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Uugh! Add one more to the list of failed SDM

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volosong

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Rats! Double rats! Going to Italy in a few weeks and out of concern about little-used SDM lenses, I got my 50-135 out tonight to take a few snaps. Used it a week or so ago, and even though it hesitated, seemed to finally focus just fine. Tonight? Nothing! Tried it on the K-5 as well as the K-7. Totally dead, as far as auto focusing. Guess I'll have to send it in, as soon as I figure out where to do so. Last time I had to send anything Pentax in for repair was about 20 years ago to Boulder.

And to make it worse, "something" flicked off the lens onto the floor. A careful inspection of the lens shows that one of the edges of the hood mount broke off. Uugh.

I really wanted to take this lens to Rome with me, in additon to the 16-50. Those, along with fast 50 were the only lenses I was planning on taking.

--
Steven
GMT -8
 
volosong said:
Rats! Double rats! Going to Italy in a few weeks and out of concern about little-used SDM lenses, I got my 50-135 out tonight to take a few snaps. Used it a week or so ago, and even though it hesitated, seemed to finally focus just fine. Tonight? Nothing! Tried it on the K-5 as well as the K-7. Totally dead, as far as auto focusing. Guess I'll have to send it in, as soon as I figure out where to do so. Last time I had to send anything Pentax in for repair was about 20 years ago to Boulder.
Click to expand...
That's a damn shame Steven, I feel for you. Go to
http://www.pentaximaging.com/support/customer-care/
...and click on Product Repairs. You should find all the info you need there.

Cheers.

Ron
volosong said:
And to make it worse, "something" flicked off the lens onto the floor. A careful inspection of the lens shows that one of the edges of the hood mount broke off. Uugh.

I really wanted to take this lens to Rome with me, in additon to the 16-50. Those, along with fast 50 were the only lenses I was planning on taking.

--
Steven
GMT -8
Click to expand...
--
Ron - 'We don't have time to go take pics this afternoon Carl.'
Carl - 'What do you mean? It will only take 1/1000s.'

'Keep your eyes looking forward. However, glance back now and then to see where you've come from. It will put a smile on your face.' ~ brandrx
 
I am sorry to hear about this.

There are some rumors circulating on the forum that the new batches of the lens have improved AF mechanism. So when did you purchase your lens? Do you still have a warranty?

--
Cheers,
Alex
 
Getting into the DSLR game in the last year everyone told me "invest in good glass now, it is an investment that will far outlast the body you start with". That is what motivated me to want to get the DA* 16-50 and DA* 60-250. After these reports though it makes me really wonder if a DA* lens can last as long as a K body. I wonder if there is such a thing as a "good copy" that will last a decent life, or if it is just a matter of time with an SDM lens before it fails, but that it is gauranteed it WILL fail far before it should (for a pro lens let's say 10 years). They haven't been out that long but the weather sealing is the main reason I want these lenses, and I am really doubting if I actually do want them with the SDM failures. I'm sick of this Pentax, cmon!
 
I have the 16-50 and the 50-135. And the 55 f1.4. The first time I put the 55 on my new K5 it simply did not work, nor on my K7 (K7 now sold). It's a bit like breaking a leg - you always think it happens to someone else.

Anyway I do not trust SDM lenses now and am using limiteds and my newly acquired 100mm WR macro.

If you have the time and the money, I'd sell the 2 x zooms to help fund a DA15, DA70 (or FA77), possibly a DA40 (or FA43)... and the 100mm macro. These are a lot more unobtrusive and easy to handle (and carry) than the heavy, unreliable zooms.
Good luck!
Andy
 
I have both - 16-50 & 50-135. No failure yet and am tempted by the advice to sell and get more primes. BUT the moral dilemma - hope some newbie falls for a cheap deal and give him/ her a gift of death? Can't justify that one. Guess I may end up with a couple of really good manuals. Where I started 40 years ago before auto-zoom was unheard of.
 
I used primes on my Pentax 67 so why not primes on my K5. I switched from Sony A900/Zeiss (4lbs) to Pentax. No more tool box hanging of the end of my body. I think investing in primes is a smart thing to do.
 
Did you try to fix it yourself?

pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-slr-lens-discussion/130429-diy-supersonic-drive-motor-repair.html
Add the http://www .

