Freezing K5

I have had a couple of instances in cold conditions where the K5 has totally frozen and cannot even be switched off. The cure is to remove the grip, remove the battery from the body, re-assemble and everything goes back to normal. Not always terribly convenient in the field!! I am pretty certain, having Googled 'freezing Pentax' that it is caused by static electricity. Each time it happens I have been wearing a synthetic, waterproof jacket. Has anyone got any suggestions for eliminating the static please? Other than dispensing with the jacket, that is

I can not comment on the static build up or potential cure but will say that every digital camera I have ever owned has on rare occasions frozen - and not just in cold weather.

Same thing happens (IME) with all mobile phones, tablets, PCs, Routers, GPS units etc etc.

Maybe I shouldn't but I just accept it as a part of modern life.

Anybody who has ever dealt with a technical help desk is likely to have have heard the words 'have you tried switching it off and on again'.

Carl

I think we've all had it, but the common denominator to me was always having a grip fitted and a discharged battery in the grip/camera, and the way the batteries were set up to discharge in the menu system. Seemed like a glitch to me switching between power sources. This could be an explanation in this case?

There seem to be more instances of this when using a grip. There are plenty of people who have had no problem at all, including myself and Sue. We've never had any camera lock up in this way.

However, the instruction manual acknowledges that it can happen and the cure is to remove the battery and start again. Not so much different from any other computer I suppose.

Thanks for your advice and comments

I've done both the Pentax K5 with and without grip and also two versions of the Pentax K3 with grip. But to first clearly point out... The Pentax K3 is able to easily deal with weather, sand, and even extreme cold - better than any Pentax I've ever owned. It almost makes me want to look forward to what the Pentax full-frame will be like.

Just how well? That the Pentax K3 deals with the weather considerably better than even ANY Nikon on the market, but... That is also without factoring in such items such as batteries which can be carrier remotely from the camera - such as tethered batteries which allow the batteries to remain warm in something such as a jacket - away from the camera.

Just this week I completely tested out my Pentax K3 with all of the current WR lenses (except the 560) to a temperature below negative 30 Celsius. Was able to still capture pictures quite effectively. Can't make those statements about Nikon products outside of their camera bodies, because very few of their lenses offer ANY type of WR. Hint, hint marketing department, as this is something that should clearly be shown when releasing the full-frame soon.

As for that "noticed K-5 issue... I personally have never noticed anything like it with any digital Pentax dslr, except... That as with any digital camera, one should use precaution when changing out memory cards in very rare static conditions

Based on the comment above, I'm very keen to see what the plan is for a K-50 and K-3 successor, given the K-S2 hints at being a separate product line.

If Pentax updated their firmware on all current models, (ie K-50 and K-3) to allow for real SR in movie mode, instead of that 'Movie SR' mess, then the K-3 represents a great buy compared to the newly released K-S2. The K-S2 reads like a K-50 with new capability features, (wifi and flippy screen etc), but it's core is still very much K-50, (same burst rate, same number of AF sensor, same min shutter speed etc).

As I understand it, the K-3 is priced fairly close to the new K-S2 camera (at least right now before the K-S2 prices drop).

That's true. But I personally don't want a 24Mp sensor, I don't want dual SD slots, I don't want the ugly wart on the front (headphone jack) and I defo' don't want to use an influenza card to get WiFi capability.
I think the K-3 misses the mark for me..

I'll continue use the K-50 as my DLSR until further notice

All good points Steve, so I'm keen to see if the k-50 gets an update.
The k-30 features and compromises totally worked for me/aligned with my key requirements. (Bar the SR)