For Sale: SDM to Screwdrive Conversions

**For Sale**: SDM to Screwdrive Conversions · 07:27 PM

I am not home. Do not ship to my home at this time. Contact me for alternate shipping address. I am able to do conversions at this time

PentaxForums.com Marketplace Listing

Item for Sale
SDM to Screwdrive Conversions

Asking Price
45.00 USD

Item Location
Mint Hill, NC (United States)

Item Description
As a service to fellow Pentax Forum users and with special permission from Adam I am happy to announce that I am available to convert failed SDM lenses to Screwdrive. I am only charging $45 at this time for lenses that I know how to convert. This is merely to cover my time and effort involved in tracking and sending packages and the time required to perform the conversion. The actual conversion is not hard and I encourage those willing to do this for themselves to do so but for those who want a bit of help - I'm offering this service.

The service includes:
Test Lens prior to conversion to verify that screwdrive is functional.
Backup LENSEEP.LNS file as is.
Modify a copy of this file to have screwdrive configuration.
Load modified file into the lens and test on an SDM capable body.
Return lens postage paid by owner.

Optionally: Email backup and modified files to the owner.

I have successfully converted all of these lenses:
DA* 16-50
DA* 50-135
DA* 200
DA* 300

I am unable to convert the DA* 60-250. There are no known methods for this conversion since the method that works for the other lenses is unreliable on this lens.

An example converted 16-50:

Please NOTE Lenses shipped to me without insurance that are lost are not my responsibility. I strongly suggest using a method with tracking and insurance but that is entirely up to you. My return postage will be based on your explicit instructions and I will not be responsible for lost items. I encourage the use of tracking and insurance.

I STRONGLY recommend that you include a letter inside the package identifying your Pentax Forums ID, the email you wish to be billed at and a contact phone number as well as full address. Ideally the letter should contain your address and mine just in case the label is lost for any reason. Finally if you include your postage instructions (insurance amount, signature required) it will make it easier. You should include not only an email for contact but also the specific email for me to send a paypal invoice to for payment.

Shipping Destinations
United States (Others considered on request)

Shipping Charge
Paid by Lens Owner

Shipping Services
USPS, UPS

Accepted Payment Types
PayPal

Return Policy & Additional Details
If I am unable to convert the lens I will not charge for the service. Lens owner is still responsible for return shipping.

Please send me a private message if interested in the service!

In Canada fozzfoster is offering a similar service: https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/24-photographic-equipment-sale/456045-sa...ns-canada.html

**UncleVanya** · 01-18-2016, 10:23 PM

Originally posted by gatorpops

What is the difference between SDM and the Screw drive method of AF? It can't be much slower or less accurate can it?
I have a DA 300 and DA 200 lenes with SDM and the 300 is starting to get spotty with focus. I am in interested? Anybody?

On some bodies, the k3 for example, there are people who see faster focusing from the 50-135 using screw drive. I haven't done any speed testing but my casual observation is that the speed is very similar perhaps slightly faster with the 50-135 lens. I haven't compared the others enough to say much, other than it wasn't that noticeable except for a bit more noise.

**UncleVanya** · 01-23-2016, 12:36 PM

So far every lens sent has had a happy ending. All were able to be converted and all appear to be working fine. I was afraid I might get someone's lens that had a damaged Lensrom file or damaged focusing due to something other than SDM failure. I am happy this has been helpful to people.

I wish someone in Oz or EU offered a similar service the shipping makes this primarily an "in country only" thing as far as economics.

**UncleVanya** · 01-26-2016, 09:59 AM

Updated thread to show that DA* 200 is one of the lenses that I can confirm that this method is able to convert.

**Mr. Ed** · 01-26-2016, 11:15 AM

I was glad (well not really) to help with that.

**UncleVanya** · 01-26-2016, 02:02 PM

Originally posted by Mr. Ed

I was glad (well not really) to help with that.

I completely understand. I'm so sorry you have had some bad luck with SDM. Glad these lenses are going to be useful as AF again but sorry you have had such an ordeal.

**Mr. Ed** · 01-26-2016, 05:17 PM

I have nothing but thanks and praise for you Uncle, really makes my lenses much more enjoyable. Just my misfortune. Would have been nice if B&H & Adorama had put a little pressure on Pentax due to all the failures.

