K5 Lens Release Button

Help! The lens release button has vanished from my K5 with the obvious and restricting consequences. If anyone else has ever experienced this unusual failure I would very pleased to hear if and how you were able to put things right.




Roger

Roger,

This has been raised before see: Lens release on K5

On the other forum, someone with the same problem contacted Ricoh who supplied a new button for DIY fitting.

Hope this helps,

Michael

Thank you for the info Michael, I will try my luck with Ricoh.. I have just this moment found out that a very large paper clip is almost an exact fit in the tiny little hole and requires very little pressure to release the lens. I have also just realised that the lens is only locked in place by the focus spindle.



Roger

Glad that you have found a temporary solution. I did come across a You Tube video with instructions on a diy method which involved dismantling the camera! The paperclip approach does seem a whole lot safer, though!!

Michael

Ah the many uses of a paperclip, I used one to eject the SIM carrier in my smartphone.

It seems to me that a paper clip or two is essential kit that all Pentaxians should have in their kit

One useful 'gadget' that I use is a 'TePe' interdental brush that has been shorn of its brush and the remains drilled out, to be replaced by a 1mm dia bit of wire, secured with some Araldite. As the original is so good at being used to get between one's teeth so this can be used to prod and poke in any variety of holes. It's identical to the paperclip version but uses the lovely tactile and gripable handle of a TePe.

And essential kit for people with house plants, too. Unwind one loop, hold the remaining loop, use the unwound bit to poke nasty bugs out of the crevices they try to hide in.

Steve

... together with a folding chainsaw, collapsible triple-extension ladder and lightweight chest-waders!