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]

Service is available again - I am back from a 2 week trip and able to accept new conversion requests.

[UncleVanya]

Just a quick bump. Remember that a lens converted works that way on all known Pentax systems that support SDM - once deactivated the DA* lenses with SDM and screwdrive all work as screwdrive only. This works on bodies you have now and in the future unless someday Pentax changes things.

[UncleVanya]

Update: I have successfully converted a DA* 300 today and verified function. That means that I now have converted the DA* 300, DA* 200, DA* 50-135, and DA* 16-50. I remain unable to convert the DA* 60-250 sadly.

[UncleVanya]

Bump to the top

[pghwarrior23]

hmm...might have to check this out. My 16-50 just died and I dread the day my 50-135 does as I LOVE this lens!!

[UncleVanya]

hmm...might have to check this out. My 16-50 just died and I dread the day my 50-135 does as I LOVE this lens!!

Happy to answer any questions you have. Either post them here or send me a private message.

[nitehntr]

hmm...might have to check this out. My 16-50 just died and I dread the day my 50-135 does as I LOVE this lens!!

he has done both the 16-50 and 50-135 for me and they are both working just fine and besides that a really fast turn around. good guy all around in my book. my 16-50 went through 4 SDM's and the 50-135 went through 2 of them.

[UncleVanya]

he has done both the 16-50 and 50-135 for me and they are both working just fine and besides that a really fast turn around. good guy all around in my book. my 16-50 went through 4 SDM's and the 50-135 went through 2 of them.

Glad that I could help.

[PALADIN85020]

I have an 18-135mm SDM that's been working just fine since 2011. However, if it ever does go belly up, I'd like to know - is this a lens you can convert to screwdrive?

Thanks,
John

[UncleVanya]

I have an 18-135mm SDM that's been working just fine since 2011. However, if it ever does go belly up, I'd like to know - is this a lens you can convert to screwdrive?

Thanks,
John

John - I'm afraid not. The only lenses that this can be performed on are DA* lenses that have both screw drive and SDM and were designed to work on both the newer SDM bodies and the older screw drive bodies. The lenses are listed in the first post in this thread.

The change in question simply rewrites some firmware in the lens allowing it to lie to the camera and pretend it has no SDM.

[UncleVanya]

Just a reminder if you plan to send lenses to me please PM me and arrange the details.

[benjikan]

Just a reminder if you plan to send lenses to me please PM me and arrange the details.

Sent you a private message...

Thanks
Ben :-)

[UncleVanya]

Another successful conversion! Bump.

[OhioAngie]

My 50-135 wouldn't focus last night. Nothing. Switched to manual, but later it started working again. Two questions: is the failure typically intermittent like this, and how noisy is the AF after the conversion? Looks like I may need your help!

[Rnovo]

Thanks for offering such a service.
Just for the record, my 16-50mm and 50-135mm have been working flawlessly ever since I had them fixed "free of charge, as under warranty" by Pentax Canada, 16 months ago. I guess they really did proceed with the required mods given the commotion the quality control on SDM created...!!!