DA 17-70 with dead SDM, Fix it or Forget it!

**Rondec** · 07-18-2018, 02:42 AM

Originally posted by jddwoods

I had always wished I had an inside communication track to Ricoh/Pentax to suggest they do a refresh of this lens with the PLM motor. I doubt that will ever happen but as far as the next best thing it turns out to be the DA 16-85 which in my experience is a better overall lens. last year I pondered fixing the 17-70 SDM and when I got quote from KEH and Precision. I was ready to send it to Precision, but along came a used 16-85 in Like new condition for $100 more than repairing the 17-70. I bought the 16-85 and am very happy with it, but a year later watching the 17-70 collecting dust, I gave a second thought to repairing it, hence this thread. Again, no repair, but I just can't get myself to toss it in the trash, so I will revisit the repair possibility sometime in the future. My main reason for skipping the repair is feedback that SDM failures still occur on replacement SDM motors making the repair not worth it. Even if I got it working my primary go to zoom would be the 16-85.

Why not sell it for cheap "As Is" and let someone else decide what to do with it?

jddwoods · 07-19-2018, 08:59 AM

Originally posted by Rondec

Why not sell it for cheap "As Is" and let someone else decide what to do with it?

Not worth the effort of trying to sell this one lens which has little value.

ChristianRock · 07-19-2018, 12:41 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by jddwoods

Not worth the effort of trying to sell this one lens which has little value.

You might still be able to get some 50 bucks for it from someone on a budget who might want it as a landscape lens... where it does a very good job I would have to say.

**UncleVanya** · 07-20-2018, 01:06 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by ChristianRock

You might still be able to get some 50 bucks for it from someone on a budget who might want it as a landscape lens... where it does a very good job I would have to say.

Or someone may need parts besides SDM.

redbusa · 03-06-2019, 02:54 AM

mine went straight in the bin and i bought a Sigma

TaoMaas · 03-06-2019, 08:57 AM - **1 Like**

I have a 17-70mm whose motor is dead. I use it for shooting video since I'm usually focusing manually anyway. It does a good job.

johnha · 03-06-2019, 02:21 PM

I bought a DA17-70 around 2012/13 and haven't had any trouble with it. I appreciate the focus throw is very small & light for comfortable manual focussing, if the SDM failed I'd still use it in MF.

**GeeEmm** · 09-03-2019, 10:51 PM

My 17-70 disappeared en-route to CRK for diagnosis following an earlier SDM motor replacement, same symptoms the second time. Only reason I sent it was a broad hint that I might get a freebie if the SDM was the problem again. If they were to charge me I was going to tell them to drop it in the bin, but Australia Post short-circuited that. Optically, I liked it, and therefore would like to have it back working but fate (Aus Post) dictated otherwise.

My 60-250 has just had the SDM and motherboard replaced, CRK confirmed that the SDM motor had been updated/redesigned/changed and my new one was the latest spec. Don't know what that might mean for 17-70 SDM motors though, but if they are the same item that might bode well for sending them back. I have photos of the old parts, if anyone is interested.

builttospill · 09-04-2019, 11:49 AM

Originally posted by GeeEmm

My 17-70 disappeared

Sorry to hear this. Are there any options for you? Was it insured?

**GeeEmm** · 09-05-2019, 06:32 AM

No insurance. AusPost couldn't track it down. Given I was prepared to bin it, I am not shedding too many tears, I have the AT-x Pro 28-70 on the K1 now.

rwhynacht · 09-30-2019, 10:31 PM

I am rapidly losing faith in Pentax. 2 months ago I had to have the aperture assembly replaced on k-70 (ruined my photo opportunities while on vacation), and today my 50-135 f/2.8 stopped focusing. I purchased the lens new in 2017 hoping they actually did resolve the sdm problem, but as of today, on first push of focus button it makes a slight tick as if trying to focus but then it just sits there doing nothing. Good thing I bought the extended warranty on this. I don't normally buy warranties, but I knew this lens has a sketchy history.

builttospill · 10-01-2019, 03:29 PM

My Nikon 70-200 2.8 ii has been repaired more times than any of my SDM lenses, but I don't have any SDM lenses anymore. I'm going to have to send the Nikon in again because I have to wake it up by rotating the focusing ring back-and-forth several times before it starts to focus and it squeals pretty loud as the AF motor moves.

climbmountainway · 10-30-2021, 08:31 PM

Mine died, and I heard a little voice telling me to clean the AF gold contacts on the lens; some black residue grease came off with white gasoline as a solvent onto lens tissue, then I applied a precision flat screwdriver gently back and forth to get to clear solid metal again: WALA! Works again fine. I wonder how many motors not needing replacement have been replaced...--climbmountainway (J.H.)

Martin Stu · 10-30-2021, 09:16 PM

Once my copy also stopped working ... I thought that the engine had deteriorated ... But one pentaxist friend of mine took this lens in his hands, just turned the focusing ring all the way to the left and right and lo and behold, the motor started working again.

climbmountainway · 11-01-2021, 07:04 PM

These might be classified as "Folk Fixes".

