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What does a Screwdrive Converted Pentax DA* 50-135mm F2.8 lens sound like?

Started Jun 8, 2014 | Discussions thread
candgpics Regular Member • Posts: 212
Re: What does a Screwdrive Converted Pentax DA* 50-135mm F2.8 lens sound like?
4

Hi:

Talking about the inevitability of failure may be a bit pessimistic and/or conclusory, but I think it is accurate.

I love my Pentax gear, and baby all of it, but the SDM in my DA* 16-50 failed twice and in my DA* 60-250, too--thankfully just prior to the end of the first year for the DA* 60-250.  The second repair of the DA* 16-50 was out of warranty, but Pentax fixed it for free.

Both are good /excellent optically, but the SDM, well..........

My first K5 would not focus with any of my lenses, my second K5 had the sensor stains.

My first K5ii had a version of the mirror flapping--but rather than machine gunning, the mirror/shutter/prism would not reset properly and I had a double shutter/jumping shutter whereby two frames would be taken per a single shutter press and neither image was in focus. The camera could not be repaired and I was given a new model.

Is this a Pentax issue? No. It is a modern mass produced electronics issue (with all of the pros and cons that goes along with the mass production of consumer electronics).

Pentax has a K3 issue--though, it appears to involve a much smaller number of cameras than the Nikon 600 spots problem.

So, "once your SDM fails, which is inevitable" is correct in spirit, I think, and a good and appropriate warning to potential customers, even if it really will not happen in every instance, or even most.

 candgpics's gear list:candgpics's gear list
Pentax K-5 II Pentax K-3 Pentax K-1 Pentax KP Pentax K-1 II +12 more
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