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Blue · 11-30-2012, 12:18 PM

Originally posted by ve2vfd

Well, sent my DA*16-50 in to Pentax Canada for a failed SDM motor for the second time in less than 2 years...

On an unrelated note, I also sent in my DA*60-250 as the aperture mechanism inside the lens barrel hangs upon extension and retraction of the zoom...

Add to that a spotty sensor K5d that needed to be replaced when I bought it and having had to exchange my K20d 2 times before I got one that didn't front focus beyond adjustment... needless to say that at this point I am quite underwhelmed with the quality of Pentax products...

Pat

I had a Nikon, my first serious digital camera and the sensor 'blew out" on it. It was out of warranty but since it was under recall, they replaced the sensor in it.

Medium FormatPro · 11-30-2012, 12:41 PM

Originally posted by ve2vfd

quite underwhelmed with the quality of Pentax products

So that now makes three Pentax branded lens all with major issues. Add to that the original (but now phased out) K-5 having sensor burn issues

Blue · 11-30-2012, 01:34 PM

Originally posted by Medium FormatPro

So that now makes three Pentax branded lens all with major issues. Add to that the original (but now phased out) K-5 having sensor burn issues

I think he was talking about the sensor stains early in the K-5 run. The Nikon D7000 wasn't without its issues.

FireDog · 12-02-2012, 09:48 PM

What's with Pentax? Re-write your firmware to allow using the screw-drive as an option for K-5 owners.

Alizarine · 12-03-2012, 09:48 AM

Originally posted by FireDog

What's with Pentax? Re-write your firmware to allow using the screw-drive as an option for K-5 owners.

They're probably thinking, "that would be convenient to get rid of all these SDM complaints... but wait. Maybe we can just force them instead to buy new ones and announcing that these later specimens are trouble-free! That would keep maintenance costs low and still keep sales up!"

**7samurai** · 12-03-2012, 01:37 PM

I sure would like to see a picture of the new part vs the old part. I find it interesting that we still haven't seen something like that.

FireDog · 12-03-2012, 03:16 PM

Originally posted by Alizarine

They're probably thinking, "that would be convenient to get rid of all these SDM complaints... but wait. Maybe we can just force them instead to buy new ones and announcing that these later specimens are trouble-free! That would keep maintenance costs low and still keep sales up!"

That's the depressing part about this. It's not about their convenience, it's about ours. Nothing like being on vacation and your SDM fails. Your lens has the screw drive but you can't use it. As i mentioned above, I work in IT, software developer. Well written firmware/software is all about options. There will always be the default behaviour but you provide options for the sophisticated user or as a fail-safe backup. Get it fixed when we have some down-time/quiet-time.

ve2vfd · 12-03-2012, 04:35 PM

Now why would they make the screw-drive work as a backup when they can charge us 10 times what it costs them to change a $15 part and $50 of labour to replace the SDM motor...

At this point Pentax Canada has had my lenses almost a week and I haven't heard a peep from them... this does not bode well... last few times I dealt with them they at least sent me a note the next day to let me know they had received my item and give me a reference number. *sigh*

Pat

Class A · 12-03-2012, 04:43 PM

Originally posted by FireDog

Get it fixed when we have some down-time/quiet-time.

Don't expect this to happen. There has been a petition to Pentax to allow the screw-drive to be enabled. To no avail.

Maybe Pentax regards enabling such a feature as an admission of SDM problems, which they'd like to avoid.

Class A · 12-03-2012, 04:45 PM

Originally posted by bossa

Has the forum ever presented a petition regarding the firmware changes necessary to achieve this?

Yes. -> Pentax SDM Firmware Petition

Docrwm · 12-03-2012, 06:27 PM

Originally posted by Class A

Don't expect this to happen. There has been a petition to Pentax to allow the screw-drive to be enabled. To no avail.

Maybe Pentax regards enabling such a feature as an admission of SDM problems, which they'd like to avoid.

Do we know whether the screw drive will work when the SDM freezes up? Is there a clutch mechanism in the camera that will prevent a frozen lens from harming the gearing in the camera? I do not own any SDM for these reasons. So, I have never looked into the screw drive issue beyond knowing that it will not work on the SDM lenses. I'd rather ask these questions than pretend I know, which I do not.

Blue · 12-03-2012, 06:55 PM

Originally posted by Docrwm

Do we know whether the screw drive will work when the SDM freezes up? Is there a clutch mechanism in the camera that will prevent a frozen lens from harming the gearing in the camera? I do not own any SDM for these reasons. So, I have never looked into the screw drive issue beyond knowing that it will not work on the SDM lenses. I'd rather ask these questions than pretend I know, which I do not.

MF still works so the S.D. may still work. Someone with a dead SDM could try it out on a *istD and see.

Alizarine · 12-03-2012, 07:05 PM

Thanks for re-posting the link to the signature campaign, Class A.

