I broke my camera and I couldn't be happier!

Peter Zack · 01-05-2010, 08:34 PM

I wish I could tell everyone how to do this but I shorted out the SDM on one of my K20D's at the begining of a wedding on the 31st.

It was dark and I was changing lenses from the FA50mm to the DA*16-50mm. I did it quickly and didn't line the mount up straight. I turned the lens on the mount and realized it was not going on properly. So when I remounted the lens, the SDM stopped working. I shot about 150 images that night after wards and the lens was using the screwdrive.

So the next day I took a couple hundred test shots and all the time it was SD focusing. But it's not the lens. It's the body. The SDM still works on my other K20D and my K10D. So some how I shorted out the SDM on that one body.

I shot another wedding on the 2nd and used the combo a lot. The SDM didn't work at all and the camera otherwise is working normally. It's probably taken 2000 shots since this happened.

I could not be happier, the lens focuses faster and more accurately. This camera is not going in for repair.

My only guess is I shorted the 2 small pins inside the mount/mirror box. Does anyone know if they have anything to do with the SDM?

arpaagent · 01-05-2010, 09:00 PM

Originally posted by Peter Zack

I wish I could tell everyone how to do this but I shorted out the SDM on one of my K20D's at the begining of a wedding on the 31st.

It was dark and I was changing lenses from the FA50mm to the DA*16-50mm. I did it quickly and didn't line the mount up straight. I turned the lens on the mount and realized it was not going on properly. So when I remounted the lens, the SDM stopped working. I shot about 150 images that night after wards and the lens was using the screwdrive.

So the next day I took a couple hundred test shots and all the time it was SD focusing. But it's not the lens. It's the body. The SDM still works on my other K20D and my K10D. So some how I shorted out the SDM on that one body.

I shot another wedding on the 2nd and used the combo a lot. The SDM didn't work at all and the camera otherwise is working normally. It's probably taken 2000 shots since this happened.

I could not be happier, the lens focuses faster and more accurately. This camera is not going in for repair.

My only guess is I shorted the 2 small pins inside the mount/mirror box. Does anyone know if they have anything to do with the SDM?

I believe that those are the pins that supply power to the SDM motor. Those pins are also what supply power to power zoom lenses, so I bet that you just fried the little power supply chip that goes to those pins. I doubt that power zoom would work anymore with that camera...but who really cares about that anyways?

Hopefully your little "accident" won't have any future repercussions. Interesting tale though, thanks for sharing!

Peter Zack · 01-05-2010, 09:03 PM

If that's what they do, then great. Even if I did own a PZ lens, I'd never use that feature.
Could it really be that easy to make your SDM an SD lens?

Biro · 01-05-2010, 09:11 PM

What Pentax needs to with future cameras is give the photographer the option of turning SDM on and off. But, really, while I'm pleased Peter is pleased... what is wrong with this picture? When a photo professional is happy when a high-profile feature (for which one pays a hefty premium) fails, there is something very, very wrong. I hope someone from Pentax is reading this string.

LeDave · 01-05-2010, 09:33 PM

Wow! That's great news, I really wished I kept my 50-135 so I could give this a try. =P

dgaies · 01-05-2010, 09:48 PM

Dave, got your 50-135 on my Kx right now

Pentaxor · 01-05-2010, 10:13 PM

how bout covering up the SDM contacts? that might work !

**Ash** · 01-05-2010, 10:13 PM

Peter, I'm keeping your story in mind for shorting out my own SDM contacts once I've become fed up with my 16-50's focusing.

Good result from a bad event for you.
Thanks for sharing it.

Oggy · 01-06-2010, 02:30 PM

Peter - I have it on reasonable authority that the two contacts you mean are the power zoom supply.

I would be very careful about shorting or covering contacts. The results may be expensive.

asdf · 01-06-2010, 02:34 PM

Originally posted by Oggy

I would be very careful about shorting or covering contacts. The results may be expensive.

Somehow I read that as "The results may be explosive." I need sleep.

BBear · 01-06-2010, 02:53 PM

Originally posted by Peter Zack

I could not be happier, the lens focuses faster and more accurately. This camera is not going in for repair.

Peter,

Two questions about the findings: how faster/more accurate is the lens under SD mode?

And if it is that much better, are you attempting blocking or shorting out the pins on the other body?

Keep us update!

