K5 owners

I agree, there must be a cutoff point where common sense prevails. Also, I'm sure many owners will find it not that straightforward to distinguish between regular dust and this genuine problem. However, the instances of the genuine problem are clearly sufficiently widespread to induce some level of paranoia and, regardless of the root cause, that is entirely the fault of a failure of proper QC procedures. I hope Pentax offers replacement for sensors obviously affected and a free inspection available for any other owner concerned.

Lets hope so;that would be the most sensible thing to do.

Whatever they decide to do let's hope they decide soon, so this can be dealt with and put behind us, and them.
As it is I am sure it is damaging sales, with people holding off on the purchase, or going to another brand, due to the uncertainty surrounding it all.

Just wait till next month Photo Magazines are out. It will be all over them. I am to busy today otherwise but within the next few days I will take some macro pictures to see how 'bad' the 'bubbles' will show up on an A3 print but I regular use up to A1 prints so I may print a 2:1 macro in A1 to see if it shows up and if so how badly it is.
Gladly I have the symptom not too bad but on the other hand, if you spend over £1000 for a camera you can expect it to be faultless no matter if it bothers you in your pictures or not.

I am relieved to be able to say that my K5 3827*** is pretty much free of blemishes. There is one irregular mark that will fit within a 25 pixel square which is ever so slightly darker than the rest of the image. The remainder is totally even and no spots.

My *ist D had three or four such marks which were a little darker than the K5's one and they were almost never a problem; occasionally if they got in the way of a clear blue sky.

The poll is wrong because I checked to see what the odds were of getting a duffer before conducting my test. Now I cannot post an 'all clear'.

Like Tim I'm still using my K5. The only time any black spots showed was yesterday in the sky area of a picture and the two marks were easily cloned out. I know my problem isn't as bad as some others and I don't do macro work so it isn't affecting me too much. I don't want to sound complacent to those of you with a worse outbreak of blackspot disease but I want to say this is the best camera I've ever owned.
Now I'm going to wait and see what Pentax/SRS advise.
David

I doubt these trapped particles would really affect my photography, but my concern is the resale value.Once K-5s start appearing 2nd hand on Ebay it's going to be a case of "does it or doesn't it?"

"And how severe?"

I would love a K-5, but there's no way I'd buy one until this one's died down.

It does feel like Pentax has a death-wish, sometimes. Just as they come out with a world-beater, we get a monster QA-fail.



Who puts the filters on the sensors, Pentax or the sensor manufacturer?

Well just over a week in transit due to the severe weather conditions here my K5(18-135mm)lens kit arrived at 4pm today. With temperatures dipping to -14 last night and no let up in the frost all day there was no surprise to see condsensation forming on the cardboard box soon as I took it indoors. For now I have only opened the camera box but left the camera & lens with caps on in the bubble wrap until it comes up to room temperature, don't want to get condensation inside until tested but for now the serial No 3865...

Fingers crossed ...but my first impressions through the wrap are one of a camera that is surprisingly compact with a solid quality weight feel and same for the lens which is surprisingly compact...both very nice indeed!

Mike

Well today saw mine replaced due to the staining problem.

Thanks to SRS for their speedy resolution and hopefully that's the end of it.

on a more positive note:
link
link

So are you buying a D5100 Don?

Best regards

nope but if we book a few more weddings, I might buy Gerri a k5....
face it, even with the quality control issue, it is still an awesome camera!

I agree. I've always said so. On any other day of the week, I'd have bought one. The sensor issue was enough to frighten me off on the K5.

Then, due to the need for a second Nikon body, I bought the D7000. Same sensor and as with the K5, great performer.

Best regards