The dreaded SDM failure topic - Nikon AF motor failure perspective

jddwoods · 07-15-2018, 05:43 AM

Originally posted by Rondec

I haven't seen reports of the DA 55-300 failing. Have you?

In lens motors are here to stay. With the right motor, they are faster and more precise than screw drive motors. I'm not sure what the last screw driven lens was that Pentax released, but it has been awhile ago (maybe the HD DA limiteds?).

My 55-300 PLM is now close to three years old. The autofocus response continues to "wow" me with its speed and quietness just like it did when I first used it. I have not heard of any complaints of autofocus related issues from anyone else. I think it is safe to say that the PLM reliability is as good as DC and screw drive.

Stargeezer · 07-15-2018, 08:27 AM

I have owned the Pentax da*300 f4 for 9 years, I never had an autofocus motor issue!!
I have owned the Nikon afs 300 f4 for 2 1/2 years and had autofocus motor issues for a year. Both bought used in mint condition and always in use.
It's all just a crap shoot!
Joe

normhead · 07-15-2018, 08:36 AM

Originally posted by Stargeezer

I have owned the Pentax da*300 f4 for 9 years, I never had an autofocus motor issue!!
I have owned the Nikon afs 300 f4 for 2 1/2 years and had autofocus motor issues for a year. Both bought used in mint condition and always in use.
It's all just a crap shoot!
Joe

That should be a sticky.

**leekil** · 07-15-2018, 09:21 AM

Originally posted by normhead

The cold hard truth starts to sink in. As reported in lens rentals.com, other camera manufacturers are not as good overall as Pentax.

Do you have a link for that?

beholder3 · 07-15-2018, 11:17 AM

Originally posted by bm75

not sure for the 500 mm f/4 VR that's a 2007 lens (disconitued in 2015).

Just for correctness:

The faulty Nikon 500mm F4 lens the main discussion in my initial post is about is the new "FL" version published 2015, not its older predecessor you mention.

normhead · 07-15-2018, 01:43 PM

Originally posted by leekil

Do you have a link for that?

I had the link at the end of the SDM thing about 5 yeas ago, I'm not sure if it still exists. Nor is the information at a ll up to dayte. It was worth noting that even after the early SDM failures before the fix, Pentax still had the best record of any manufacturer on lens rentals.com. It would be great for someone to comb the site to see if there's any current information, but, it's probably not going to be me.

**leekil** · 07-19-2018, 10:02 PM

Originally posted by normhead

I had the link at the end of the SDM thing about 5 yeas ago, I'm not sure if it still exists. Nor is the information at a ll up to dayte. It was worth noting that even after the early SDM failures before the fix, Pentax still had the best record of any manufacturer on lens rentals.com. It would be great for someone to comb the site to see if there's any current information, but, it's probably not going to be me.

I searched the Lensrentals blog, but couldn't find it. All the repair rate articles I found were older (before 2015? 2014?), and Pentax wasn't included because they had very few copies of the lenses, so excluded them.

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07-15-2018, 05:43 AM	#16
jddwoods Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Newark, Delaware Posts: 1,033	Originally posted by Rondec I haven't seen reports of the DA 55-300 failing. Have you? In lens motors are here to stay. With the right motor, they are faster and more precise than screw drive motors. I'm not sure what the last screw driven lens was that Pentax released, but it has been awhile ago (maybe the HD DA limiteds?). My 55-300 PLM is now close to three years old. The autofocus response continues to "wow" me with its speed and quietness just like it did when I first used it. I have not heard of any complaints of autofocus related issues from anyone else. I think it is safe to say that the PLM reliability is as good as DC and screw drive.

07-15-2018, 08:27 AM	#17
Stargeezer Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: sunny florida Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 128	I have owned the Pentax da*300 f4 for 9 years, I never had an autofocus motor issue!! I have owned the Nikon afs 300 f4 for 2 1/2 years and had autofocus motor issues for a year. Both bought used in mint condition and always in use. It's all just a crap shoot! Joe

07-15-2018, 08:36 AM	#18
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,420	Originally posted by Stargeezer I have owned the Pentax da*300 f4 for 9 years, I never had an autofocus motor issue!! I have owned the Nikon afs 300 f4 for 2 1/2 years and had autofocus motor issues for a year. Both bought used in mint condition and always in use. It's all just a crap shoot! Joe That should be a sticky.

07-15-2018, 09:21 AM	#19
leekil Site Supporter Join Date: May 2016 Photos: Albums Posts: 1,785	Originally posted by normhead The cold hard truth starts to sink in. As reported in lens rentals.com, other camera manufacturers are not as good overall as Pentax. Do you have a link for that?

07-15-2018, 11:17 AM	#20
beholder3 Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 3,094 Original Poster	Originally posted by bm75 not sure for the 500 mm f/4 VR that's a 2007 lens (disconitued in 2015). Just for correctness: The faulty Nikon 500mm F4 lens the main discussion in my initial post is about is the new "FL" version published 2015, not its older predecessor you mention.

07-15-2018, 01:43 PM	#21
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,420	Originally posted by leekil Do you have a link for that? I had the link at the end of the SDM thing about 5 yeas ago, I'm not sure if it still exists. Nor is the information at a ll up to dayte. It was worth noting that even after the early SDM failures before the fix, Pentax still had the best record of any manufacturer on lens rentals.com. It would be great for someone to comb the site to see if there's any current information, but, it's probably not going to be me.

07-19-2018, 10:02 PM	#22
leekil Site Supporter Join Date: May 2016 Photos: Albums Posts: 1,785	Originally posted by normhead I had the link at the end of the SDM thing about 5 yeas ago, I'm not sure if it still exists. Nor is the information at a ll up to dayte. It was worth noting that even after the early SDM failures before the fix, Pentax still had the best record of any manufacturer on lens rentals.com. It would be great for someone to comb the site to see if there's any current information, but, it's probably not going to be me. I searched the Lensrentals blog, but couldn't find it. All the repair rate articles I found were older (before 2015? 2014?), and Pentax wasn't included because they had very few copies of the lenses, so excluded them.

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