Later

BB

**Lowell Goudge** · 01-06-2010, 03:26 PM

Originally posted by Peter Zack

I wish I could tell everyone how to do this but I shorted out the SDM on one of my K20D's at the begining of a wedding on the 31st.

It was dark and I was changing lenses from the FA50mm to the DA*16-50mm. I did it quickly and didn't line the mount up straight. I turned the lens on the mount and realized it was not going on properly. So when I remounted the lens, the SDM stopped working. I shot about 150 images that night after wards and the lens was using the screwdrive.

So the next day I took a couple hundred test shots and all the time it was SD focusing. But it's not the lens. It's the body. The SDM still works on my other K20D and my K10D. So some how I shorted out the SDM on that one body.

I shot another wedding on the 2nd and used the combo a lot. The SDM didn't work at all and the camera otherwise is working normally. It's probably taken 2000 shots since this happened.

I could not be happier, the lens focuses faster and more accurately. This camera is not going in for repair.

My only guess is I shorted the 2 small pins inside the mount/mirror box. Does anyone know if they have anything to do with the SDM?

Congratulations peter

you have discovered a user implementable software fix for the people wwho want tu use screw drive as opposed to SDM. Just tape over the KAF2 power pins

**dadipentak** · 01-06-2010, 03:36 PM

Originally posted by Biro

What Pentax needs to with future cameras is give the photographer the option of turning SDM on and off. But, really, while I'm pleased Peter is pleased... what is wrong with this picture? When a photo professional is happy when a high-profile feature (for which one pays a hefty premium) fails, there is something very, very wrong. I hope someone from Pentax is reading this string.

Amen to that!

farfisa · 01-06-2010, 03:40 PM

You could make a lot of people happy by figuring out what you did "wrong!"

emr · 01-06-2010, 03:52 PM

What's that smell?!

Oh, it's all the Pentaxians with defective SDM lenses short-circuiting their camera bodies. Nothing to worry about.

01-05-2010, 08:34 PM	#1
Peter Zack Pentaxian Moderator Emeritus Join Date: May 2007 Location: Edmonton Alberta, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 10,643	I broke my camera and I couldn't be happier! I wish I could tell everyone how to do this but I shorted out the SDM on one of my K20D's at the begining of a wedding on the 31st. It was dark and I was changing lenses from the FA50mm to the DA*16-50mm. I did it quickly and didn't line the mount up straight. I turned the lens on the mount and realized it was not going on properly. So when I remounted the lens, the SDM stopped working. I shot about 150 images that night after wards and the lens was using the screwdrive. So the next day I took a couple hundred test shots and all the time it was SD focusing. But it's not the lens. It's the body. The SDM still works on my other K20D and my K10D. So some how I shorted out the SDM on that one body. I shot another wedding on the 2nd and used the combo a lot. The SDM didn't work at all and the camera otherwise is working normally. It's probably taken 2000 shots since this happened. I could not be happier, the lens focuses faster and more accurately. This camera is not going in for repair. My only guess is I shorted the 2 small pins inside the mount/mirror box. Does anyone know if they have anything to do with the SDM?

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01-05-2010, 09:00 PM	#2
arpaagent Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Raleigh, NC Photos: Gallery Posts: 803	Originally posted by Peter Zack I wish I could tell everyone how to do this but I shorted out the SDM on one of my K20D's at the begining of a wedding on the 31st. It was dark and I was changing lenses from the FA50mm to the DA*16-50mm. I did it quickly and didn't line the mount up straight. I turned the lens on the mount and realized it was not going on properly. So when I remounted the lens, the SDM stopped working. I shot about 150 images that night after wards and the lens was using the screwdrive. So the next day I took a couple hundred test shots and all the time it was SD focusing. But it's not the lens. It's the body. The SDM still works on my other K20D and my K10D. So some how I shorted out the SDM on that one body. I shot another wedding on the 2nd and used the combo a lot. The SDM didn't work at all and the camera otherwise is working normally. It's probably taken 2000 shots since this happened. I could not be happier, the lens focuses faster and more accurately. This camera is not going in for repair. My only guess is I shorted the 2 small pins inside the mount/mirror box. Does anyone know if they have anything to do with the SDM? I believe that those are the pins that supply power to the SDM motor. Those pins are also what supply power to power zoom lenses, so I bet that you just fried the little power supply chip that goes to those pins. I doubt that power zoom would work anymore with that camera...but who really cares about that anyways? Hopefully your little "accident" won't have any future repercussions. Interesting tale though, thanks for sharing!

