There are many tutorials for converting *SDM-lenses to screwdrive but as I have done it now many times I felt we could have a step by step tutorial including the latest findings and photos, so that everything can go super smooth.
When I did this conversion the first time, I had zero experience with anything like this!
I was ... like most of you ... just a beginner!
And as most tutorials were in English, I was even more so a beginner, a greenhorn as it is called sometimes.
But after I studied a few tutorials, I knew I can do it and so it was. Actually it was pretty easy. So don't be scared!
One just has to be attentive, follow each step and then thats it!
But as I have written many tutorials concerning other Pentax repairs I knew, here we need a thorough tutorial as well.
So here it is:
The following Pentax lenses can be converted and the procedure is the same:
- SMC PENTAX-DA* 16-50mmF2.8 ED AL [IF] SDM
- SMC PENTAX-DA* 50-135mm F2.8 ED [IF]SDM (this is the one I use here for this tutorial)
- SMC PENTAX-DA* 200mmF2.8 ED[IF] SDM
- SMC PENTAX-DA* 300mmF4 ED[IF] SDM
The SMC PENTAX DA* 60-250mm F4ED [IF] SDM cannot be converted although it has an inbuilt screwdrive mechanism. The lens-rom datas are very complex, nobody succeeded until today.
The DA* 55mmF1,4 and SMC Pentax DA*17-70mm/F4,0 cannot be converted because they have no screwdrive built it, they are SDM only.
You need:
1. Pentax DSLR:K100/110/100D-Super*, K200D, K-m, K-x, K-r, K10D*, K20D, K7, K5, K5II, K5IIs (I used the K-5 for this tutorial)
From the Pentax K-30 and K-3 onwards it is not possible anymore to convert those SDM lenses(Of course one can get into the Debug-Menu, but converting isn’t possible anymore. Same goes for the Pentax *istDS/DL-series, again: Debug Menu is possible but no conversion!)
- Charged battery (or external powersupply)
- Formatted SD-card
2. For Windows the program: Notepad++ (Free Download) installed on your PC/Labtop
(some use "PkTether" for activating theDebug-Menu. But for this you need a connection between your Pentax DSLR and your PC/Labtop which is unnecessary,
there is no gain in doing so, nothing would be easier, IMO quite the opposite, it makes things more complicated. I think once somebody recommended it and it became an internet-truth without it ever having been questioned. PKTriggerchord won’t workat all!
3. The DEBUG-Menu files for the camera you use for this task
a) How to create the debug menufor older Pentax bodies see HERE
b) For the Pentax K5-Series you can download the ready created debug menu here:
K-5; K-5II and K-5IIs
c)K100/110D allow direct access into the Debug-Menu *(explained at the end of this tutorial)
4. The lens you wish to convert, attached to your Pentax DSLR
* For the Pentax K10D there is some confusion about which firmware you use:
The K10D with FW v1.10 does not allow to drive SDM-lenses, but it can be used for conversion!
Here you find the tutorial how to enter the DEBUG MENU of the K10D:
Tutorial: Enter DEBUG-MENU of Pentax K10D (For converting SDM-lenses to Screwdrive) - PentaxForums.com
The steps:
1.
Prepare your SD-card:
Paste both Debug Menu files "next to the DCIM-folder"
With the K-5 it looks like this:
2.
-Insert the SD card into your Pentax but leave the SD-carddoor open!
-Switch your Pentax on: Now you are in the Debug-Menu on page 1, which is called
DevelopmentMenu1:
3.
- With the 4-Way-Controller of your Pentax arrow-button scroll down to the 2.nd line:
*DEBUG MODE ....and then right:
Here you change from (= DIS abled)
(as you can see on the previous photo line 2)
to (=EN abled):
4.
- With the 4-Way-Controller to page 4:
= Development Menu4
and there 2.nd line:
= *Lens Rom Dat Camera =>SD
5.
- Click on OK:
- The message "Wait" usually comes (but with some Pentax DLSR’s it doesn’t so don’t worry)
- When this task is done, all lens-rom data have been copied from the lens onto your SD-card!
