Do SDM problems affect your purchasing

asdf · 02-09-2010, 03:59 AM

Originally posted by Pentaxor

you might want to review this first >>> How to Calculate Percentage

Mmmm...beans...

hs57 · 02-09-2010, 04:37 AM

I had a DA * 300/4 lens with SDM problems, and a DA * 16-50/2.8 Lens with AF problems.
The only SDM lens without problems, is my current DA 17-70/4 SDM
Lens, just how long....?
I will not not consider purchasing any SDM lens again.
It's better investing the money in the fine Pentax Limited Lenses.

LG
Hartmut

tokyoso · 02-09-2010, 08:03 AM

Ok how about you two show at the same spot, with your lenses and take pictures of the same furry animal? j/k

PentaxPoke · 02-09-2010, 08:57 AM

Originally posted by Pentaxor

you might want to review this first >>> How to Calculate Percentage

...and then go here:
link: Pentax Fanboys' Club

wallyb · 02-09-2010, 09:13 AM

Originally posted by Alex00

The calculated percentage of the poll is incorrect.
19 no
58 yes.

That should make the percentage 32% to 68%. It's showing 24% 75%.

loooooooool..........

Alex00 · 02-09-2010, 11:48 AM

Originally posted by asdf

19/(19+58) = 0.24... 58/(19+58) = 0.75...

My Mistake, Thought for a while that total votes were 58 and 19 of the 58 were voting otherwise.

**GregK8** · 04-23-2010, 09:47 PM

I'd like one, but I'm scared

I want to replace my kit lens with something faster and I like the Pentax lenses because of the quick shift feature, but I may end up with a Tamron because of this issue.

henryjing · 04-23-2010, 10:52 PM

After I have read about the SDM problems here, I decided not to buy any SDM lens...Luickly, Pentax has a lot better lens like FA limited series...

**EsBee** · 04-23-2010, 11:45 PM

...I purchased a used 16-50 whose SDM started hesitating just days after. But then I got it fixed under warranty and soon after, decided to go ahead and get the 50-135 so no, SDM failures have not deterred me from buying more.

MrCynical · 04-24-2010, 06:36 AM

Originally posted by axl

Couldn't resist this question.
Fairly simple:
Do the reported SDM problems affect your purchasing?
i.e.: did you cancel/postpone your lens purchase based on these?

TIA
Peter

It does - especially given that DA* lenses are priced above the Sigma HSM lenses. If Pentax were to offer an extended warranty specific to SDM failures (like Microsoft did with the RROD problem on Xbox 360s).

Just12hvFun · 04-24-2010, 07:59 AM

The reported SDM failures does impact me, but it doesn't prevent me from giving the lenses a try

I just make sure I get the extended warranties

I currently have the DA*s 16-50 and 50-135mm and they have given me lots of fun and joy

I highly encourage all members to give them a try

**BCtoad** · 04-24-2010, 08:26 AM

I had only one (sdm) lens fail on me a very early 50-135 fail on me repaired and working perfectly but I think the failure is not in the micro motor it is in the quick shift clutch. I found that if I did not use the lens for a week or two it would quit working, or barely work. Other posters have also commented about this. I have three other (sdm)lenses without a bit of trouble. I myself would not hesitate to purchase another DA* lens. Pro digital 2000 was actually offering aneight year international warranty on a few of the Pentax lenses.

Bart · 04-24-2010, 08:32 AM

Yes, it does.
Indirectly it made me loose all confidence in the service companies here (BE & DE).

I started having problems with my copy of the DA*16-50. The did eventually replace the lens but it took them almost a year to come to that decision. In the meantime, they succeeded in ruining the AF on a number of my other lenses (I had to send in body and lens - then body and all lenses - then body and the ones that didn't work properly anymore). If I were to count the time my camera spent over at Pentax and compare that to the time I got to use it, I would get sick.

The second version of the DA*16-50 works fine by the way, so far that is.

The last lens they had to correct after their error, got lost. That was kind of funny: that time, I only had to send the lens. It was sent to Pentax DE. Later, I received a message I had to send in the body as well. After a while - a month or 2 - I received a message my gear had arrived back. It was only the body! The lens was missing in action. So, body back to Pentax DE. When the two were reunited over there, it seemed necessary to sent the both of them to Pentax JP. Any guess on how long that took?

In these times where the Quality Control of most production companies seems to go down the drain, it has never been more important to have a solid trustworthy service system in place. Pentax does not and boy do they need it.

Conclusion for me is very simple: I don't buy anything Pentax anymore.
So, yes: the SDM problems did affect my purchasing. It stopped.

MrCynical · 04-24-2010, 04:29 PM

Originally posted by Bart

Conclusion for me is very simple: I don't buy anything Pentax anymore.
So, yes: the SDM problems did affect my purchasing. It stopped.

Pentax has quite a few very nice lenses which don't have SDM: the DFA 50 and 100 macros, the DA and FA limiteds. Of course all of those are primes, but avoiding SDM doesn't mean you have to avoid ALL lovely Pentax glass.

**GregK8** · 04-24-2010, 05:25 PM

I gotta say, I want to buy one of the 17-50's to use for a trip out of the country, and I really want the Pentax, and I think the $300 premium over the Tamron is justified given the additional features, but I need the lens to work.

