istD doesn't play ball

As I have already mentioned in another thread my *istD doesn't want to play with me.

I took it out of the shelf after about a year (had it with me as a backup a few times but never switched it on).
- The AF button would work sporadically.
- Exposure measurement seems to work as well.
- No display of left pics/space on the CF card (card tested in the reader, has the DCIM folder, nothing else).
- When pressing the shutter button it either did nothing or the mirror was flicking up and remaining there.
- No way to get anything shown on the display (menu, review etc.)

I removed the backup battery, left it out for a bit and then put it back again. Different behaviour:
- When I switch the camera on it displays the screen for setting date/time. No button whatsoever gets me out of there.
- Only other sign of life (apart from the top LCD showing reasonable exposure readings) is when I press AE-L I get a beep.

Any ideas? Suggestions? Prayers?

Prieni

Sorry to hear about your situation, clutching at straws a bit here, but have you tried attaching it to the computer and using the PENTAX REMOTE Assistant ?

Might not help, but maybe worth a try, might show if some functions are working ?

Have you tried to install the firmware again, I don't see that in your list you see and it might be worth the effort.

Galoot,

good hint. I had never used Remote Assistant. At least I was able to set date and time. I'm back to my first state, i.e. autofocus sometimes. I'll try changing lenses next.

Stefan,
yes, good thinking. I'm a bit hesitant, though, as I don't have firmware 1.0 and the others were more or less upgrades. So only useful if you had the right version on the camera.
I cannot check the current version as power on + menu doesn't show anything on the screen (I'm back to the state where I cannot get anything to show on the screen).

Prieni

Ok, I changed to the DA 10-17, and I get a response sometimes. I got AF once to work a few times in the row. No shutter action, though.
Turning the mode selector does work at least for a few steps. I also can change aperture in Av mode, ISO in ISO mode etc. It also seems to remember the settings I made. Somewhere along the line, though, it freezes. Switching off and on again seems to remedy that. But only for a while...

I think I have to give up, wait until the K20 return and send the istD in...

Prieni

Is this the *ist with a button cell back up battery?

If so does that affect things and need changing?

Yes it is the one with backup battery.
As I wrote in the first post, I took it out for a bit and then in again. It changed things in that I had the date/time setting screen and couldn't get out of it anymore.
Today I bought a replacement battery, but no luck with that one either...

Prieni

Just try the firmware update, there is nothing to lose at the point you're at now link here's a PDF on how to do it link
I believe the firmware updates do a full reinstall though, not sure but hopefully they do but you don't need the previous versions.

Sorry Prieni, missed that bit.

I'm with Stefan with try a firmware update.

After all you've not got a lot to loose if your thinking of returning the body for a service.

Well, I do think there is something to loose. If the camera gets it's knickers in the twist (as they apparently are already) I might end up with a camera without firmware, i.e. without the chance to get firmware on it.

All other operations that seem to work for a bit end in freezing the camera electronics. Not the best conditions for an update I would say...
I would give it a go if only some functions were not working but the others were stable.

You are right, however, that it seems that all firmware upgrades for the *istD are possible for all preceding firmware versions. (I have the 1.11 and 1.12 updates still on my PC).

I too would try reinstalling the firmware (after ensuring all batteries were fresh).

Via the hardware, a Pentax service engineer would be able to copy a firmware onto it if you were not able to update the firmware again yourself.

I'd be thinking corrosion, on the internal circuit boards......
Perhaps fumes from the batteries while in storage, or humidity, or whatever they switched to after trying to reduce the lead.....
I've heard of some electronics having trouble with mercury vapor leaching out of batteries and causing aluminum components to disentrigrate.

Don, interesting thought. I think I will try the firmware upgrade (it's true, not much lost when I'm going to send it in anyways) and maybe I have a look inside.
I had the camera stored without main batteries, though, only the backup was in.

Prieni

yeah, those little button cells are loaded with mercury.

The button cell in the camera is bound to be silver oxide rather than mercury.

Mercury button cells haven't been available for quite a few years (in the UK at least) for environmental reasons. They were inferior to silver oxide and used in things like hearing aids rather than cameras.