SparkTronic · 01-26-2016, 05:21 PM

Thank you for offering this valuable service. Now I can consider purchasing a 16-50mm on the used market someday.

One comment--as generous as it is for you to do this at zero margin, please consider charging enough to makes this service worth your time over the long haul!

**clackers** · 01-26-2016, 05:51 PM

Originally posted by SparkTronic

.

One comment--as generous as it is for you to do this at zero margin, please consider charging enough to makes this service worth your time over the long haul!

Yep. ☺

**UncleVanya** · 01-26-2016, 06:38 PM

Originally posted by SparkTronic

Thank you for offering this valuable service. Now I can consider purchasing a 16-50mm on the used market someday.

One comment--as generous as it is for you to do this at zero margin, please consider charging enough to makes this service worth your time over the long haul!

My fee pays for my time. I don't spend a ton of time per lens, and with increased automation that time will go down. I'm also selling myself a bit cheaper than my normal rates but I enjoy this to a degree. If I ever feel the need I will raise prices. At the moment the flow of lenses is slow and I am happy to do it.

BTW - in late March - early April I will NOT be available for this service due to other commitments on my time. I will appropriately mark this thread before then. I plan to resume the service after that but during that brief period I will not be available to do this.

**monochrome** · 01-26-2016, 06:55 PM

There seems to be a small community of Pentaxians - people who do this sort of thing out of generosity and care for the brand and users - that i don't think you find in other brands. People like Kim Coxon (Pentax Manuals) Boz Dmitrov (K-mount Page) Stan Halpin (Stan's Pentax) white metal.com (Paul Provencher) Yoshihiko Takinami (Takinami.com) John O'connell (JCO here and on eBay) and many other members of PDML who wrote and stored a great of Pentax history in the late 90's - and, yes, Adam Oesh who gave us our freedom from DPR and the Mods who volunteer to run this community so we might. Little things like this service Uncle Vanya offers, giving the Sightseeing Screwmount SV to the Forum, or even that Eric Hendrickson continues to fix our cameras and lenses keep the fabric of Pentax intact. It's irrational, a few members currently posting FUD will never get it - but it is this spirit that is the core of the Pentax mystique.

Thank you, all of you.

**UncleVanya** · 01-26-2016, 07:00 PM

Originally posted by monochrome

There seems to be a small community of Pentaxians - people who do this sort of thing out of generosity and care for the brand and users - that i don't think you find in other brands. People like Kim Coxon (Pentax Manuals) Boz Dmitrov (K-mount Page) Stan Halpin (Stan's Pentax) white metal.com (Paul Provencher) Yoshihiko Takinami (Takinami.com) John O'connell (JCO here and on eBay) and many other members of PDML who wrote and stored a great of Pentax history in the late 90's - and, yes, Adam Oesh who gave us our freedom from DPR. Little things like this service Uncle Vanya offers, giving the Sightseeing Screwmount SV to the Forum, or even that Eric Hendrickson continues to fix our cameras and lenses keep the fabric of Pentax intact. It's irrational, a few members currently posting FUD will never get it - but it is this spirit that is the core of the Pentax mystique.

Wow - I'm honored to be in such company. Thank you. In all honesty if this was a huge community and I was getting dozens of lenses a week I might have to rethink the amount per lens. As it is I can afford to tinker around and enjoy playing with the lenses and making the connections with people. It also makes my $100 investment into the K100D pay for itself.

**monochrome** · 01-26-2016, 07:25 PM

Originally posted by UncleVanya

Wow - I'm honored to be in such company. Thank you. In all honesty if this was a huge community and I was getting dozens of lenses a week I might have to rethink the amount per lens. As it is I can afford to tinker around and enjoy playing with the lenses and making the connections with people. It also makes my $100 investment into the K100D pay for itself.

Well if you want it or the K100D craps out I'll send you my K10D. Keep it in mind.

**UncleVanya** · 01-26-2016, 09:19 PM

Originally posted by monochrome

Well if you want it or the K100D craps out I'll send you my K10D. Keep it in mind.

So the reason the k100d needed to pay for itself I'd that I own a k100d super and spent hours upon hours trying to figure out how to use it. It turns out I made a few tiny errors and that was why it didn't work... but I didn't know that until I bought the k100d and failed with it at first.

