From information posted elsewhere on the net, if SDM stops working the lens can continue to be used as a manual focus lens on any digital Pentax camera. If you have a K10D or earlier camera you may be able to make the lens work as a screw drive focus lens. To do this on a K10 you have to uninstall current firmware and re-install version 1.1 or earlier, I believe.

Earliest version of firmware left K10 working the SDM lenses as screwdrive instead of as SDM through the contacts. I believe other earlier Pentax digital cameras don't recognise SDM and operate these lenses as screwdrive. SDM and screwdrive systems are independant, so if SDM goes screwdrive is unaffected.

Cameras from K20 onwards recognise SDM lenses and won't operate them on screwdrive, even if SDM fails. Some who have failed SDM lenses have tried blocking off contacts etc to "trick" cameras into using screwdrive but I haven't read of any successes yet. There is pressure from some on Pentax also to give a software fix to allow users to select screwdrive in the event of SDM failure but you can see the difficulty that they would face - Pentax would be accepting that there were occasional (or indeed any) SDM failures.

Other advice I have read "out there" is to always store your SDM lenses on their sides, not on end, and to use them regularly. Those with failures commonly seem to have stored them on end and not to have used them for some time. Some suggest that failures seem to be associated with focus drive components becoming sticky or jammed due to combination of vertical method of storage and lack of use. I am sure there will also be plenty who store their SDM lenses like this and use them sparingly, but have had no problem!

Hard to know what to believe is best, it appears that the majority of users have no problem with SDM lenses, but there are clearly some out there who have had failures, albeit the failures seem more common in the earlier lenses. Nevertheless, I make sure my SDM lenses are stored on their sides and get a run on my camera every week, even if its only indoors, just as an insurance policy. Perhaps a sprig of lucky white heather in the kit bag helps too

I also have the 16-50 and 50-135 lenses, 2-3 years old and both are working fine.

Dave,

I don't see a price for the 35mm f2.4

Bought from all 4, my order of preference is:-

SRS
Parks
Wex
Pixmania

I have had good service from the first three. I particularly like SRS's included 2 year warranties and their free postage for Forum members.

Slight reservations about Pixmania. Last item I bought from their UK site about a year ago (mobile phone, not camera) came from France (to my surprise), not UK, took a while to arrive, and came with only French instructions included. Not clear how this affects warranty, but they say send it back to them if any problem. They are a French not a UK company (not immediately obvious from their website), and it isn't clear to me from their website how much of their stock is non-UK. Otherwise no complaints with them.

(Hopefully) final update on K5 level adjustment - SRS arranged pick up on 2 Feb and it arrived back with me on the 16th, so two week turnaround. Level indicators are now spot on. Only concern was the packing it came back in, a lightweight box only 2cm wider than the camera the way it was packed, and just 2 layers of small size bubble wrap protecting the camera. Box was badly dented up full length of one side to the extent that I took photos before I opened it, fearing the worst. Dent was above location of camera, fortunately, and it seems ok, but I'll be checking it carefully over the weekend. Not what I would consider a secure way to post a £700 camera body. I sent it to them double boxed and double padded with wrap and loose fill. Someone at SRS could learn a thing or two about secure packing from the forum members I've bought from before, I think! Shame, cos otherwise their service was absolutely spot on.

SMC Pentax M Macro 1:4 100mm Lens arrived safely today, in good condition, just as my K5 went back to SRS for level adjustment Many thanks, Andrew, for the quick & easy transaction.

Update on my K5 -

Spoke to SRS and though a swap for a new camera is an option they recommended getting the sensor adjusted as a new camera could be just as out of adjustment as my current one.

Everything else is fine on my K5 so I am going for this. If I see any sign of it going out of adjustment after then I will be asking for camera replacement until I get one that is right/stays right.

They use Johnstones to carry out the adjustment. SRS pay for pick up & delivery as it is within a month of purchase (Pentax warranty is return to base so you are supposed to pay!) SRS say adjustment is very quick, normally about 1 week turnaround.

I found SRS exceptionally helpful, glad I bought from them, esp. for the 2 year warranty they give.

Will update FYI when I get camera back from adjustment.

Chris,

Thanks for the further info - I hadn't picked up that other K5 owners were getting this problem. It all sounds very depressing. My sensor is much further out than yours, I'm afraid to say. I really can't understand either why there is no calibration function. I don't know of any instrument fitted with a long level bubble that wouldn't be expected to require occasional adjustment - my background includes surveying, and regular checking and adjustment of level bubbles on theodolites etc is expected as bubbles often creep a little with use so of course a means of adjustment is always built in.

By the way, I went for a spirit level as my "make certain" check, rather than the 180 degree turn you might use for checking a bubble normally, as I know the laws governing the behaviour of a physical bubble, but not how a faulty Pentax electronic level sensor works or behaves, so I wanted to check the sensor's behaviour on a level surface for elimination of any doubt. It wouldn't have surprised me if it had behaved differently from one orientation to another at 180 degrees!

However, for my camera at least, I can confirm that the sensor appeared to mirror the behaviour of an out of level physical bubble, when placed on a random flat but not level surface, so my paranoia on this was perhaps unjustified.

For the record, the K5 has otherwise been excellent, just a shame to get such a seemingly unnecessary problem after only 3 weeks.

Ed

Roger,

Strange, you would expect the marks on the collar would have some relationship to squareness of body, unless the collar is moveable somehow!!

I checked my K5 with the base of the body sitting on a spirit level and I am quite sure that the base is parallel to the viewfinder, also my check on horizon shows electronic level out side to side matching the spirit level check, so I am sure there is a fault. I'll see if SRS have heard of this kind of problem before and report back in due course.

Thanks for your input.

Ed

Thanks John,

that is what I feared!! I agree I would rather trust my eye which is why I hadn't switched the level on before, but curiosity got the better of me, alas. Even if I do not use the feature, I paid for it (huff puff) and I expect it would reflect badly on future resale price should I ever want to upgrade, so I am afraid it will be back to SRS to get it sorted out. Thank goodness I held on to my trusty K10D!

Ed