Though I think it must be addressed to Pentax-Japan, where the top brass make the big decisions. If allowing use of the SD is an admittance of a flaw in the SDM design, then the head honchos must know how to decide upon it.

oxidized · 12-03-2012, 07:41 PM

I think I have read before about people having their SDM die and they tried their lens on a K10 with old firmware and the autofocus was brought back to life as a screwdrive. Again, this assumes that all SDM problems are identical, which is not the case. People have had variable success opening their lens and working their motor manually trying to free it from being stuck. Overall, nothing is certain.

Unless Pentax officially announces the former issue and offers a solution (old lenses will be fixed even out of warranty) and states that new lenses have the corrected design, I'll be doubtful the issue has been resolved. The interview with the engineer might have been totally factual or might have been someone asking him about SMD failure and he got put into a corner and just said that the problem has been resolved (when it really might be design flaw which cant be fixed).

It's a pity though, my DA* 50-135 is one of my favorite lens. At least if my SDM fails i will be left with a really amazing manual focus lens.

LeDave · 12-03-2012, 07:44 PM

Originally posted by oxidized

I think I have read before about people having their SDM die and they tried their lens on a K10 with old firmware and the autofocus was brought back to life as a screwdrive. Again, this assumes that all SDM problems are identical, which is not the case. People have had variable success opening their lens and working their motor manually trying to free it from being stuck. Overall, nothing is certain.

Unless Pentax officially announces the former issue and offers a solution (old lenses will be fixed even out of warranty) and states that new lenses have the corrected design, I'll be doubtful the issue has been resolved. The interview with the engineer might have been totally factual or might have been someone asking him about SMD failure and he got put into a corner and just said that the problem has been resolved (when it really might be design flaw which cant be fixed).

It's a pity though, my DA* 50-135 is one of my favorite lens. At least if my SDM fails i will be left with a really amazing manual focus lens.

If that's the case, then it would be easier to use a screwdriver and stick it in the screw-drive slot of the lens and twist and turn rather than opening the lens up and doing it that way. Interesting, will keep this in mind if either of my SDM ever dies.

12-02-2012, 09:48 PM	#124
FireDog Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 47	Wake up Pentax! What's with Pentax? Re-write your firmware to allow using the screw-drive as an option for K-5 owners.

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11-30-2012, 12:18 PM	#121
Blue Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Florida Hill Country Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,377	Originally posted by ve2vfd Well, sent my DA16-50 in to Pentax Canada for a failed SDM motor for the second time in less than 2 years... On an unrelated note, I also sent in my DA60-250 as the aperture mechanism inside the lens barrel hangs upon extension and retraction of the zoom... Add to that a spotty sensor K5d that needed to be replaced when I bought it and having had to exchange my K20d 2 times before I got one that didn't front focus beyond adjustment... needless to say that at this point I am quite underwhelmed with the quality of Pentax products... Pat I had a Nikon, my first serious digital camera and the sensor 'blew out" on it. It was out of warranty but since it was under recall, they replaced the sensor in it.

11-30-2012, 12:41 PM	#122
Medium FormatPro Banned Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Charleston & Pittsburgh Photos: Albums Posts: 1,668	Originally posted by ve2vfd quite underwhelmed with the quality of Pentax products So that now makes three Pentax branded lens all with major issues. Add to that the original (but now phased out) K-5 having sensor burn issues

11-30-2012, 01:34 PM	#123
Blue Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Florida Hill Country Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,377	Originally posted by Medium FormatPro So that now makes three Pentax branded lens all with major issues. Add to that the original (but now phased out) K-5 having sensor burn issues I think he was talking about the sensor stains early in the K-5 run. The Nikon D7000 wasn't without its issues.

12-03-2012, 09:48 AM	#125
Alizarine Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Manila Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,185	Originally posted by FireDog What's with Pentax? Re-write your firmware to allow using the screw-drive as an option for K-5 owners. They're probably thinking, "that would be convenient to get rid of all these SDM complaints... but wait. Maybe we can just force them instead to buy new ones and announcing that these later specimens are trouble-free! That would keep maintenance costs low and still keep sales up!"

12-03-2012, 01:37 PM	#126
7samurai Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Rancho Cucamonga, CA Photos: Albums Posts: 474	I sure would like to see a picture of the new part vs the old part. I find it interesting that we still haven't seen something like that.

12-03-2012, 03:16 PM	#127
FireDog Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 47	Originally posted by Alizarine They're probably thinking, "that would be convenient to get rid of all these SDM complaints... but wait. Maybe we can just force them instead to buy new ones and announcing that these later specimens are trouble-free! That would keep maintenance costs low and still keep sales up!" That's the depressing part about this. It's not about their convenience, it's about ours. Nothing like being on vacation and your SDM fails. Your lens has the screw drive but you can't use it. As i mentioned above, I work in IT, software developer. Well written firmware/software is all about options. There will always be the default behaviour but you provide options for the sophisticated user or as a fail-safe backup. Get it fixed when we have some down-time/quiet-time.

