SDMs DO Require Preventive Maintenance!

Owing to the prolonged infamous failure of the SDMs in various Pentax AF lens models, I only bought my first SDM lens, the DA*55 F1.4, back to 2015, which is a SDM-only lens in KAF3 mount (on screw-drive). After that, I bought also another SDM only lens the DA17-70 and then later a DA*60-250 F4 hybrid-SDM/screw-driven lens (which supports also in 2022.

Here is my proven experiences with those SDM lenses and my tip to prevent them from malfunction before it would be too late, as follows:

I observe that all those lenses did require regular use of the motors. If they were left un-use for a period of time, the AF motors would first become difficult to move. In that case, first of all they were moving rather slowly and with some clicks of odd sound coming out when moving, rather not smoothly. So, more exercise with the lenses could improve thing. After they had (been) moved smoothly, then it would work flawlessly for a couple of months again. This first happened with my DA*55 of which the first SDM  problem appeared after about one year of purchase of the lens. (I bought that lens from the Biccamera in Japan brand new.)

Same thing happened with my DA*60-250 but the symptom exhibited, which was even worse. This lens was bought from the Amazon.jp brand new and was manufactured in 2021 as shown in the document in box, which was supposed to be of the rumoured "newly designed" SDM, but which IMHO has actually been non-existent. Eventually, I needed to bring out my old screw-driven AF Pentax DSLR to turn and smooth out the operation of the SDM, which is rather hilarious indeed. After that, the SDM turnsed flawlessly, i.e. quick and smooth, but only after my prevent maintenance work carried out for about ten minute, and turnings of both the SDM and the screw-drive mechanics were required.

Another observation of mine is that the SDMs would slow down in cold weather when the temperature was cold. Hence, despite the "cold-proof" specification and feature of those AW SDM lenses, those lenses equipped with SDMs are in fact vulnerable to cold weather and to work properly under low temperatures unless they do enough "exercises" from day to day.

So, if you have those evil Pentax SDM lenses, do remember to mark your calendar and carry out periodical PMs before they are to die, which will be too late to save by then. My humble advice and true experience shared.

Monster Adaptor (Pentax K to Sony E) Pre-production Reviews

 1. https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/4ekKr7wJePbjEOcf01lWaA

(in Simplified Chinese, Google English translated page here - but there will be no picture nor video as the Weixin server has disabled hot-linking from other websites)

The video clips for the AF tests with the FA31 are dead links anyway.

2. The below YouTube video tested the Monster Adaptor with the DFA*85/1.4 lens, it seems that the new SDM motor as well as the KAF4 electromagnetic aperture are both well supported by this version of the adaptor:

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bz_5huMytRo)

The AF speed and response of the combo looks good.

Ultimate Savior for Pentaxians who Had been Hoping for a True K-mount Mirrorless (with Eye-AF etc.)

 A Chinese adaptor manufacturer has announced (Google translated English here) the world first full function K-mount to Sony E-mount adaptor, which will be made available by the end of this year 2020 (and is earlier than the launch date of the upcoming K-3 III)!

This adaptor will have screw-driving AF motor and aperture motor built-in and will support full auto functions of all K-mount lenses (possibly without any aperture block problem ;-P). The manufacturer states that the adaptor will first support A/F/FA/DA/DFA lenses which are screw-driven for the AF and will support SDM/DC/PLM AF function at a later stage via firmware upgrade.

They also mounted the three FA limited onto a Sony A7 III body via their adoptor, of which the combos look really tempting! :-D

And, their also shown a "video" to show the AF in action with the FA77 Limited, which the AF speed seems reasonably good enough, as long as the animated gif was not accelerated. ;-)

After all, I will almost certainly buy this adaptor (as I bought my A7 III two years ago) and still own more than three dozens of the Pentax or K-mount lenses (and most of them are AF ones). Possibly I shall skip and not buy the K-3 III as I found my KP is actually better for my use and shooting style. :-(

Related:  My Pentax Lenses are Given Completely New Lives!

Official Ricoh Announcement of the Two New Star Lenses

http://photoplus.vporoom.com/2017-10-26-Ricoh-Announces-Next-Generation-High-Performance-PENTAX-Star-Series-Lens-Line

SDM Still Sucks!

