Fatal problem or known fault???

My K10D is playing up. Every now and then after taking a shot it returns a completely blank and black image. It has just started doing it and I wondered if anyone has come across this before? Is it a known fault or have I got a broken camera?

I have had it a couple of times, as one off event, but not recently. I paid little heed, putting it down to 'Operator Error'. Does it occur when you are using Flash? Continual shooting?
Be interesting to know if this has been experienced by other K10 users.

The most common reason for this is using the internal flash to fire an external flash. The pre-flash triggers the main flash and then when the shutter releases on the second flash from the internal flash unit there is no exposure and a blank frame results.

This doesn't happen with the K7 which can be set to trigger a slave flash either with or without the internal flash contributing to the exposure. Works brilliantly with current Pentax flash units.

That probabley accounts for my couple of failures. Good camera, poor operator

John,
Thanks for the input, but it happened when I was out and about on the Wansdyke yesterday. No flash being used, single shot mode, Aperture Priority all the usual settings that I had been using for months... so it happened completely unexpectedly. One image returned a solid pink screen and another a green flashing screen. I turned the camera off and then on. Replaced memory card with another. Checked battery. Reset all settings to default and it still occurs.

I had a problem like this, but it turned out to be a problem with the lense. If I remember right it was a Sigma 50-300mm turned out to be the something to do with the contacts.

Under those circumstances I would clean the battery contacts and the lens contacts and try again. You've tried a new memory card.

Removing the battery for a while and then reinserting and starting again can clear a locked up camera. A "cold boot" I suppose.

John,

Thanks. I'll give it a go with fingers crossed.... if the problem doesn't go away..... then I'll have to buy a K7 (clouds, silver linings...)

Oh well in that case, it's really bad news Coriander, don't even try fixing it. It's had it mate, run as fast as you can to SRS and get that nice and clean K7. but give me your grip first.....

I had a similar problem with my K200d earlier this year.

Cleaning everything, fresh batteries and a complete 'cold start' seem to have sorted it.

At the moment my problem is the grip showing flat batteries when they're fresh!

PentaxRocks.....me afford a K7!!? you must be joking!....I'll get the soldering iron out before that happens..!

HardGravity.... did what you suggested and after about 50 test shots the problem doesn't seem to have reappeared. Thanks. A sigh of relief but I'm not holding my breath just yet...

Glad to help, hope all's OK from now on.

Also have the same problem, even got one with a green border and took 3 photos and only got worse till it didn't make a photo any more.
Simply setting the camera off and on solved the problem though and it works fine afterwards, I've it 2 times a year...
Maybe pressing a button to fast after powering, i really don't know how it comes?