DA 17-70mm Acting Up?

builttospill · 11-30-2009, 09:51 AM

Over the weekend I mounted my Pentax DA 17-70 SDM only lens to my K10D. This lens was purchased new during the middle of August this year, and has been a great lens so far. However, this weekend it couldn't lock focus. It would just hunt back and forth and finally give up with the blinking hexagon and a blurry image in the viewfinder. I tried AF inside and out, with different subjects and different focal lengths and the lens just wouldn't lock focus. Anybody know what's wrong or have this happen to them? Thanks.

filorp · 11-30-2009, 11:21 AM

my lens spent 4 months at service until i get it back - it was the same issue... is your lens behaves the same way on every focal lenghts or just on specific? my refused to focus over 35mm...

builttospill · 11-30-2009, 12:24 PM

I wasn't paying attention to specific focal length, I just tried it across the entire range and it wouldn't focus.

Once your lens came back after four months, was it working properly?

bc_the_path · 11-30-2009, 12:27 PM

I hope it is not the dreaded SDM failure that is discussed frequently here.
Please "search" using SDM as the major keyword to get the threads and see if the symptoms are the same.
If they are, you seem to be covered by warranty so, do not worry much and send your lens to the proper place.

builttospill · 11-30-2009, 12:36 PM

Originally posted by bc_the_path

I hope it is not the dreaded SDM failure that is discussed frequently here.
Please "search" using SDM as the major keyword to get the threads and see if the symptoms are the same.
If they are, you seem to be covered by warranty so, do not worry much and send your lens to the proper place.

At first I was wondering if the SDM was having problems, as I've read some of those threads you mentioned, but the barrel rotates fine from one end to the other, so the SDM motor is working, it just won't lock focus, or it can't find the proper focus.

Bart · 11-30-2009, 01:11 PM

Been there with a DA* 16-50.
It was finally replaced.

**Ash** · 11-30-2009, 04:17 PM

My response follows your verbatim post in the More SDM failures thread.
It's not necessarily 'about to fail' but it is perhaps more a shortcoming of SDM's ability to accurately lock focus.

filorp · 11-30-2009, 05:27 PM

Originally posted by builttospill

Once your lens came back after four months, was it working properly?

yes, but i must add that i was sending it two times within 4 months... after first repair ones i get it it turned out different problem, yest thay fixed one think and broke ather... btw one year ago i had similar problem with 16-50 (sdm failure - replaced by new one)

builttospill · 12-01-2009, 09:40 AM

Originally posted by Ash

. . . it is perhaps more a shortcoming of SDM's ability to accurately lock focus.

That's too bad. I purchased this lens after reading about SDM's ability to focus quickly, quietly and more accurately!!! Well, I guess I shouldn't complain too much, at least the SDM motor is working and the quick-shift helps lock focus.

reeftool · 12-01-2009, 10:18 AM

Originally posted by builttospill

That's too bad. I purchased this lens after reading about SDM's ability to focus quickly, quietly and more accurately!!! Well, I guess I shouldn't complain too much, at least the SDM motor is working and the quick-shift helps lock focus.

I think you should complain, and loudly! What good is an AF lens that won't lock focus most of the time? I am planning to purchase a 17-70 within the next few months and have been kicking around the Pentax or the Sigma and to be honest, I think it is going to be the Sigma and not because it is cheaper.

Russell-Evans · 12-01-2009, 10:30 AM

Originally posted by Ash

My response follows your verbatim post in the More SDM failures thread.
It's not necessarily 'about to fail' but it is perhaps more a shortcoming of SDM's ability to accurately lock focus.

If you read though the list of SDM posts, I posted in that thread, there are a few that post that the lens not locking focus was a first symptom. Unfortunately reading them as jumbled the accounts in my mind so I can't simply point to the posts that do mention this. It could also have even been in reading the threads of those post that I saw this. Gees, I sound like a Global Warming scientist talking about their data. ;-)

My point is, if it is under warranty, send it in as quick as possible.

Thank you
Russell

builttospill · 12-01-2009, 11:14 AM

Well, after reading some of these posts, I'm wondering if I can just get my money back and buy the similar Sigma. Or do I have to have the lens repaired under the warranty?