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/53455111

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/53621691

Seven years lapsed since the first SDM lens was born. However, the complaints from SDM users never ended and the brand name suffers. Well, is it really so difficult to cure such a design problem? Oh really?? >:-(

Official Information of the "New" HD DA 1.4X Teleconverter

http://www.ricoh-imaging.co.jp/japan/products/lens/k/converter/lc-1_4x-aw/

The official on-sales date in the Japanese home-market will be March 7th. A full list of compatible Pentax K-mount digial lenses is provided, note that not every DA lens of Pentax/Ricoh is compatible.

Besides, it does look very familiar for its appearance specs including the physical parameters, many things are just too close to my ancient "Tamron" Pz (Power Zoom) TC 1.4X Model MC-4 that I purchased 14 years ago, which is yet believed to be original manufactured by Kenko!

For more information of the Tamron 1.4X MC4, look here:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Tamron-F-AF-Tele-Converter-1-4X-Pz-AF-MC4-with-box-and-papers-/121171067435



Well, even the lens release lever looks exactly the same, what a "co-incidence"! :-o ;-)

But I just wonder, why it takes so long for Pentax to release such an OEM product, if it really is, which has been delayed for so many years since it was first announced back to 2008!?!

Nonetheless, my prolonged experience for that adapter is that it is great for APS-C cropped image circle but is just fair to rather mediocre optically when it works with Full Frame, no matter film or digial. Enough said! :-(

BTW, for real photo samples for how the "Tamron" 1.4X MC4 performs optically, here you will find some samples of mine:

K-5D Mark III: DA 18-55 II Converted to a 24-80 FULL FRAME Lens!

Hack the Firmware and Deactivate the SDM

http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/maintenance-repair-articles/208353-how-deactivate-sdm-autofocus-allow-screw-drive-autofocus-da-16-50mm-f-2-8-a.html

I think the above is of high risk. Do only when you clearly know what you are doing and try it at your OWN RISK!

Bits and Pieces 12-19 (Pentax Related or Not)

1. First of all, here comes the new patent of Nikon's "silicon film", i.e., a digital back for old analogue film cameras, but which is yet a vapourised ware that has never come true, since it was first announced back to 1999.




(Above: An imagined diagram by Xjrumo - A Chinese Camera Gear Blog.)

2. Instagram's New Terms of Service - Five Things that You Need to Know!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/17/instagrams-terms-of-service_n_2317402.html

My suggestion is NOT to upload photos to Instagram unless you are willing to LOSE the ownership of your photos! >:-|

Btw, I don't know if Facebook will change to a similar new set of terms shortly. By that time if that happens, I am afraid that we have to delete our facebook accounts so as to save our copyrights! :-o

3. Sigma has market a new 18-250 in K-mount with HSM and OS built-in:-

http://www.sigma-photo.co.jp/new/new_topic.php?id=459
(in Japanese)

And the specifications of the new product:-

http://www.sigma-photo.co.jp/english/lens/standard/18_250_35_63_macro/

4. An old YouTube demo on the sturdiness of the Pentax SP coating and how easy it can be cleaned:-


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIlUwfhKAwA

Well, whilst I do agree that the SP is easy to clean and it is very sturdy, I found that it is also a bit more shiny when it is compared to traditional SMC coatings on the front glasses. Thus, more light could be lost and it should be a trade-off after all. :-(

SDM DIY Repair II - Go Further to Succeed!

Here is a new guide with additional tips for an enhanced method, on top of the original one:-

http://www.soomal.com/doc/20100003594.htm

The article is in Traditional Chinese, but the pictures are self-explanatory. Each picture of the series represents each step of the whole repair procedures. The new trick is to turn further from the underneath of the motor module, which should be further dismantled, just in case if the screw on the top is locked too tight and cannot be turned. See the two key diagrams for what to turn:-



As for the force applied, the author hints that you should try it by yourself - do not apply excessive force and try different directions, depending on how the SDM motor and the associated gears are locked.

Good luck if you are yet one of the SDM failure victims and still want to try the repair DIY! As for me, I have none of the Pentax SDM lenses, just because the SDM issue has been so infamous but then the service and support of Pentax to deal with the issue usually sucked as widely reported, so that I have been avoiding it as far as possible over these years.


Related (Oldest First):-

Repair a Stuck SDM Yourself!