- Remove the SD-card and connect it to your PC or Labtop, open it
Now you can see next to the two debug-files a new one called:
LENSEEP.LNS:
6.
For security make a copy of thisfile LENSEEP.LNS and secure it where ever you want/chose.
The Pentax K-5 (and others) create automatically a backup, but you want to be save
and have it secured on a place on your harddisk as well.
7.
- Now you open LENSEEP.LNS (on your SD-Card!!!) with Notepad++.
It will look like this:
In column 03 you have to change ALL "C0" entries into "80“.
!!!Those columns begin left with 00: One might mistake it for column 4, but it is 03!!!
I marked some of the "C0" enries with a green arrow and above some which have already been changed by myself into "80" with a red arrow.
Remember: You just change all the "C0"- codes in column 03 into „80“:
In column 5 you find usually 2 further "C0" entries: NO NOT CHANGE THOSE!
With my DA*50-135 there were 32 codes in column 3 in the following lines:
6,10,14,18 -- 25,29,33,37 -- 44,48,52,56 -- 63,67,71,75 -- 81,86,90,94 -- 101,105,109,113 -- 120,124,128,132 -- 139,143,147,151
8.
As soon as you have done this, click on "Save" (the top left tab of Notepad++)
For security open the file LENSEEP.LNS again with Notepad++ to make sure that there are no more „CO“ codes in column 03 but only the new „80“ codes!
Close Notepad++, remove your SD-card.
9.
Insert your SD-card into your Pentax (with your lens attached!) and leave the SD-carddoor open.
Switch your Pentax ON.
10.
Again you are in
- Development Menu1:
- Again DIS to EN = enable as before
- Again to page 4 = Development Menu4
- And there on first line:
=*Lens Rom Dat SD=>Camera
11:
- Click on OK.
- Now you can see the transfer of the data on the LCD Display.
- That was it! Well done!
My Pentax K-5 switched of the Development/Debug-Menu automatically on DIS (=disabled)
But this seems to be different with different Pentax DSLRs, so if it doesn’t do this, every time you switch your camera on you would arrive in the Debug-Menu.
So then you go to step 3 but this time with the cursor from to and then [OK]!
If you now connect your SD-card with your PC or Labtop, you can see, that your Pentax automatically made a backup of the old lensrom = BACKUP.LNS .
This is identical with the one you secured before hand.
*With aPentax K100D and K110D you enter a different way into the Debug-Menu:
(with *istDS/DL as well but with closed SD-card-door but you cannot do the programming of the SDM lenses with those)
- Your chosen SDM*-lens is attached
- Fully charged batteries (or external powersupply)
- Formatted SD-card inserted, SD-carddoor remains open!
1. Press INFO + AE-L at the same time while you switch your Pentax ON.
2. Press the buttons „Menu“, and again „Menu“ and then „INFO“ within 5 seconds
3. Now you are in the Debug-Menu of your Pentax
4. Press button „Menu“ 1 x
5. Close SD-carddoor
6. Choose "LENS EEPROM R/W", then press „OK“ button.
7. Chose "LENS EEPROM STORE" and press „OK“ button.
8. The message "Wait" shows up on your display, then there will be an automatic return into the Debug-Menu!
9. The Lens-ROM Datas (file LENSEEP.LNS) of the lens have now been copied in your SD-Card
Now you follow step 7 as described before
Insert the SD-Karte with the modified file LENSEEP.LNS into your Pentax.
10. Follow steps 1-5 as you have done already
11. Chose "LENS EEPROM LOAD": All data will now be transfered backinto your lens
Done!
Very important:
Even with 10 of the same lenses there can be minor differences between the lens-roms!
Thats why it isn’t a good idea to use ready LENSEEP.LNS from others!
They might even be transfered and you even get a Backup.LNS but it can lead to other problems because not specific for YOUR lens!
Therefore: Only change the LENSEEP.LNS of your lens!
Good luck!
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