Difference here is that you can't exactly
imagine that you're having an SDM failure.
Maybe you can.
From a certain petition's signatures:
"I would like to use no-SDM autofocus in such lens like 300*
2.8, DFA 100/2.8 macro and ect. with my camera Pentax k20d. I think that SDM motor is unreliable and the supersonic motor is too loud (scary) for animals and birds. Thanks."
Alex S.
Alex, you do see how these types of implications just fuel the fire, right? Telling someone that their hardware failure is of no consequence and on par with an imagined problem is not going to do anything positive for this forum. It's that sort of standpoint that actually helps to generate threads like these.
Sorry, I didn't want to imply your problems weren't real or anything like that. My fault for not being clear (and forgetting to put in a smiley): I was strictly (and jokingly) replying to the part I've quoted.
Sorry myself, I took your post in a worse light than I should have...
I know you and a few others feel that you need to 'fight back' in some way here (possibly fighting the last troll battle, as military generals would say, ) but when you discount legitimate problems like this you aren't helping. It's counter-productive. Think about it in the context of this forum, and what goes into someone's incentive to start a thread like this.
I don't discount legitimate problems.
I, myself have some legitimate issues with my K-5 (in fact, the first camera had all of them: stains, FF and flash issues - it's replacement is still showing signs of FF in tungsten light - no stains though);
Sounds like you've paid your dues, then
however, my only SDM lens (a 60-250 which unfortunately is not seeing much use) is still working, and probably the most consistently focusing lens I have.
OTOH, I'd like to see higher grade (ring?) SDM motors in future, "pro" lenses.
'Zactly. Sigma has a great implementation.
About this thread, do you really think Ned can answer that? The "question" is pointless, this thread is pointless as well.
I doubt he could answer it if he wanted to, but I think the OP probably guessed that also. IMO it doesn't hurt to make the attempt - because Ned will at least see the question - again.
Or, look at it this way - if the result of these complaints is an extended warranty, or an applied-rebate for SDM repair for original warranty holders granted for several years after the warranty has expired - how does that affect you negatively? (assuming here that you own an SDM lens.) It helps you, and it increases the resale value of your lens. Right?
Are you saying, we should complain as much as we can? Should even non-owners, that never had a problem help us too?
Non-owners - no, I don't see the point of that. Perhaps I would like to see people who do have the issue supported a little better here, without being killed for the message they bring. (to be fair, the forum for the most part is doing that now.)
Sorry, but I don't want such a forum.
We agree we would like to avoid this recurring cycle, amusing as it is:
Hysteria Hysteria
1) someone at some point posts "hey, I don't know if it's just me, but my cam/lens seems to be doing X."
2) Couple other people post "Hey, me too!"
3) Fanboys: "user error."
4) Problem-havers: "No, I know what I'm doing."
5) Hysteria-havers: "I've got it too! Look!" (shows something exhibiting probable problem "Y")
6) Fanboys: "See? That's problem 'Y'. Obviously, no-one can thus have problem 'X'!"
7) Problem-havers: "Ummm... I don't think I'm talking about the same thing."
8) Enter, Trolls: "Heee! Problem X/Y is an obvious indictment of your equipment choice, and thus yourselves!"
9) Fanboys: "&^%&%$(())%^$$#$%"
10) Problem-Havers: "Sigh. Look. I'm having problem X here."
11) Fanboys: "You're all trolls! This forum sucks now, it used to be all about the photography!"
12) Trolls: "Hee!"
13)
Hysteria is declared. Some Hysteria-havers join the ranks of trolls at this point, some Fanboys gain a hardened stance, some Fanboys recognize the possibility of X and soften. Some Problem-havers quietly leave the forum, others remain, feeling jittery and jilted for a while.
Trolls retreat under the bridge, watching.... (as always.)
.
Coda:
6 months later, Big Cam Co quietly releases an update that mitigates problem 'X'.
.
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