Repair a Stuck SDM DIY - An English Guide

Hair Dry and Repair the SDM! :-o

SDM DIY Repair Method Also Works for the DA17-70

Improved DIY SDM Repair Method!

Pentax has Modified the Design of the SDM Used in DA*16-50 and 50-135??

Pentax has Modified the Design of the SDM Used in DA*16-50 and 50-135??

See the latest quick interview by the PF with a Pentax repair technician at Photokina:-

http://www.pentaxforums.com/news/jens-petersen-on-pentax-sdm-failure.html

Whilst I am rather sceptical to what are told, even if all of them true, the following questions have quickly come to my mind:-

1. Why it takes so long, i.e., for more than five years, for Pentax to cure this problem? It is worth noting that the two DA* lenses were first launched back to 2007!

2. If it is just a design problem for all those reported failure of the SDM, aka Sudden Death / Suddenly Died Motor or Saddam as creatively named by some users before ;->), which is yet "prone to failure from the get-go due to their design", WILL Pentax Ricoh make a product recall and fix the earlier production lenses prior to 2012 which have that latent design defect, *for Free*?

3. I could never agree that the DC motor is of the same design of a conventional rotary electric motor (DC or AC), they are different! To learn more, just read my previous technical article about the working principle of the DC motor and its related patent.

Well, as an UK chartered electrical/electronic engineer myself, I don't believe in "technicians" when they are talking about designs. Note that I am not saying anything bad about technicians but their knowhows are mostly limited to hands-on things, but not about designs and more in-depth engineering principles, frankly.

Indeed, see the reply comments to that PF article, Pentax users are actually raising similar questions as mine! :-)


Last Related:-

Improved DIY SDM Repair Method!

DA560/5.6: New Type Built-in Motor, Astro-tracking, US$3800

Via Post @ Pentax Forums

Let me add in more rumoured specs (from another source):-

1. Dividable type in 3 pieces;

2. Simplified weather resistant design;

3. Built-in lens motor (neither SDM nor DC), full-time manual override;

4. To be sold at a suggested price of US$3800;

5. Not a Star lens;

6. Built-in astro-tracer! (Oh, really? :-o)

7. Manufactured upon special ordering.

Improved DIY SDM Repair Method!

Read: http://forum.xitek.com/thread-1055994-1-1-1.html
(in Chinese, with diagrams)

Actually, the method is more or less the same as the original DIY method but now the "CRC" Contact Cleaner is applied in addition (and then doing the massage) which does help even more, as it is told and confirmed.

After all, the OP has saved $250 (1500 RMB) repair fee as officially quoted and now his DA*16-50's SDM is revived and has been operating smooth and flawlessly! Congrats, man and well done! :-D

Recent Survey and Review Articles by the Pentax Forums

First of all, the following survey results once again verified that SDM is indeed rather unreliable and vulnerable to break, although some fanboys would still argue that the sample size returned in that survey is yet "not enough to prove anything"!

http://www.pentaxforums.com/news/pentax-sdm-failure-survey-results.html

Quoted:-

"What is a little bit more alarming is the fact that three of Pentax's most popular lenses seem to have problems with SDM reliability."

Well, how dare PF is to make a statement like this?!

"If you're frightened by the AF issue, then Sigma has readily-available alternatives to all three lenses: a 17-50mm, 50-150mm, and 17-70mm."

My pardon? Are that Pentax glass so easily replaceable? And what's the point of using Pentax bodies but Sigma glass?!! >:-(

Btw, if there are still not enough of the reported cases, just view this online Pentax SDM Petition, then you should be convinced, if not yet!

Next, there is a new comparison review of the Pentax DA14/2.8 Vs the cheapo Samyang 14/2.8 lens. It is tested that there should be a design deficiency of the Pentax lens that the field curvature for far objects is always greater than DoF(!?) so that the whole frame of the image is always not sharp at somewhere in the frame, no matter how and where the user focused! :-o I now know why Jun was forced to retire after creating this lens! ;->

What If When a Pentax FF Body Really Comes (My Own Case Study)

Actually, I have been planning to get ready for a Pentax FF system for years and every time I bought a new Pentax lens I had that in mind. Well, below is the case for my current lens setup:-

1. Currently, I have 10 original Pentax primes, amongst which only the DA21 is not FF compatible, so the complete FF range is ranged from 28 to 300mm. The old "film" primes of mine include A, FA, FA Limited and FA* lenses. In addition, my existing three DA primes (namely, 35, 40 and 70) are all FF compatible (see my own samples here and here). In short, there are 9 lenses (out of 10) that can be used on FF!