11-30-2009, 09:51 AM	#1
builttospill Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Utah, Idaho Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,398	DA 17-70mm Acting Up? Over the weekend I mounted my Pentax DA 17-70 SDM only lens to my K10D. This lens was purchased new during the middle of August this year, and has been a great lens so far. However, this weekend it couldn't lock focus. It would just hunt back and forth and finally give up with the blinking hexagon and a blurry image in the viewfinder. I tried AF inside and out, with different subjects and different focal lengths and the lens just wouldn't lock focus. Anybody know what's wrong or have this happen to them? Thanks.

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11-30-2009, 11:21 AM	#2
filorp Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Aberdeen Scotland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 398	my lens spent 4 months at service until i get it back - it was the same issue... is your lens behaves the same way on every focal lenghts or just on specific? my refused to focus over 35mm...

11-30-2009, 12:24 PM	#3
builttospill Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Utah, Idaho Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,398 Original Poster	I wasn't paying attention to specific focal length, I just tried it across the entire range and it wouldn't focus. Once your lens came back after four months, was it working properly?

11-30-2009, 12:27 PM	#4
bc_the_path Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Ankara, Turkey Photos: Gallery Posts: 401	I hope it is not the dreaded SDM failure that is discussed frequently here. Please "search" using SDM as the major keyword to get the threads and see if the symptoms are the same. If they are, you seem to be covered by warranty so, do not worry much and send your lens to the proper place.

11-30-2009, 12:36 PM	#5
builttospill Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Utah, Idaho Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,398 Original Poster	Originally posted by bc_the_path I hope it is not the dreaded SDM failure that is discussed frequently here. Please "search" using SDM as the major keyword to get the threads and see if the symptoms are the same. If they are, you seem to be covered by warranty so, do not worry much and send your lens to the proper place. At first I was wondering if the SDM was having problems, as I've read some of those threads you mentioned, but the barrel rotates fine from one end to the other, so the SDM motor is working, it just won't lock focus, or it can't find the proper focus.

11-30-2009, 01:11 PM	#6
Bart Pentaxian Join Date: May 2007 Location: WW community of Pentax users Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,646	Been there with a DA* 16-50. It was finally replaced.

11-30-2009, 04:17 PM	#7
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920	My response follows your verbatim post in the More SDM failures thread. It's not necessarily 'about to fail' but it is perhaps more a shortcoming of SDM's ability to accurately lock focus.

11-30-2009, 05:27 PM	#8
filorp Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Aberdeen Scotland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 398	Originally posted by builttospill Once your lens came back after four months, was it working properly? yes, but i must add that i was sending it two times within 4 months... after first repair ones i get it it turned out different problem, yest thay fixed one think and broke ather... btw one year ago i had similar problem with 16-50 (sdm failure - replaced by new one)

12-01-2009, 09:40 AM	#9
builttospill Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Utah, Idaho Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,398 Original Poster	Originally posted by Ash . . . it is perhaps more a shortcoming of SDM's ability to accurately lock focus. That's too bad. I purchased this lens after reading about SDM's ability to focus quickly, quietly and more accurately!!! Well, I guess I shouldn't complain too much, at least the SDM motor is working and the quick-shift helps lock focus.

12-01-2009, 10:18 AM	#10
reeftool Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Upstate New York Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,554	Originally posted by builttospill That's too bad. I purchased this lens after reading about SDM's ability to focus quickly, quietly and more accurately!!! Well, I guess I shouldn't complain too much, at least the SDM motor is working and the quick-shift helps lock focus. I think you should complain, and loudly! What good is an AF lens that won't lock focus most of the time? I am planning to purchase a 17-70 within the next few months and have been kicking around the Pentax or the Sigma and to be honest, I think it is going to be the Sigma and not because it is cheaper.

12-01-2009, 10:30 AM	#11
Russell-Evans Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 1,553	Originally posted by Ash My response follows your verbatim post in the More SDM failures thread. It's not necessarily 'about to fail' but it is perhaps more a shortcoming of SDM's ability to accurately lock focus. If you read though the list of SDM posts, I posted in that thread, there are a few that post that the lens not locking focus was a first symptom. Unfortunately reading them as jumbled the accounts in my mind so I can't simply point to the posts that do mention this. It could also have even been in reading the threads of those post that I saw this. Gees, I sound like a Global Warming scientist talking about their data. ;-) My point is, if it is under warranty, send it in as quick as possible. Thank you Russell

12-01-2009, 11:14 AM	#12
builttospill Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Utah, Idaho Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,398 Original Poster	Well, after reading some of these posts, I'm wondering if I can just get my money back and buy the similar Sigma. Or do I have to have the lens repaired under the warranty?