--
I'm thankful to still be able to...
 
brandrx said:
.... Go to
http://www.pentaximaging.com/support/customer-care/
...and click on Product Repairs. You should find all the info you need there.
Click to expand...
Thanks Ron. That is the exact information I need. Packing it up to send it off today. There is an authorized repair place here in Valencia, but have never heard one word about them. I'll send it off to C.R.I.S. this morning.

To others who asked, I purchased my 50-135 when they first became available here in the states. First batch imported.

And, thanks for the link on a DIY repair. If it were an inexpensive lens, I would not hesitate to try it, but this thing was too expensive. And, with a full-time day job and teaching three nights a week at the local community college, there is just no time to attempt something like this. Heck, I don't even have time to get out for a few hours to do a local photo safari.

That new Sigma 50-150/2.8 looks very tempting. Hmmm? Have had excellent results and reliability from my 70-20/2.8 and 100-300/4 EX lenses. If the price is right, pretty sure I'll get one of the 50-150 lenses.

--
Steven
GMT -8
 
il_alexk said:
I am sorry to hear about this.

There are some rumors circulating on the forum that the new batches of the lens have improved AF mechanism. So when did you purchase your lens? Do you still have a warranty?
Click to expand...
I hope that this is true. My DA*16-50 is nearly two years old and has had no SDM failures. I purchased it more than one year after the lens was first released at a time when the de-centering problems had been resolved. It is possible that the SDM mechanism was also improved by that time. I really love it as a general purpose, walking around lens and would hate to lose it.

Rob
 
volosong said:
brandrx said:
.... Go to
http://www.pentaximaging.com/support/customer-care/
...and click on Product Repairs. You should find all the info you need there.
Click to expand...
Thanks Ron. That is the exact information I need. Packing it up to send it off today. There is an authorized repair place here in Valencia, but have never heard one word about them. I'll send it off to C.R.I.S. this morning.

To others who asked, I purchased my 50-135 when they first became available here in the states. First batch imported.

And, thanks for the link on a DIY repair. If it were an inexpensive lens, I would not hesitate to try it, but this thing was too expensive. And, with a full-time day job and teaching three nights a week at the local community college, there is just no time to attempt something like this. Heck, I don't even have time to get out for a few hours to do a local photo safari.

That new Sigma 50-150/2.8 looks very tempting. Hmmm? Have had excellent results and reliability from my 70-20/2.8 and 100-300/4 EX lenses. If the price is right, pretty sure I'll get one of the 50-150 lenses.

--
Steven
GMT -8
Click to expand...
The new Sigma looks good, except for the size, it's about the same size as a full frame 70-200mm, kinda defeats the purpose of APS-C.

And it's such a shame about the SDM issues. For the 50-135mm, with its perfect zoom range for portrait/event shooting, weather-sealing and amazing IQ, to be hampered by slow, unreliable auto-focus is just so sad. This could be a real winner for Pentax, instead it's a disaster. The DA* lenses was a major part of why I bought into Pentax in the first place, now I'm not so sure anymore.

--
http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/knuterikteigen
 
so how long did the 50-135 last before it bit the dust?

I wish this could at least be a problem limited to that lens because it is a non-telescoping zoom, yet there is no real pattern as the 16-50 seems commonly effected too. As mentioned in this thread, HOW could pentax keep making SDM lenses without either A) acknowledging the issues or B) staying silent BUT fixing them so the problem fades away! Yet replaced ones seem to fail too.
 
There have been questions recently of the repair cost of SDM lenses, so I post this here for information proposes. YMMV

A few minutes ago, I received my repair estimate from C.R.I.S. First of all, I must say that customer service at C.R.I.S. is about the best customer service department I've had the joy of working with for quite some time. Very helpful, cheerful, and knowledgeable folk. They strike me as people who really enjoy their job and make you feel important. Kudos to Stacy. I think I talked to her twice, once to confirm receipt of the lens and today to give the go-ahead.

This is what the "Details of Service:" state.

Estimate to replace front barrel/filter ring unit
Replace SDM autofocus motor
Adjust to manufactures specifications
General check and clean
Repair comes with a 6 month service warranty

The estimate for this is $179, plus shipping/handling brings the total to $191.