2. For zooms, I still have 7 Pentax AF zooms amongst which only two DA standard zooms are not FF compatible. Other lenses are F, FA and FAJ ones and the made-up zoom range is from 17mm (fisheye) or 18mm (rectilinear) to 200mm. So, no problem again and I do have 5 FF zooms (out of 7)! :-D

3. I also have two FF tele-convertors by Kenko which is in full KAF2 compliance, i.e., with power zoom (SDM/DC) contacts.

So, all in all, I already have 14 original Pentax lenses plus two fully compatible AF tele-convertors (and also two other Sigma lenses that I rarely used, i.e., 18 lenses in total) to begin with when just overnight a Pentax FF DSLR body appears! Note that most of my lenses are AF lenses and full functions and compatibility is ensured and the focal range has been well covered. That must be really great! :-)) As for new Pentax FF lenses that are to be launched, I am sure that I will not hesitate to invest further if I can see the future of Pentax later on (but not now)!

P.S. If this time the rumour turns out to be not true and still there will be NO Pentax FF by early 2013, I think I might sell most of my Pentax gear and concentrate to build further my Canon system and make it glows. The wait should be over, for more than ten years, shouldn't it and shouldn't I?

P.S.2. I have another 13 lenses for other systems. possibly soon to be 14, when the Canon new pancake arrives!

P.S.3. How about your case? Welcome to share in reply! :-)


Related:-

Compatibility of DA Lenses on Full Frame

Two Major Meanings of Full Frame - Choice of Shallower DoF and Most Optical Quality from (FF) Lenses

Old Question: Will there be a Pentax Full Frame DSLR?

Opposing Voices to the UPP of Pentax Imaging

This open letter is well said and I think it worths to report it here:-

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1036&thread=41272015

The poster has said the very true indeed, since the beginning of 2010, I have only purchased my K-x kit and my K-5 body at local shops whilst all my other Pentax purchases during these two years and more were made online, these include the purchases of my K-r Gold and DA35/2.4, my DA70/2.4, yet another DA21/3.2 Limited, a DA18-55II, a ML-60 focusing screen and until very recently the DA40/2.8 XS lens as well. Besides, I have also purchased other camera items for my gear of the other brands online. So, internet and online purchasing is the irreversible trend, which I totally agree.

What Pentax and Pentax Imaging doing is actually completely against the trend and their consumers. I think a lose-lose-n-lose situation will be created for all parties, i.e., the users, their dealers and Pentax the manufacturer themselves in the end, unless they are to lower the current unreasonable high set prices of many of the Pentax lenses under their fixed prices policy, which is known as UPP officially!

Besides, 1001 Noisy Cameras have also made a very good "ranting" post:-

http://www.1001noisycameras.com/2012/04/sunday-rant-unilateral-pricing-policies-and-lessons-from-the-k-x.html

I also think that their observation is absolutely right, i.e., few photographic and gear site have made at least some sound to oppose that silly happening at Pentax! This time I think PF has also been honest and brave enough in this case, in contrast to what they have been doing and against the others.

Last but not least, I suggest someone can create a new open petition at the Petition Online, like the last SDM issue and firmware request (but which has never been acknowledged and responded by Pentax anyway), which might be a way to gather all our opposition to what Pentax is doing, which should ultimately show that how disgusting this policy is and how the brand is eventually hurt and damaged! Pentax and Ned, please wake up!!


Last Related:-

See What Ned Bunnell Has Explained (Re: US Lens Price Increase since April 1st)

K-01 AF Speed Tests with 16 Different K-mount Lenses

(URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFBnraiK0A0)

Via http://forum.pentaxfans.net/thread-124538-1-1.html
(in Traditional Chinese)

The user tested 17 lenses, first a K135 lens for the MF focus peaking beforehand, and then the other 16 AF lenses in K-mount (13 Pentaxes, 3 Sigmas) for speed and check the performance and reliability. At the very beginning of the test video, a side-by-side physical comparison to the K-r was also done.