View Poll Results: Do the reported SDM failure problems affect your purchasing?
Yes	96	76.80%
No	29	23.20%
Voters: 125. You may not vote on this poll

02-09-2010, 04:37 AM	#152
hs57 Inactive Account Join Date: May 2009 Location: Germany Photos: Gallery Posts: 69	SDM Problems... I had a DA * 300/4 lens with SDM problems, and a DA * 16-50/2.8 Lens with AF problems. The only SDM lens without problems, is my current DA 17-70/4 SDM Lens, just how long....? I will not not consider purchasing any SDM lens again. It's better investing the money in the fine Pentax Limited Lenses. LG Hartmut

02-09-2010, 11:48 AM	#156
Alex00 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: California Photos: Gallery Posts: 294	Originally posted by asdf 19/(19+58) = 0.24... 58/(19+58) = 0.75... My Mistake, Thought for a while that total votes were 58 and 19 of the 58 were voting otherwise. Last edited by Alex00; 02-10-2010 at 12:23 PM.

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02-09-2010, 03:59 AM	#151
asdf Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Canada Posts: 1,252	Originally posted by Pentaxor you might want to review this first >>> How to Calculate Percentage Mmmm...beans...

02-09-2010, 08:03 AM	#153
tokyoso Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Tokyo Photos: Albums Posts: 723	Ok how about you two show at the same spot, with your lenses and take pictures of the same furry animal? j/k

02-09-2010, 08:57 AM	#154
PentaxPoke Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 1,411	Originally posted by Pentaxor you might want to review this first >>> How to Calculate Percentage ...and then go here: link: Pentax Fanboys' Club

02-09-2010, 09:13 AM	#155
wallyb Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: The Untied States Photos: Albums Posts: 1,881	Originally posted by Alex00 The calculated percentage of the poll is incorrect. 19 no 58 yes. That should make the percentage 32% to 68%. It's showing 24% 75%. loooooooool..........

04-23-2010, 09:47 PM	#157
GregK8 Site Supporter Join Date: May 2008 Location: Western New York Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 614	I'd like one, but I'm scared I want to replace my kit lens with something faster and I like the Pentax lenses because of the quick shift feature, but I may end up with a Tamron because of this issue.

04-23-2010, 10:52 PM	#158
henryjing Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: United States Posts: 467	After I have read about the SDM problems here, I decided not to buy any SDM lens...Luickly, Pentax has a lot better lens like FA limited series...

04-23-2010, 11:45 PM	#159
EsBee Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: National Capital Region Posts: 739	...I purchased a used 16-50 whose SDM started hesitating just days after. But then I got it fixed under warranty and soon after, decided to go ahead and get the 50-135 so no, SDM failures have not deterred me from buying more.

04-24-2010, 06:36 AM	#160
MrCynical Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Glasgow, Scotland Posts: 132	Originally posted by axl Couldn't resist this question. Fairly simple: Do the reported SDM problems affect your purchasing? i.e.: did you cancel/postpone your lens purchase based on these? TIA Peter It does - especially given that DA* lenses are priced above the Sigma HSM lenses. If Pentax were to offer an extended warranty specific to SDM failures (like Microsoft did with the RROD problem on Xbox 360s).

04-24-2010, 07:59 AM	#161
Just12hvFun Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Singapore Posts: 384	The reported SDM failures does impact me, but it doesn't prevent me from giving the lenses a try I just make sure I get the extended warranties I currently have the DA*s 16-50 and 50-135mm and they have given me lots of fun and joy I highly encourage all members to give them a try

04-24-2010, 08:26 AM	#162
BCtoad Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Prince George, British Columbia, Canada. Posts: 135	I had only one (sdm) lens fail on me a very early 50-135 fail on me repaired and working perfectly but I think the failure is not in the micro motor it is in the quick shift clutch. I found that if I did not use the lens for a week or two it would quit working, or barely work. Other posters have also commented about this. I have three other (sdm)lenses without a bit of trouble. I myself would not hesitate to purchase another DA* lens. Pro digital 2000 was actually offering aneight year international warranty on a few of the Pentax lenses.

04-24-2010, 08:32 AM	#163
Bart Pentaxian Join Date: May 2007 Location: WW community of Pentax users Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,646	Yes, it does. Indirectly it made me loose all confidence in the service companies here (BE & DE). I started having problems with my copy of the DA16-50. The did eventually replace the lens but it took them almost a year to come to that decision. In the meantime, they succeeded in ruining the AF on a number of my other lenses (I had to send in body and lens - then body and all lenses - then body and the ones that didn't work properly anymore). If I were to count the time my camera spent over at Pentax and compare that to the time I got to use it, I would get sick. The second version of the DA16-50 works fine by the way, so far that is. The last lens they had to correct after their error, got lost. That was kind of funny: that time, I only had to send the lens. It was sent to Pentax DE. Later, I received a message I had to send in the body as well. After a while - a month or 2 - I received a message my gear had arrived back. It was only the body! The lens was missing in action. So, body back to Pentax DE. When the two were reunited over there, it seemed necessary to sent the both of them to Pentax JP. Any guess on how long that took? In these times where the Quality Control of most production companies seems to go down the drain, it has never been more important to have a solid trustworthy service system in place. Pentax does not and boy do they need it. Conclusion for me is very simple: I don't buy anything Pentax anymore. So, yes: the SDM problems did affect my purchasing. It stopped.

04-24-2010, 04:29 PM	#164
MrCynical Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Glasgow, Scotland Posts: 132	Originally posted by Bart Conclusion for me is very simple: I don't buy anything Pentax anymore. So, yes: the SDM problems did affect my purchasing. It stopped. Pentax has quite a few very nice lenses which don't have SDM: the DFA 50 and 100 macros, the DA and FA limiteds. Of course all of those are primes, but avoiding SDM doesn't mean you have to avoid ALL lovely Pentax glass.

04-24-2010, 05:25 PM	#165
GregK8 Site Supporter Join Date: May 2008 Location: Western New York Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 614	I gotta say, I want to buy one of the 17-50's to use for a trip out of the country, and I really want the Pentax, and I think the $300 premium over the Tamron is justified given the additional features, but I need the lens to work.