So thank you for the kind words and the offer. So far I am good.

**UncleVanya** · 01-29-2016, 03:02 PM

Just an update for those sending lenses to me. First make sure you include a letter or something inside the package identifying who you are. It should contain your address and mine just in case the label is lost for any reason. Additionally it should include your Pentax Forums ID and a phone number in case i have questions for you. I will try to remind folks of this as they contact me.

bertwert · 01-29-2016, 03:15 PM

Originally posted by UncleVanya

Just an update for those sending lenses to me. First make sure you include a letter or something inside the package identifying who you are. It should contain your address and mine just in case the label is lost for any reason. Additionally it should include your Pentax Forums ID and a phone number in case i have questions for you. I will try to remind folks of this as they contact me.

I'm not sending lenses, and probably never will (as I can't afford SDM lenses anyways...) but you should add this info to the original post.

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01-18-2016, 10:23 PM	#31
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 28,460 Feedback Score: 44 (100%) Original Poster	Originally posted by gatorpops What is the difference between SDM and the Screw drive method of AF? It can't be much slower or less accurate can it? I have a DA 300 and DA 200 lenes with SDM and the 300 is starting to get spotty with focus. I am in interested? Anybody? On some bodies, the k3 for example, there are people who see faster focusing from the 50-135 using screw drive. I haven't done any speed testing but my casual observation is that the speed is very similar perhaps slightly faster with the 50-135 lens. I haven't compared the others enough to say much, other than it wasn't that noticeable except for a bit more noise.

01-23-2016, 12:36 PM	#32
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 28,460 Feedback Score: 44 (100%) Original Poster	So far every lens sent has had a happy ending. All were able to be converted and all appear to be working fine. I was afraid I might get someone's lens that had a damaged Lensrom file or damaged focusing due to something other than SDM failure. I am happy this has been helpful to people. I wish someone in Oz or EU offered a similar service the shipping makes this primarily an "in country only" thing as far as economics.

01-26-2016, 09:59 AM	#33
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 28,460 Feedback Score: 44 (100%) Original Poster	Updated thread to show that DA* 200 is one of the lenses that I can confirm that this method is able to convert.

01-26-2016, 11:15 AM	#34
Mr. Ed Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2014 Posts: 563 Feedback Score: 1 (100%)	I was glad (well not really) to help with that.

01-26-2016, 02:02 PM	#35
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 28,460 Feedback Score: 44 (100%) Original Poster	Originally posted by Mr. Ed I was glad (well not really) to help with that. I completely understand. I'm so sorry you have had some bad luck with SDM. Glad these lenses are going to be useful as AF again but sorry you have had such an ordeal.

01-26-2016, 05:17 PM	#36
Mr. Ed Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2014 Posts: 563 Feedback Score: 1 (100%)	I have nothing but thanks and praise for you Uncle, really makes my lenses much more enjoyable. Just my misfortune. Would have been nice if B&H & Adorama had put a little pressure on Pentax due to all the failures.

01-26-2016, 05:21 PM	#37
SparkTronic Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 38 Feedback Score: 7 (100%)	Thank you for offering this valuable service. Now I can consider purchasing a 16-50mm on the used market someday. One comment--as generous as it is for you to do this at zero margin, please consider charging enough to makes this service worth your time over the long haul!

01-26-2016, 05:51 PM	#38
clackers Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Melbourne Posts: 16,397 Feedback Score: 4 (100%)	Originally posted by SparkTronic . One comment--as generous as it is for you to do this at zero margin, please consider charging enough to makes this service worth your time over the long haul! Yep. ☺

01-26-2016, 06:38 PM	#39
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 28,460 Feedback Score: 44 (100%) Original Poster	Originally posted by SparkTronic Thank you for offering this valuable service. Now I can consider purchasing a 16-50mm on the used market someday. One comment--as generous as it is for you to do this at zero margin, please consider charging enough to makes this service worth your time over the long haul! My fee pays for my time. I don't spend a ton of time per lens, and with increased automation that time will go down. I'm also selling myself a bit cheaper than my normal rates but I enjoy this to a degree. If I ever feel the need I will raise prices. At the moment the flow of lenses is slow and I am happy to do it. BTW - in late March - early April I will NOT be available for this service due to other commitments on my time. I will appropriately mark this thread before then. I plan to resume the service after that but during that brief period I will not be available to do this.