12-03-2012, 04:35 PM	#128
ve2vfd Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Montreal, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,433	Now why would they make the screw-drive work as a backup when they can charge us 10 times what it costs them to change a $15 part and $50 of labour to replace the SDM motor... At this point Pentax Canada has had my lenses almost a week and I haven't heard a peep from them... this does not bode well... last few times I dealt with them they at least sent me a note the next day to let me know they had received my item and give me a reference number. sigh Pat

12-03-2012, 04:43 PM	#129
Class A Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Wellington, New Zealand Posts: 11,251	Originally posted by FireDog Get it fixed when we have some down-time/quiet-time. Don't expect this to happen. There has been a petition to Pentax to allow the screw-drive to be enabled. To no avail. Maybe Pentax regards enabling such a feature as an admission of SDM problems, which they'd like to avoid.

12-03-2012, 04:45 PM	#130
Class A Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Wellington, New Zealand Posts: 11,251	Originally posted by bossa Has the forum ever presented a petition regarding the firmware changes necessary to achieve this? Yes. -> Pentax SDM Firmware Petition

12-03-2012, 06:27 PM	#131
Docrwm Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Somewhere in the Southern US Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,285	Originally posted by Class A Don't expect this to happen. There has been a petition to Pentax to allow the screw-drive to be enabled. To no avail. Maybe Pentax regards enabling such a feature as an admission of SDM problems, which they'd like to avoid. Do we know whether the screw drive will work when the SDM freezes up? Is there a clutch mechanism in the camera that will prevent a frozen lens from harming the gearing in the camera? I do not own any SDM for these reasons. So, I have never looked into the screw drive issue beyond knowing that it will not work on the SDM lenses. I'd rather ask these questions than pretend I know, which I do not.

12-03-2012, 06:55 PM	#132
Blue Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Florida Hill Country Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,377	Originally posted by Docrwm Do we know whether the screw drive will work when the SDM freezes up? Is there a clutch mechanism in the camera that will prevent a frozen lens from harming the gearing in the camera? I do not own any SDM for these reasons. So, I have never looked into the screw drive issue beyond knowing that it will not work on the SDM lenses. I'd rather ask these questions than pretend I know, which I do not. MF still works so the S.D. may still work. Someone with a dead SDM could try it out on a *istD and see.

12-03-2012, 07:05 PM	#133
Alizarine Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Manila Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,185	Thanks for re-posting the link to the signature campaign, Class A. Though I think it must be addressed to Pentax-Japan, where the top brass make the big decisions. If allowing use of the SD is an admittance of a flaw in the SDM design, then the head honchos must know how to decide upon it.

12-03-2012, 07:41 PM	#134
oxidized Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: USA - Delaware Photos: Albums Posts: 435	I think I have read before about people having their SDM die and they tried their lens on a K10 with old firmware and the autofocus was brought back to life as a screwdrive. Again, this assumes that all SDM problems are identical, which is not the case. People have had variable success opening their lens and working their motor manually trying to free it from being stuck. Overall, nothing is certain. Unless Pentax officially announces the former issue and offers a solution (old lenses will be fixed even out of warranty) and states that new lenses have the corrected design, I'll be doubtful the issue has been resolved. The interview with the engineer might have been totally factual or might have been someone asking him about SMD failure and he got put into a corner and just said that the problem has been resolved (when it really might be design flaw which cant be fixed). It's a pity though, my DA* 50-135 is one of my favorite lens. At least if my SDM fails i will be left with a really amazing manual focus lens.

12-03-2012, 07:44 PM	#135
LeDave Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Minneapolis - St. Paul Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,067	Originally posted by oxidized I think I have read before about people having their SDM die and they tried their lens on a K10 with old firmware and the autofocus was brought back to life as a screwdrive. Again, this assumes that all SDM problems are identical, which is not the case. People have had variable success opening their lens and working their motor manually trying to free it from being stuck. Overall, nothing is certain. Unless Pentax officially announces the former issue and offers a solution (old lenses will be fixed even out of warranty) and states that new lenses have the corrected design, I'll be doubtful the issue has been resolved. The interview with the engineer might have been totally factual or might have been someone asking him about SMD failure and he got put into a corner and just said that the problem has been resolved (when it really might be design flaw which cant be fixed). It's a pity though, my DA* 50-135 is one of my favorite lens. At least if my SDM fails i will be left with a really amazing manual focus lens. If that's the case, then it would be easier to use a screwdriver and stick it in the screw-drive slot of the lens and twist and turn rather than opening the lens up and doing it that way. Interesting, will keep this in mind if either of my SDM ever dies.

An end to SDM failure?

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