I translate his summary of the results as follows:-

FA28mmF2.8.....Very Fast
DA21mmF3.2.....Very Fast
DA40mmF2.8.....Very Fast

DA35mmF2.8 Macro.....Fast, Long Running Span
DA70mmF2.4.....Fast
FA28mmF2.8 Soft.....Fast, but Easy to Fail (to Focus)
DA*55mmF1.4.....Fast, Long Running Span
DA*200mmF2.8.....Fast, Long Running Span
SIGMA15-30mmF3.5-4.5.....Fast

FA*300mmF2.8.....Average Speed, Long Running Span
DA100mmF2.8WR Macro.....Average Speed, Long Running Span (I think it is already rather Slow!)

SIGMA180mmF3.5 Macro.....Slow, Long Running Span
SIGMA10-20mmF3.5.....Slow

FA28-105mmF3.2-4.5.....Below 50mm: Fast, Becoming Slower and Slower when approaching 105
DA17-70mmF4.....50mm: Fast, at 70mm: Slow

DA*300mmF4.....Very Slow, and Incompatible/Unstable with the Body, Often Fail to Focus and the K-01 Body Hanged Up(!)

Actually, someone and Steve Huff had reported about the K-01 hang-up cases before. Now it seems that it is NOT an isolated issue. And, it should be noted that the problem is repeatable, as verified and confirmed by two different K-01 users by now. Hopefully this is a bug that can be corrected via firmware and Pentax should provide this firmware update soonest.


Related:-

Bug Report: Repeatable K-01 Crash

Interview with Hiraku Kawauchi, Head of Marketing of Pentax Ricoh Imaging Japan, by the PF

(URL: http://youtu.be/PP-t4ODEqbs)

This time I think the PF guys have done a good job, they carried out the Interview at the CP+ at Japan and have done the translated scripts. I am not sure if they are actually sponsored by Pentax or not for the trip, but one thing is certain, i.e., now they have close relationship with the official Pentax. Nonetheless, I think they have asked a few good questions that we Pentaxians have been concerning about including some long lasting Pentax issues, somehow indirectly. Putting aside those pure marketing and sales talks by Hiraku, here are some more important points and messages that I am extracting from the interview, quoted and summarised as follows:-

- At 4'30": DA50/1.8 and FA50/1.4 will co-exist.

- After 4'30": Whether the DA50/1.8 has the Quick-Shift Focusing (QSF) mechanism cannot be disclosed! (But nevermind, there is 99% of chance that it won't have! It looks exactly like the DA35/2.4, which is essentially a DAL, but not a true DA!)

- After 7'00": OVF is meaningless and EVF is not present for the K-01! (Well, we all knew about the stance of Pentax since the K-01 was marketed! :-|)

- Before 8'00": Astrotracer (and actually also the navigation) function(s) of the O-GPS1 is(are) not supported on the K-01.

- After 10'00": There is currently not many FF lenses in production and the time-frame for a FF body is uncertain.

- After 11'30": DSLR is still required for higher performance and EVF cannot replace OVF with the current technologies.

- After 12'30": There is no FF mirrorless body on their product development roadmap.

- At 14'10": Pentax productions will not be moved back to Japan. (Yes, we all knew!)

- After 15'00": The DA*16-50 SDM lens will be replaced.

After all, this interview is still worth watching. But I just wonder why after the publication of it for more than 12 hours with email alerts to all PF members, there is only about two thousand watches to the video up to now. :-o So, I think it's time for me to promote it and encourage you to watch! :-) It is just because I think it is still valuable, otherwise I just won't bother to mention it! Nevertheless, marketing and sales talks are always existent in between statements but Hiraku is actually a marketing guy, right?

Supported Pentax DSLR Functions with Different Pentax Lenses

Read this question at the PF and I was surprised to see the reply by the site owner Adam (i.e., the first reply to the OP), which shows that Adam completely lacks the basic user/operation knowledge in using older manual (aperture) Pentax lenses on any Pentax DSLR! :-o

Maybe Adam has been given too many of the latest Pentax lenses (for "reviewing" or whatsoever) so that he has almost forgotten how older Pentax manual lenses would behave on all the Pentax digital bodies. Nevermind, I think it's my take now! Below are two summaries that I compile to let all my readers here know (or got refreshed for the knowledge if already known) about the basic technical features or limitations of our Pentax lenses back to the 60s of the last century and what they could or could not do for us with our Pentax DSLR bodies! :-)