It may be slightly higher than normal due to having to replace the front barrel/filter ring unit. Have no idea how it happened, but when I had the lens in my hand, in the act of starting to pack it up, I heard something flick off and land on the floor. Of course, I couldn't find anything, but a very close inspection of the lens showed that one of the U-shaped ridges that hold the lens hood on had broken off. Is my fingernail that strong? I could live with it with the broken flange, since there are two others around the diameter to keep the hood on, but I like to keep my stuff as nice, clean, and in good order as I can. Most people probably wouldn't bother, but it would always "bug" me, so I'm having it fixed.

No time estimate, but I still have slightly over a month before I get on a plane at which time I'll want the 50-135 with me.

By the way, I'm just guessing now, but C.R.I.S. is not part of Pentax, I think. We've been chatting about Pentax knowing, or not knowing the full extent of SDM repairs, the frequency or lack thereof. But, if C.R.I.S. is not Pentax, then Pentax really doesn't have any idea of how many lenses are being sent in for service. Maybe this is a reason that we haven't heard anything from Pentax? They really don't have accurate tracking of the problem, (or non-problem, depending on your viewpoint).

--
Steven
GMT -8
 
volosong said:
There have been questions recently of the repair cost of SDM lenses, so I post this here for information proposes. YMMV

A few minutes ago, I received my repair estimate from C.R.I.S. First of all, I must say that customer service at C.R.I.S. is about the best customer service department I've had the joy of working with for quite some time. Very helpful, cheerful, and knowledgeable folk. They strike me as people who really enjoy their job and make you feel important. Kudos to Stacy. I think I talked to her twice, once to confirm receipt of the lens and today to give the go-ahead.

This is what the "Details of Service:" state.

Estimate to replace front barrel/filter ring unit
Replace SDM autofocus motor
Adjust to manufactures specifications
General check and clean
Repair comes with a 6 month service warranty

The estimate for this is $179, plus shipping/handling brings the total to $191.
Click to expand...
$12.00 for shipping? For goodness sake, it couldn't cost that to ship. I'm sure they have a carrier contract. All in all I guess it is less than a new lens at least.
volosong said:
It may be slightly higher than normal due to having to replace the front barrel/filter ring unit. Have no idea how it happened, but when I had the lens in my hand, in the act of starting to pack it up, I heard something flick off and land on the floor. Of course, I couldn't find anything, but a very close inspection of the lens showed that one of the U-shaped ridges that hold the lens hood on had broken off. Is my fingernail that strong? I could live with it with the broken flange, since there are two others around the diameter to keep the hood on, but I like to keep my stuff as nice, clean, and in good order as I can. Most people probably wouldn't bother, but it would always "bug" me, so I'm having it fixed.

No time estimate, but I still have slightly over a month before I get on a plane at which time I'll want the 50-135 with me.

By the way, I'm just guessing now, but C.R.I.S. is not part of Pentax, I think. We've been chatting about Pentax knowing, or not knowing the full extent of SDM repairs, the frequency or lack thereof. But, if C.R.I.S. is not Pentax, then Pentax really doesn't have any idea of how many lenses are being sent in for service. Maybe this is a reason that we haven't heard anything from Pentax? They really don't have accurate tracking of the problem, (or non-problem, depending on your viewpoint).
Click to expand...
I am afraid you either don't give Pentax enough credit or you give them too much credit. If they don't know there is a problem with these lenses then they don't read this forum or Pentax forums.

I hope that you get your lens back for your trip and have no more issues with it. I just used my 50-135 yesterday and it wouldn't auto focus, it acted dead. I switched to manual focus and spun the ring back and forth a few times, took a few shots and switched back to auto focus and it started behaving again. I use it often. I wish I didn't have to worry that it will die at any moment. It is my go to lens for my portrait business. I always bring my 77 ltd for a backup on paid shoots because of the threat of failure hanging over the 50-135.
volosong said:
--
Steven
GMT -8
Click to expand...
--
LaRee
http://www.flickr.com/photos/27204583@N05/
http://laree.zenfolio.com/
http://laree.smugmug.com/
 
From your description of the people at C.R.I.S., if it were me, I'd be asking them if they see more failed Pentax SDM lenses than other makes. Allowing that they probably do see more Canon and Nikon lenses because there are so many more of them, it would be interesting to get their opinion on whether or not Pentax SDM lenses are particularly unreliable or about average.
--
http://www.flickr.com/photos/donkiyoti/
 
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