03-06-2019, 02:54 AM	#20
redbusa Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: stroud, Posts: 38	pentax 17-70 mine went straight in the bin and i bought a Sigma

10-30-2021, 08:31 PM	#28
climbmountainway Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado Posts: 89	Mine died, and I heard a little voice telling me to clean the AF gold contacts on the lens; some black residue grease came off with white gasoline as a solvent onto lens tissue, then I applied a precision flat screwdriver gently back and forth to get to clear solid metal again: WALA! Works again fine. I wonder how many motors not needing replacement have been replaced...--climbmountainway (J.H.) Last edited by climbmountainway; 10-30-2021 at 08:35 PM. Reason: corrected typos

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07-18-2018, 02:42 AM	#16
Rondec Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Gladys, Virginia Photos: Gallery Posts: 27,652	Originally posted by jddwoods I had always wished I had an inside communication track to Ricoh/Pentax to suggest they do a refresh of this lens with the PLM motor. I doubt that will ever happen but as far as the next best thing it turns out to be the DA 16-85 which in my experience is a better overall lens. last year I pondered fixing the 17-70 SDM and when I got quote from KEH and Precision. I was ready to send it to Precision, but along came a used 16-85 in Like new condition for $100 more than repairing the 17-70. I bought the 16-85 and am very happy with it, but a year later watching the 17-70 collecting dust, I gave a second thought to repairing it, hence this thread. Again, no repair, but I just can't get myself to toss it in the trash, so I will revisit the repair possibility sometime in the future. My main reason for skipping the repair is feedback that SDM failures still occur on replacement SDM motors making the repair not worth it. Even if I got it working my primary go to zoom would be the 16-85. Why not sell it for cheap "As Is" and let someone else decide what to do with it?

07-19-2018, 08:59 AM	#17
jddwoods Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Newark, Delaware Posts: 1,035 Original Poster	Originally posted by Rondec Why not sell it for cheap "As Is" and let someone else decide what to do with it? Not worth the effort of trying to sell this one lens which has little value.

07-19-2018, 12:41 PM - 1 Like	#18
ChristianRock Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: People's Republic of America Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,910	Originally posted by jddwoods Not worth the effort of trying to sell this one lens which has little value. You might still be able to get some 50 bucks for it from someone on a budget who might want it as a landscape lens... where it does a very good job I would have to say.

07-20-2018, 01:06 PM - 1 Like	#19
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,400	Originally posted by ChristianRock You might still be able to get some 50 bucks for it from someone on a budget who might want it as a landscape lens... where it does a very good job I would have to say. Or someone may need parts besides SDM.

03-06-2019, 08:57 AM - 1 Like	#21
TaoMaas Pentaxian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Oklahoma City Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,574	I have a 17-70mm whose motor is dead. I use it for shooting video since I'm usually focusing manually anyway. It does a good job.

03-06-2019, 02:21 PM	#22
johnha Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Lancashire, UK Photos: Albums Posts: 1,155	I bought a DA17-70 around 2012/13 and haven't had any trouble with it. I appreciate the focus throw is very small & light for comfortable manual focussing, if the SDM failed I'd still use it in MF.

09-03-2019, 10:51 PM	#23
GeeEmm Site Supporter Join Date: May 2010 Location: Canberra Posts: 230	My 17-70 disappeared en-route to CRK for diagnosis following an earlier SDM motor replacement, same symptoms the second time. Only reason I sent it was a broad hint that I might get a freebie if the SDM was the problem again. If they were to charge me I was going to tell them to drop it in the bin, but Australia Post short-circuited that. Optically, I liked it, and therefore would like to have it back working but fate (Aus Post) dictated otherwise. My 60-250 has just had the SDM and motherboard replaced, CRK confirmed that the SDM motor had been updated/redesigned/changed and my new one was the latest spec. Don't know what that might mean for 17-70 SDM motors though, but if they are the same item that might bode well for sending them back. I have photos of the old parts, if anyone is interested.

09-04-2019, 11:49 AM	#24
builttospill Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Utah, Idaho Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,398	Originally posted by GeeEmm My 17-70 disappeared Sorry to hear this. Are there any options for you? Was it insured?

09-05-2019, 06:32 AM	#25
GeeEmm Site Supporter Join Date: May 2010 Location: Canberra Posts: 230	No insurance. AusPost couldn't track it down. Given I was prepared to bin it, I am not shedding too many tears, I have the AT-x Pro 28-70 on the K1 now.

09-30-2019, 10:31 PM	#26
rwhynacht Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2017 Posts: 27	I am rapidly losing faith in Pentax. 2 months ago I had to have the aperture assembly replaced on k-70 (ruined my photo opportunities while on vacation), and today my 50-135 f/2.8 stopped focusing. I purchased the lens new in 2017 hoping they actually did resolve the sdm problem, but as of today, on first push of focus button it makes a slight tick as if trying to focus but then it just sits there doing nothing. Good thing I bought the extended warranty on this. I don't normally buy warranties, but I knew this lens has a sketchy history.

10-01-2019, 03:29 PM	#27
builttospill Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Utah, Idaho Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,398	My Nikon 70-200 2.8 ii has been repaired more times than any of my SDM lenses, but I don't have any SDM lenses anymore. I'm going to have to send the Nikon in again because I have to wake it up by rotating the focusing ring back-and-forth several times before it starts to focus and it squeals pretty loud as the AF motor moves.

10-30-2021, 09:16 PM	#29
Martin Stu Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2019 Posts: 1,115	Once my copy also stopped working ... I thought that the engine had deteriorated ... But one pentaxist friend of mine took this lens in his hands, just turned the focusing ring all the way to the left and right and lo and behold, the motor started working again.

11-01-2021, 07:04 PM	#30
climbmountainway Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado Posts: 89	These might be classified as "Folk Fixes".