving. But my first experience with this lens was that it was very loud. The squeak was so loud my wife had hear it from 2m away. But after the service it's o.k. ---------- Post added 01-18-15 at 10:05 AM ---------- Vocaroo \| Voice message This was the sound when I send it to service. Now it's much more quieter

01-18-2015, 01:17 AM	#11
DeadJohn Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: New York Posts: 4,833	There's a high frequency but low volume sound from my 16-50. I only hear it in quiet surroundings.

01-18-2015, 02:48 AM	#12
jbinpg Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Prince George, BC Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,546	My DA*300 is quite whisper quiet. Has never disturbed any animals within its focusing range.

01-18-2015, 04:20 AM	#14
RMabo Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Sweden Posts: 845	My DA 17-70 f/4 SDM is near silent. Not totally silent, there is a slight very slight low volume high frequency sound when the lens turns into focus. It is hardly noticeable. And I have had no quality problems with this lens. I'm happy with my copy. Good colours, nice feel, although a bit large and heavy on a small body... but images are nice.

01-18-2015, 07:12 AM	#15
WPRESTO Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Massachusetts Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 59,104	Whenever one of my SDM focuses, there is a faint sound like "your technique isn't up to my standards."