01-26-2016, 06:55 PM	#40
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Posts: 26,276 Feedback Score: 159 (99%)	There seems to be a small community of Pentaxians - people who do this sort of thing out of generosity and care for the brand and users - that i don't think you find in other brands. People like Kim Coxon (Pentax Manuals) Boz Dmitrov (K-mount Page) Stan Halpin (Stan's Pentax) white metal.com (Paul Provencher) Yoshihiko Takinami (Takinami.com) John O'connell (JCO here and on eBay) and many other members of PDML who wrote and stored a great of Pentax history in the late 90's - and, yes, Adam Oesh who gave us our freedom from DPR and the Mods who volunteer to run this community so we might. Little things like this service Uncle Vanya offers, giving the Sightseeing Screwmount SV to the Forum, or even that Eric Hendrickson continues to fix our cameras and lenses keep the fabric of Pentax intact. It's irrational, a few members currently posting FUD will never get it - but it is this spirit that is the core of the Pentax mystique. Thank you, all of you.

01-26-2016, 07:00 PM	#41
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 28,460 Feedback Score: 44 (100%) Original Poster	Originally posted by monochrome There seems to be a small community of Pentaxians - people who do this sort of thing out of generosity and care for the brand and users - that i don't think you find in other brands. People like Kim Coxon (Pentax Manuals) Boz Dmitrov (K-mount Page) Stan Halpin (Stan's Pentax) white metal.com (Paul Provencher) Yoshihiko Takinami (Takinami.com) John O'connell (JCO here and on eBay) and many other members of PDML who wrote and stored a great of Pentax history in the late 90's - and, yes, Adam Oesh who gave us our freedom from DPR. Little things like this service Uncle Vanya offers, giving the Sightseeing Screwmount SV to the Forum, or even that Eric Hendrickson continues to fix our cameras and lenses keep the fabric of Pentax intact. It's irrational, a few members currently posting FUD will never get it - but it is this spirit that is the core of the Pentax mystique. Wow - I'm honored to be in such company. Thank you. In all honesty if this was a huge community and I was getting dozens of lenses a week I might have to rethink the amount per lens. As it is I can afford to tinker around and enjoy playing with the lenses and making the connections with people. It also makes my $100 investment into the K100D pay for itself.

01-26-2016, 07:25 PM	#42
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Posts: 26,276 Feedback Score: 159 (99%)	Originally posted by UncleVanya Wow - I'm honored to be in such company. Thank you. In all honesty if this was a huge community and I was getting dozens of lenses a week I might have to rethink the amount per lens. As it is I can afford to tinker around and enjoy playing with the lenses and making the connections with people. It also makes my $100 investment into the K100D pay for itself. Well if you want it or the K100D craps out I'll send you my K10D. Keep it in mind.

01-26-2016, 09:19 PM	#43
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 28,460 Feedback Score: 44 (100%) Original Poster	Originally posted by monochrome Well if you want it or the K100D craps out I'll send you my K10D. Keep it in mind. So the reason the k100d needed to pay for itself I'd that I own a k100d super and spent hours upon hours trying to figure out how to use it. It turns out I made a few tiny errors and that was why it didn't work... but I didn't know that until I bought the k100d and failed with it at first. So thank you for the kind words and the offer. So far I am good.

01-29-2016, 03:02 PM	#44
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 28,460 Feedback Score: 44 (100%) Original Poster	Just an update for those sending lenses to me. First make sure you include a letter or something inside the package identifying who you are. It should contain your address and mine just in case the label is lost for any reason. Additionally it should include your Pentax Forums ID and a phone number in case i have questions for you. I will try to remind folks of this as they contact me.

01-29-2016, 03:15 PM	#45
bertwert Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Golden, BC Posts: 15,172 Feedback Score: 12 (100%)	Originally posted by UncleVanya Just an update for those sending lenses to me. First make sure you include a letter or something inside the package identifying who you are. It should contain your address and mine just in case the label is lost for any reason. Additionally it should include your Pentax Forums ID and a phone number in case i have questions for you. I will try to remind folks of this as they contact me. I'm not sending lenses, and probably never will (as I can't afford SDM lenses anyways...) but you should add this info to the original post.