01-05-2010, 09:03 PM	#3
Peter Zack Pentaxian Moderator Emeritus Join Date: May 2007 Location: Edmonton Alberta, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 10,643 Original Poster	If that's what they do, then great. Even if I did own a PZ lens, I'd never use that feature. Could it really be that easy to make your SDM an SD lens?

01-05-2010, 09:11 PM	#4
Biro Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,200	What Pentax needs to with future cameras is give the photographer the option of turning SDM on and off. But, really, while I'm pleased Peter is pleased... what is wrong with this picture? When a photo professional is happy when a high-profile feature (for which one pays a hefty premium) fails, there is something very, very wrong. I hope someone from Pentax is reading this string.

01-05-2010, 09:33 PM	#5
LeDave Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Minneapolis - St. Paul Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,067	Wow! That's great news, I really wished I kept my 50-135 so I could give this a try. =P

01-05-2010, 09:48 PM	#6
dgaies Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Maryland / Washington DC Posts: 3,917	Dave, got your 50-135 on my Kx right now

01-05-2010, 10:13 PM	#7
Pentaxor Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,513	how bout covering up the SDM contacts? that might work !

01-05-2010, 10:13 PM	#8
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920	Peter, I'm keeping your story in mind for shorting out my own SDM contacts once I've become fed up with my 16-50's focusing. Good result from a bad event for you. Thanks for sharing it.

01-06-2010, 02:30 PM	#9
Oggy Inactive Account Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: West Sussex UK Posts: 235	Peter - I have it on reasonable authority that the two contacts you mean are the power zoom supply. I would be very careful about shorting or covering contacts. The results may be expensive.

01-06-2010, 02:34 PM	#10
asdf Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Canada Posts: 1,252	Originally posted by Oggy I would be very careful about shorting or covering contacts. The results may be expensive. Somehow I read that as "The results may be explosive." I need sleep.

01-06-2010, 02:53 PM	#11
BBear Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: CT / NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 822	Originally posted by Peter Zack I could not be happier, the lens focuses faster and more accurately. This camera is not going in for repair. Peter, Two questions about the findings: how faster/more accurate is the lens under SD mode? And if it is that much better, are you attempting blocking or shorting out the pins on the other body? Keep us update! Later BB

01-06-2010, 03:26 PM	#12
Lowell Goudge Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,888	Originally posted by Peter Zack I wish I could tell everyone how to do this but I shorted out the SDM on one of my K20D's at the begining of a wedding on the 31st. It was dark and I was changing lenses from the FA50mm to the DA*16-50mm. I did it quickly and didn't line the mount up straight. I turned the lens on the mount and realized it was not going on properly. So when I remounted the lens, the SDM stopped working. I shot about 150 images that night after wards and the lens was using the screwdrive. So the next day I took a couple hundred test shots and all the time it was SD focusing. But it's not the lens. It's the body. The SDM still works on my other K20D and my K10D. So some how I shorted out the SDM on that one body. I shot another wedding on the 2nd and used the combo a lot. The SDM didn't work at all and the camera otherwise is working normally. It's probably taken 2000 shots since this happened. I could not be happier, the lens focuses faster and more accurately. This camera is not going in for repair. My only guess is I shorted the 2 small pins inside the mount/mirror box. Does anyone know if they have anything to do with the SDM? Congratulations peter you have discovered a user implementable software fix for the people wwho want tu use screw drive as opposed to SDM. Just tape over the KAF2 power pins

01-06-2010, 03:36 PM	#13
dadipentak Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Baltimore, Maryland Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,590	Originally posted by Biro What Pentax needs to with future cameras is give the photographer the option of turning SDM on and off. But, really, while I'm pleased Peter is pleased... what is wrong with this picture? When a photo professional is happy when a high-profile feature (for which one pays a hefty premium) fails, there is something very, very wrong. I hope someone from Pentax is reading this string. Amen to that!

01-06-2010, 03:40 PM	#14
farfisa Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Toronto, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,274	You could make a lot of people happy by figuring out what you did "wrong!"

01-06-2010, 03:52 PM	#15
emr Guest	What's that smell?! Oh, it's all the Pentaxians with defective SDM lenses short-circuiting their camera bodies. Nothing to worry about.