[bfo]

I bought a DA* 50-135mm with the following plan:

- use it as much as possible this summer until SDM fails
- get it fixed under warranty
- use it twice as much as before until it fails again
- get it fixed under warranty again
- sell it at 95% of retail price
- buy something more reliable

My hope is that by the time I sell it, Pentax will have released a replacement that uses its recently-patented ring-motor focusing drive.

Note to self: Do not buy used equipment for GoremanX

[reeftool]

Note to self: Do not buy used equipment for GoremanX

I wouldn't buy a used SDM from anyone unless the price was comparable to a similar MF lens.

[PentaxPoke]

My hope is that by the time I sell it, Pentax will have released a replacement that uses its recently-patented ring-motor focusing drive.

I wouldn't hold your breath for that "ring drive" any time soon Goreman. Even if they were able to somehow easily redesign existing lenses to use it, it is not something that is going to be on the market in a couple of years. I also suspect that since it is a magnetic drive, and not ultrasonic, the control scheme will have to be very different.

[SergioFromSF]

I just cannot justify spending $820 on a lens that will give me trouble in a year or two. Even if it's under warranty, the trouble of packing/sending/waiting for repairs is just too disconcerting to me. So I am sticking with screw drives for now.

[GoremanX]

I just cannot justify spending $820 on a lens that will give me trouble in a year or two. Even if it's under warranty, the trouble of packing/sending/waiting for repairs is just too disconcerting to me. So I am sticking with screw drives for now.

The concept blows my mind, really... $900 for an FA Limited lens that can last a lifetime, or $800+ for a DA* that will be lucky to last you a year. There's something really wrong with that logic. It turns DA* lenses into something more akin to an expensive child's toy rather than a professional tool.

Of course, if SDM wasn't a REQUIREMENT... for example if we could enable screw-drive focusing, then the whole point would be moot.

Speaking of which, I just did a comparison of 2 of my lenses. My super-old SMC Pentax F 35-70mm needs 3 turns of the screw-drive to get from closest-focus to infinity. Meanwhile, my DA* 50-135mm needs 17+ (that's MORE THAN SEVENTEEN, not a typo) to get through its entire range!!!!!!!! No wonder focusing is so slow. Even with screw-drive enabled, I don't think it would improve on performance much.

If there was nothing wrong with SDM in the first place, there can be no improvement in reliability, Pentax's silence on the matter is indicative of that.

Unless Pentax actually comes out and admits that there were issues and what they were and that they have resolved them and how, I wouldn't touch an SDM lens. I'm sure I'm not the only person that thinks that way.
In fact, this issue has I'm sure lost Pentax sales on non-SDM lenses. In light of the problems with SDM, more and more people are concerned about the short (only 1 year) warranty period for their lenses compared to other brands. Now, my position is such that,
I want Pentax to offer longer warranty's and until they do, I will always look for alternatives before buying a Pentax lens.

[tokyoso]

Agreed.
Thats why I asked for thoughts....

if you're asking for thoughts, then its really just common sense.

stealth nerfs may exist in corporate commercialism, but never stealth fixes. when and in fact Pentax/Hoya do "fix" this issue, I'm sure their PR machine will put a good spin on it and everyone will be singing praises of it on these forums.

[alexeyga]

Just to pretend making some justice to Pentax... Both Nikon's AF-S and Canon's USM do fail as well... but from extensive USAGE!!!! As oppose to SDM that just fails whenever it feels like it...

[sebberry]

People researching camera systems will frequently use internet forums to gather information.

I'm surprised that in an effort to keep/gain customers, Pentax hasn't either publicly developed and announced a better SDM system or ordered a cease/desist to Pentaxforums.com requesting all SDM failure posts be removed.

[GoremanX]

I'm surprised that in an effort to keep/gain customers, Pentax hasn't ... ordered a cease/desist to Pentaxforums.com requesting all SDM failure posts be removed.

Great way to appeal to your loyal fans... threaten with lawsuits that have no chance of ever being upheld in court.

[Jodokast96]

I'm surprised that in an effort to keep/gain customers, Pentax hasn't ... ordered a cease/desist to Pentaxforums.com requesting all SDM failure posts be removed.

Based on what grounds?

[sebberry]

Based on what grounds?

I'm sure all the SDM failure threads can't be good for business.

[GoremanX]

I'm sure all the SDM failure threads can't be good for business.

That's hardly grounds for legal threats. "Stop telling people we suck! It hurts our business!"

[Rondec]

I really think that extended warranties are the way to go with these lenses. There is no guarantee which lenses will fail and which will continue to function for years. Everyone agrees that they are good optically, so just get an extended warranty and leave the worrying to someone else.

At the same time, I agree with Gary. There are people who appear on these SDM suck threads saying that they are sure this is why their kit lens or 16-45 is having troubles. Makes plenty of people leary to buy any Pentax lenses, even if they don't have SDM.

[frank]

I think the SDM problem is over exaggerated. Here in Singapore many Pentax users have been using SDM lenses, very few had SDM problem so far, even among those who bought the 1650/50135 on the first day of launch here.