I've had two SDM failures on the DA*50-135mm and each time it was repaired within 2-3 weeks by Johnsons a helluva a lot cheaper than buying a new one. I can't recall precisely how much the repair cost but it was around £120 compared to about £800 for a new lens.
My DA* 16-50mm is still going strong - I think it must have been one of the earlier ones because I bought it around 2007 or 2008. If the SDM fails the lens will be sent to Johnsons, I would be silly to even consider the expense of buying a replacement or an alternative model from another manufacturer.
Both these lenses produce first class image quality and are in constant use.

David
PPG: http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/artists/davidtrout

Love the set as a whole, Shrewsbury is a lovely town in a beautiful county (Shropshire). In fact I love the whole region, the Severn Valley right down through Bewdley where I lived for five years as a small boy, and the Welsh Marches. I like to spend a few days every year in the Shropshire, Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Gloucestershire region.
Your pictures revive happy memories.
David

PPG: http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/artists/davidtrout

The same thing happened to me at the Edinburgh Fringe last August. I reckon it was when I was switching to continuous shooting mode. I like the result however and intend to use it again.
Here it is
Double Take



K3+DA* 200mm lens

PPG: http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/artists/davidtrout

Its good news that Ricoh/Pentax are moving into the league inhabited by professionals and many dedicated amateurs, but I pity the poor old rumour mongers. After two or three years of constant gossip, speculation and fantasy what on earth will they find to blog about now.
David

PPG: http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/artists/davidtrout

I really enjoyed that.
David

PPG: http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/artists/davidtrout

I like the fantastic variety on display here - from a subject with a seemingly narrow potential you've produced a beautiful and fascinating portfolio ranging from the abstract style of 2+4 to the impressionism of 6+8 naming just four of my favourites.
David
PPG: http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/artists/davidtrout

Please tell me more. I've always admired IR black and white photography and just this week have been inspired by Bill Ward's recent work. Can I just buy a screw on filter for my disused IstDS or will I have to have the camera body sensor modified in some way?
David

PPG: http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/artists/davidtrout

Congratulations Glyn, the list is very useful for anyone on PUF who is confronted with setting a competition, and also camera club members looking for ideas for set subject competitions.
David

PPG: http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/artists/davidtrout

They are sensationally good Bill, each and every one of them. No.1 really grabs attention and makes a terrific opener for the whole set. I love my K30 the way it is without any conversion but perhaps, inspired by you, IR might be the way forward for my now little used K10.
David

PPG: http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/artists/davidtrout

Its legitimate photography, photographers have been dodging and burning in darkrooms, and now in Photoshop, since the dawn of photography nearly 200 years ago. Some do it more skilfully than others. Its not cheating, especially when the author announces what he's done - its called being creative or artistic. You should see some of the weird and wonderful confections that are now all in vogue in international photographic salons; I often wonder if any element in some of the more extreme examples ever originated in a camera at all.
The picture linked by CMW seems a fairly straightforward piece of Photoshop work to hide intrusive features that would detract from the image. There's nothing particularly radical here.
David

PPG: http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/artists/davidtrout