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waterfall · 07-31-2015, 04:44 PM

I took a chance and sent off my DA*200 to KEH for replacement of the failed SDM. Two weeks to the day after they received the lens, it arrived today. New SDM AF motor, cleaned and packed very, very well. The lens focuses swiftly and quietly with no issues. KEH included the bad SDM motor in a little Baggie. I am very pleased with the quick service and especially with the fixed price for non-zooms up to 200mm, which was $130, plus $12 shipping.

Six month warranty so believe this lens will be mounted a lot!

Highly recommended repair service. Obviously they can only perform out-of-warranty service, but parts apparently are no problem.

**Jacquot** · 07-31-2015, 05:01 PM

Originally posted by waterfall

I took a chance and sent off my DA*200 to KEH for replacement of the failed SDM. Two weeks to the day after they received the lens, it arrived today. New SDM AF motor, cleaned and packed very, very well. The lens focuses swiftly and quietly with no issues. KEH included the bad SDM motor in a little Baggie. I am very pleased with the quick service and especially with the fixed price for non-zooms up to 200mm, which was $130, plus $12 shipping.

Six month warranty so believe this lens will be mounted a lot!

Highly recommended repair service. Obviously they can only perform out-of-warranty service, but parts apparently are no problem.

Good to know...

mee · 07-31-2015, 05:02 PM

That is a very nice price indeed.. they charge 200 for zooms which is still pretty decent.

Oh an aside, I bought an 'UGLY' grade lens recently from KEH and it arrived in what I'd consider 'gently used' condition. No dents, dings, or scratches... optics fine.. no play in the zoom or focus rings.. That said, the FEDEX driver delivered it to the wrong address (and that person thankfully did the right thing and got it to me) but I've been told from KEH that they can request signature upon delivery if I ask for it on subsequent orders.

waterfall · 07-31-2015, 05:42 PM

Yes, two day air FedEx is an option at about $24 if memory serves. I am very pleased and will keep the dead SDM motor as a souvenir of poor design. The little motor is thick as a nickel coin, diameter about half a bottle cap. Hope my new one is tougher than the original.

Not a Number · 07-31-2015, 05:45 PM

Originally posted by waterfall

The little motor is thick as a nickel coin, diameter about half a bottle cap.

Just curious to see this, could you post a pic?

Very encouraging news overall. Add another positive lens repair report for KEH and no evidence that they sub-contracted it to Precision.

ZombieArmy · 07-31-2015, 05:55 PM

KEH is a wonderful company, really.

stormtech · 08-01-2015, 05:02 AM

Recently had the SDM replaced on my DA* 16-50 by KEH with the same great results.

(guess this should be in the lens section....)

jddwoods · 08-01-2015, 05:32 AM

Thank you for sharing this information. I was inquiring about lens repairs besides precision and got a few responses of generally positive experiences with KEH. I also got a lot of recommendations to use Eric Hendrickson so I sent my DA 70 Limited to him for repair. When I get back, and it is almost a month since I sent it to him, I will share my experience on his repair job. My one experience with KEH is a DA 21mm Limited I bought from KEH in LN condition. The lens was truly indistinguishable from a brand new lens and is one of my favorite lenses. Hopefully for now, I will not need to compare Eric to KEH and all of my lenses and bodies will remain trouble free, but it is good to know KEH can be counted on as a quality repair option.

Wolfeye · 08-01-2015, 05:44 AM

I think Pentax should fix these for free, personally. Horrible design.

waterfall · 08-01-2015, 01:25 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Not a Number

Just curious to see this, could you post a pic?

Very encouraging news overall. Add another positive lens repair report for KEH and no evidence that they sub-contracted it to Precision.

These are the SDM from my repaired lens.

LeDave · 08-01-2015, 01:36 PM

Originally posted by waterfall

These are the SDM from my repaired lens.

Wow that little thing sure has a lot of power to move lenses such as the DA* 300 and so.

Not a Number · 08-01-2015, 01:58 PM

Originally posted by waterfall

These are the SDM from my repaired lens.

Awesome! Thanks a lot for sharing.

**Eagle94VT** · 08-16-2015, 06:47 PM

I can second this. After precision failed to fix my sdm, and having a local repair what precision broke, I sent my 16-50 to keh to replace the sdm motor. It took less than two weeks, works awesome right out of the box, and I also have my old sdm in the box. Very very happy with the experience!

**clackers** · 08-16-2015, 07:39 PM

Terrible. There should be two of these on the lens, if that's the design they have to use.

Aggie89 · 10-24-2015, 10:02 AM

Thanks for posting your experience. Based on this, I contacted KEH about repairing the SDM on my 60-250 and they said they had some motors in stock. Sent it to them last Friday and received a note yesterday that it's repaired and a tracking number for the return. Can't wait to check it out since I've been without auto-focus on this lens for nearly a year.

07-31-2015, 04:44 PM	#1
waterfall Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Northern Minnesota Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,812	KEH SDM Repair I took a chance and sent off my DA*200 to KEH for replacement of the failed SDM. Two weeks to the day after they received the lens, it arrived today. New SDM AF motor, cleaned and packed very, very well. The lens focuses swiftly and quietly with no issues. KEH included the bad SDM motor in a little Baggie. I am very pleased with the quick service and especially with the fixed price for non-zooms up to 200mm, which was $130, plus $12 shipping. Six month warranty so believe this lens will be mounted a lot! Highly recommended repair service. Obviously they can only perform out-of-warranty service, but parts apparently are no problem.

