K5 Battery Depleted Problem
Quite a few threads on this problem on Pentaxforums.com
https://www.flickr.com/photos/arleimages/
The lens and mount contacts could perhaps do with a with with a clean, dry, lint-free cloth.
Sounds like a problem with the mirror motor - happened to my K5 when it was 13 months old - starts with the odd occasion but gets more frequent, Luckily Pentax did repaired mine under warranty, took6 days from sending to receiving back mended!
Quite a few threads on this problem on Pentaxforums.com
Thanks Stephen.
Could this occur as a result of the extra work it can be called upon to do when using 'live view'? The mirror can be slamming around much more frequently than during normal use.
I wasn't using 'Live View' David.
Maybe there was a malfunction because the connection between camera and lens was lost? You mention that removing and reseating the lens cleared it.
The lens and mount contacts could perhaps do with a with with a clean, dry, lint-free cloth.
Thanks John,
I'll give the contacts a good clean and see what happens. I'll take a spare body with me next time.
If it is the mirror motor does anyone know an approximate repair cost?
Thanks all for your replies,
Regards,
Chris.
Well it's happened again today ( at the same stock car track too ), camera locked and battery depleted message on the rear screen.
The strange thing is this....the first time it happened I had taken around 700 shots, today I had also taken around 700 shots too ( good job I took a spare camera with me today )
It's looking like I'm going to have to send it in for repair.
Regards,
Chris.
You had taken 700 shots? Maybe the battery was depleted, just as the display said. What happened if you just put the spare battery in?
Hi John,
I changed the battery half way through the meeting. I tried another fully charged battery and it's still the same.
Overheating?
Hi David,
It was around 700 shots over about 4 and a half hours. I have the camera in front of me right now and it's still not working.
Regards,
Chris.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/arleimages/
I still think it's the mirror motor circuit - a well documented fault on the K5. Press the shutter, solenoid activates to flip mirror up, drawing current. Solenoid sticks, mirror stays up, effectively now have an open circuit across battery with no way of shutting off, hence get battery depleted warning and a blacked out viewfinder. When I had the problem, it occurred once, pulled the battery and sanity returned. 6 weeks ater, it happened two or three times in one morning' shoot (about 500 pictures) A week later it happened again within first 5 minutes of starting shooting. Pentax repaired under warranty as the first occurrence was when the camera was 10 months od. 6 days after I sent it off I got the camera back, no problem in the last 2.5 years!
My K5 is now all boxed up ready to send for repair first thing Monday morning.
Regards,
Chris.
I have received my repair quote from Johnsons Photopia.
Replace mechanical assy
Repair shutter mechanism
Clean viewfinder assy and ccd
Repair mirror mechanism
Check and test
Total cost = £204.00
I have no idea if this is a reasonable price but I've authorised the repair.
Regards,
Chris.
What's a new K-5 family camera worth in the UK these days?
That seems a decent chunk of a new camera is all?
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285 posts
13 years
Derby ( UK )
I was at my local stock car track today doing infield photos when my K5 suddenly stopped working.
When pressing the shutter release button nothing happened, the top screen went blank and the rear screen said 'Battery Depleted'.
I tried both my fully charged spare batteries ( both genuine Pentax ) but it still didn't work.
When I got home I removed the lens ( 50-135 DA* ) to see if anything was amiss inside the camera body, on replacing the lens the camera started working again normally.
Has anyone else had this problem and if so is there a fix?
Regards,
Chris.