N.B. I don't think that you can find ALL of the information below in any of the Pentax DSLR/lens user/operation manuals! ;-D


Table 1: Lens Data/Function Availability with different Pentax Lenses

Lens Data and/or Function	Provision Means	M42	K/M	_A_	_F_	_FA_	FAJ/ DA/ DAL	DFA (1st Gen.)	DFA (2nd Gen.)
Wide-opened Metering	Instant Return Aperture Coupler	-	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y
Number of Steps Stopped-down (via Aperture Ring)	Mechanical Position Indicator	-	Y	Y	Y	Y	-	Y	-
Maximum Aperture	Array of Electrical Contacts	-	-	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y
Minimum Aperture	Array of Electrical Contacts	-	-	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y
Focal Length	(Advanced/Serial) Electronic Communication	-	-	-	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y
Focus Distance	Electronic Communication	-	-	-	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y
Lens ID	Electronic Communication	-	-	-	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y
MTF Data	Electronic Communication	-	-	-	-	Y	Y	Y	Y
Powered/Auto Zoom	Electronic Communication and KAF2 Power Contacts	-	-	-	-	S*	-	-	-
In-lens AF (SDM or DC Motor)	Electronic Communication and KAF2 Power Contacts	-	-	-	-	-	S	-	-

Legend: Y= Yes/Available; "-" = No/Not Available; S = Supported depending on Lens Model (if Feature is Available)

*Remark: Limited/Partial Function - Only Auto Zoom Retract and Powered Zoom are Supported.


Table 2: Pentax DSLR Camera Function Availability with different Pentax Lenses

Body Function	M42	K/M	_A_	_F_	_FA_	FAJ/ DA/ DAL	DFA (1st Gen.)	DFA (2nd Gen.)	*Remark
Wide-opened Metering	-	-*	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Stopped-down metering is available with a push of button.
Multi-segment Metering	-	-	Y*	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Not as accurate as subject distance information is Not available (and hence is not included in the calculation).
Off-the-film TTL Flash Auto (*ist D and DS/DS2 Only)	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	TTL flash sensor underneath mirror is installed; No Pre-flash is required.
Off-the-film TTL Flash Auto (All Others)	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	No TTL flash sensor underneath mirror; P-TTL is mandatory for Auto Flash.
P-TTL (where P stands for Pre-flash)	-	-	Y*	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Not as accurate as subject distance information is Not available.
AF	-	-	-	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	-
Lens Correction on Image	-	-	-	-	-/Y*	Y	Y	Y	Only the three FA Limited are Supported.

Legend: Y= Yes/Available; "-" = No/Not Available


Okay, is it and everything much clearer now? :-> And no need to make thanks to me, thank Adam instead! ;-p After all, I just won't make any reply over his premise to help others (and actually help him to make more money!) anymore (although Adam is really "kind" enough for not banning me!), as I decided and told two-and-a-half year ago! :-D


Further/Reference Read:-

K-Mount Metering and Exposure Bases - A Technical Brief

Related:-

Two Important Custom Functions for Proper Metering

Modding a Rikenon-P 50/1.7 Into an "A" Lens! :-o

Ten Things that I Want Ricoh to Do for Pentax

Hypocrites of the PentaxForums and Their Lies

Updating of my Blog Editing Direction

Japanese Pentax Cash Rebate

http://www.pentax.jp/japan/products/q/cashback.html

5,000 Japanese Yens (about US$64) for purchasing the Pentax Q and SDM/DA* Lenses and 30,000 Yens for the 645D. The period covered is from tomorrow till the end of January 2012.

If you now live in Japan, will you buy the promotional Pentax items just because of this rebate?

Hair Dry a Dead SDM Does Work (Again)!

Further to the last big discover for how to revive a dead SDM even the last method didn't work, I've seen this report lately which verifies that the new (escalated) method does work to bring back live again for a dead (stuck?) SDM! :-o

http://www.pentaxiani.it/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=49524&start=15#p678566

(Google English Translation Here)

Nice! Should Pentax should include these two methods into their service manuals of all the SDM lenses such that they need not to provide expensive quotations to the SDM users anymore for total SDM replacements and at least Pentax should try these low-cost repair methods at the first place instead! ;-D