Autofocus motor problems for DA* 16-50

**miltona580** · 06-08-2016, 09:24 AM

I'm having issues getting my lens to autofocus on my K3. No other lens has issues. Has the repair place gotten better? I know a few years ago when it moved away from CRIS people were having lots of issues. Unfortunately, I don't think I can wait anymore. It's gone from sometimes failing to usually failing.

**jatrax** · 06-08-2016, 09:54 AM

Good luck.
Reports are mixed, some quick, some nothing fixed.
If not under warranty you could also check with KEH.

**miltona580** · 06-08-2016, 10:25 AM

I totally forgot about KEH. They look to be a little more expensive, but if they can do the job better? Do you know if they are replacing the old SDM motors with new ones at Precision Camera?

**UncleVanya** · 06-08-2016, 11:56 AM

You can also convert to screw drive.

kjphilippona · 06-08-2016, 12:36 PM

You can call Eric, he repaired my DA*16-50. Contact Us

slip · 06-09-2016, 09:50 AM

this lens, as well as the DA17-70 are the two lenses I avoid like the plague

Randy

**UncleVanya** · 06-09-2016, 10:12 AM

Originally posted by slip

this lens, as well as the DA17-70 are the two lenses I avoid like the plague

Randy

You are missing a very nice lens in the 17-70. My dad bought one that was refurbished by Pentax - he purchased it used from another member. The refurb was after the SDM fixes were rolled out (supposedly). It has never given a tiny bit of trouble. Since the cost was under $200 I figured it was a throw away lens if it died and worth the risk based on how nice the lenses are optically.

The 16-50 is no big deal. It can easily be converted to screw drive and doesn't really pose much of a problem for a non-pro. A pro might find the potential for failure in the field to be too risky but I wouldn't worry too much. I own the 50-135 (actually dad has that one) and the DA* 60-250 and DA* 200 all of which have SDM and none of them have any problems. SDM issues are not illusions but they seem to be very oddly distributed with some people getting multiple failures and others never having even one failure. I am of the opinion that something other than the motor also contributes to the failures (friction, use patterns, etc.)

**miltona580** · 06-10-2016, 08:38 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by slip

this lens, as well as the DA17-70 are the two lenses I avoid like the plague

Randy

The lens has been nothing but superb for me, other than this issue. Now I do think a $1000 lens shouldn't have this sort of problems, but I've loved being able to use it in weather conditions that had other photographers scurrying for their bags.

**UncleVanya** · 06-10-2016, 10:34 AM - **2 Likes**

Originally posted by miltona580

The lens has been nothing but superb for me, other than this issue. Now I do think a $1000 lens shouldn't have this sort of problems, but I've loved being able to use it in weather conditions that had other photographers scurrying for their bags.

I concur - I would only be considering this lens as a used purchase because I think the price tag is too high for the level of perceived risk and also because SDM in that lens is slower than I think it ought to be for the money. I would also say that people make too much out of the SDM failure since conversion is possible.

06-08-2016, 09:24 AM	#1
miltona580 Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 309	*Autofocus motor problems for DA 16-50** I'm having issues getting my lens to autofocus on my K3. No other lens has issues. Has the repair place gotten better? I know a few years ago when it moved away from CRIS people were having lots of issues. Unfortunately, I don't think I can wait anymore. It's gone from sometimes failing to usually failing.

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06-08-2016, 09:54 AM	#2
jatrax Site Supporter Join Date: May 2010 Location: Washington Cascades Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,991	Good luck. Reports are mixed, some quick, some nothing fixed. If not under warranty you could also check with KEH.

06-08-2016, 10:25 AM	#3
miltona580 Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 309 Original Poster	I totally forgot about KEH. They look to be a little more expensive, but if they can do the job better? Do you know if they are replacing the old SDM motors with new ones at Precision Camera?

06-08-2016, 11:56 AM	#4
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,404	You can also convert to screw drive.

06-08-2016, 12:36 PM	#5
kjphilippona Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Enterprise, Alabama Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,298	You can call Eric, he repaired my DA*16-50. Contact Us

06-09-2016, 09:50 AM	#6
slip Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: 2 hours north of toronto ontario canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,535	this lens, as well as the DA17-70 are the two lenses I avoid like the plague Randy

06-09-2016, 10:12 AM	#7
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,404	Originally posted by slip this lens, as well as the DA17-70 are the two lenses I avoid like the plague Randy You are missing a very nice lens in the 17-70. My dad bought one that was refurbished by Pentax - he purchased it used from another member. The refurb was after the SDM fixes were rolled out (supposedly). It has never given a tiny bit of trouble. Since the cost was under $200 I figured it was a throw away lens if it died and worth the risk based on how nice the lenses are optically. The 16-50 is no big deal. It can easily be converted to screw drive and doesn't really pose much of a problem for a non-pro. A pro might find the potential for failure in the field to be too risky but I wouldn't worry too much. I own the 50-135 (actually dad has that one) and the DA* 60-250 and DA* 200 all of which have SDM and none of them have any problems. SDM issues are not illusions but they seem to be very oddly distributed with some people getting multiple failures and others never having even one failure. I am of the opinion that something other than the motor also contributes to the failures (friction, use patterns, etc.)

06-10-2016, 08:38 AM - 1 Like	#8
miltona580 Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 309 Original Poster	Originally posted by slip this lens, as well as the DA17-70 are the two lenses I avoid like the plague Randy The lens has been nothing but superb for me, other than this issue. Now I do think a $1000 lens shouldn't have this sort of problems, but I've loved being able to use it in weather conditions that had other photographers scurrying for their bags.

06-10-2016, 10:34 AM - 2 Likes	#9
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,404	Originally posted by miltona580 The lens has been nothing but superb for me, other than this issue. Now I do think a $1000 lens shouldn't have this sort of problems, but I've loved being able to use it in weather conditions that had other photographers scurrying for their bags. I concur - I would only be considering this lens as a used purchase because I think the price tag is too high for the level of perceived risk and also because SDM in that lens is slower than I think it ought to be for the money. I would also say that people make too much out of the SDM failure since conversion is possible.