08-01-2015, 01:25 PM - 1 Like	#10
waterfall Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Northern Minnesota Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,812 Original Poster	Originally posted by Not a Number Just curious to see this, could you post a pic? Very encouraging news overall. Add another positive lens repair report for KEH and no evidence that they sub-contracted it to Precision. These are the SDM from my repaired lens. Last edited by waterfall; 01-04-2016 at 06:38 AM.

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07-31-2015, 05:01 PM	#2
Jacquot Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: May 2008 Location: Sun City Center, FL Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,544	Originally posted by waterfall I took a chance and sent off my DA*200 to KEH for replacement of the failed SDM. Two weeks to the day after they received the lens, it arrived today. New SDM AF motor, cleaned and packed very, very well. The lens focuses swiftly and quietly with no issues. KEH included the bad SDM motor in a little Baggie. I am very pleased with the quick service and especially with the fixed price for non-zooms up to 200mm, which was $130, plus $12 shipping. Six month warranty so believe this lens will be mounted a lot! Highly recommended repair service. Obviously they can only perform out-of-warranty service, but parts apparently are no problem. Good to know...

07-31-2015, 05:02 PM	#3
mee Veteran Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 7,403	That is a very nice price indeed.. they charge 200 for zooms which is still pretty decent. Oh an aside, I bought an 'UGLY' grade lens recently from KEH and it arrived in what I'd consider 'gently used' condition. No dents, dings, or scratches... optics fine.. no play in the zoom or focus rings.. That said, the FEDEX driver delivered it to the wrong address (and that person thankfully did the right thing and got it to me) but I've been told from KEH that they can request signature upon delivery if I ask for it on subsequent orders.

07-31-2015, 05:42 PM	#4
waterfall Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Northern Minnesota Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,812 Original Poster	Yes, two day air FedEx is an option at about $24 if memory serves. I am very pleased and will keep the dead SDM motor as a souvenir of poor design. The little motor is thick as a nickel coin, diameter about half a bottle cap. Hope my new one is tougher than the original.

07-31-2015, 05:45 PM	#5
Not a Number Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Venice, CA Posts: 10,526	Originally posted by waterfall The little motor is thick as a nickel coin, diameter about half a bottle cap. Just curious to see this, could you post a pic? Very encouraging news overall. Add another positive lens repair report for KEH and no evidence that they sub-contracted it to Precision.

07-31-2015, 05:55 PM	#6
ZombieArmy Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Florida Posts: 3,210	KEH is a wonderful company, really.

08-01-2015, 05:02 AM	#7
stormtech Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: In the boonies (NW Penna) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,744	Recently had the SDM replaced on my DA* 16-50 by KEH with the same great results. (guess this should be in the lens section....)

08-01-2015, 05:32 AM	#8
jddwoods Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Newark, Delaware Posts: 1,035	Thank you for sharing this information. I was inquiring about lens repairs besides precision and got a few responses of generally positive experiences with KEH. I also got a lot of recommendations to use Eric Hendrickson so I sent my DA 70 Limited to him for repair. When I get back, and it is almost a month since I sent it to him, I will share my experience on his repair job. My one experience with KEH is a DA 21mm Limited I bought from KEH in LN condition. The lens was truly indistinguishable from a brand new lens and is one of my favorite lenses. Hopefully for now, I will not need to compare Eric to KEH and all of my lenses and bodies will remain trouble free, but it is good to know KEH can be counted on as a quality repair option.

08-01-2015, 05:44 AM	#9
Wolfeye Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Photos: Albums Posts: 782	I think Pentax should fix these for free, personally. Horrible design.

08-01-2015, 01:36 PM	#11
LeDave Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Minneapolis - St. Paul Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,067	Originally posted by waterfall These are the SDM from my repaired lens. Wow that little thing sure has a lot of power to move lenses such as the DA* 300 and so.

08-01-2015, 01:58 PM	#12
Not a Number Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Venice, CA Posts: 10,526	Originally posted by waterfall These are the SDM from my repaired lens. Awesome! Thanks a lot for sharing.

08-16-2015, 06:47 PM	#13
Eagle94VT Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2010 Photos: Albums Posts: 291	I can second this. After precision failed to fix my sdm, and having a local repair what precision broke, I sent my 16-50 to keh to replace the sdm motor. It took less than two weeks, works awesome right out of the box, and I also have my old sdm in the box. Very very happy with the experience!

08-16-2015, 07:39 PM	#14
clackers Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Melbourne Photos: Albums Posts: 16,397	Terrible. There should be two of these on the lens, if that's the design they have to use.

10-24-2015, 10:02 AM	#15
Aggie89 New Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Texas Photos: Gallery Posts: 16	Thanks for posting your experience. Based on this, I contacted KEH about repairing the SDM on my 60-250 and they said they had some motors in stock. Sent it to them last Friday and received a note yesterday that it's repaired and a tracking number for the return. Can't wait to check it out since I've been without auto-focus on this lens for nearly a year.

KEH SDM Repair

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