K5 Sensor Issues...

Chris@SRSWATFORD · 2010-12-07T17:13:39+0000

Hi all, Sorry for not getting back to you all as quickly as I would have wanted. I have had lengthy conversations with Pentax UK once I was made away of the situation with some users experiencing sensor blobs/stains. I can assure you that out of the large number of K-5's sold, it is a small percentage of users that are affected - no consolation if you are one, but it's worth mentioning. We have taken a few telephone numbers and will be contacting you tomorrow. If you feel your K-5 has an issue with stains on the sensor, we will collect the camera from you free of charge. We will then assess the camera at this end, and if the sensor has the staining/blobs we will issue a replacement camera. We have low stocks of the camera at the moment so this might take a few days. The alternative is that, once we have checked the camera and found an issue, we will send the cameras to Johnsons Photopia, Pentax authorized repairers who will then either repair or replace the camera. Either way, we should be able to turn-around your camera within 7 days. If this leaves any of you without a camera, I am happy to lend a K-7 to keep you going! This is our initiative and has nothing to do with Pentax, and we will send the camera to you free of charge. We can arrange to do this when we collect your K-5. We have a limited number of cameras we can loan out, so to help us out I would kindly ask you to only request a camera if you have no alternative! It’s my boys 18th birthday today, so I am not going to be around this evening, but I will be happy to answer any questions either by PM or email in the morning. I think a few ‘medicinal’ drinks are in order… Please rest assured that we will sort this situation out for everyone. Chris

Pentax Digital SLRsPentax Digital SLRs

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pianoman pianoman

479 posts
16 years
London

Posted 18/03/2011 - 20:54 Link

I gave up and put the K5 on hold for a while despite the fact I loved mine I compromised and got K7 until the teething problems have all been ironed out and got fed up waiting to be honest

All the best

David

DaveKitson DaveKitson

275 posts
17 years
Lichfield,
UK

Posted 18/03/2011 - 22:44 Link

robbiec wrote:
Thats where Chris and the team at SRS do so well. I think I was 10 mins doing my swap over and another hour gossiping and bantering over various other items.

Similar experience for me but it hit me in the wallet.....

During the banter with Chris I saw a Pentax 500mm F4.5 on the counter and the banter led to barter ..you can guess the rest....

dave k

My PBase: www.pbase.com/davekitson

Smeggypants Smeggypants

7671 posts
17 years
Smegland

Posted 18/03/2011 - 22:57 Link

robbiec wrote:
Thats where Chris and the team at SRS do so well. I think I was 10 mins doing my swap over and another hour gossiping and bantering over various other items.

Indeed. I'm waiting for Chris to get back to me about stocks of the K-5 so I can swap mine as it has severe FF problems. I don't mind a couple of days, but 5 weeks!!

[i]Bodies: 1x K-5IIs, 2x K-5, Sony TX-5, Nokia 808
Lenses: Pentax DA 10-17mm ED(IF) Fish Eye, Pentax DA 14mm f/2.8, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8, Pentax-A 28mm f/2.8, Sigma 30mm F1.4 EX DC, Pentax-A 50mm f/1.2, Pentax-A 50mm f/1.4, Pentax-FA 50mm f/1.4, Pentax-A 50mm f/1.7, Pentax DA* 50-135mm f/2.8, Sigma 135-400mm APO DG, and more ..
Flash: AF-540FGZ, Vivitar 283

Dotandcom Dotandcom

28 posts
15 years

Posted 19/03/2011 - 09:46 Link

Sadly, five weeks seems not to be exceptional and some people wait much longer: http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-k-5-forum/135087-how-many-days-before-...

I presume that the past few weeks have seen a peak in returns because of all the publicity.

All the best,

Chris

royd63uk royd63uk

1072 posts
18 years
Newport,
South Wales,U.k

Posted 19/03/2011 - 11:12 Link

Quote:
so I can swap mine as it has severe FF problems

I thought that FF can be fixed with the adjustment feature in the software

regards
Roy

Pentax K3 gripped,and some lenses
https://www.flickr.com/photos/pentaxroy/

my pbase gallery

Smeggypants Smeggypants

7671 posts
17 years
Smegland

Posted 19/03/2011 - 16:08 Link

royd63uk wrote:

Quote:
so I can swap mine as it has severe FF problems

I thought that FF can be fixed with the adjustment feature in the software

It's a low light/tungsten light problem

https://www.pentaxuser.com/forum/topic/k-5-af-under-tungsten-light-issue------24...

it's looking more and more than 1.03 didn't fix it either.

pdjones pdjones

2 posts
15 years

Posted 26/03/2011 - 19:39 Link

I'm going to buy a Pentax K5 DSLR, hopefully on my trip to Australia via Hong Kong this year - in the hope of saving a little cash. I have read about the sensor problems identified on a small number of these cameras. Does anyone know if Pentax have identified a batch of these and is there a list of serial numbers for the associated cameras that I can check and avoid. I'd hate to come back with a dud!
Peter.

Mike-P Mike-P

13627 posts
18 years
Hythe,
Hampshire UK

Posted 26/03/2011 - 19:57 Link

Serial numbers seem to have no relevance.

If you are taking a laptop then download Photome, take a picture and check the manufacture date of the camera.

Anything in 2011 should be fine.

My Flickr

Gwyn Gwyn

10344 posts
20 years
The Netherlands

Posted 26/03/2011 - 20:45 Link

I imagine that recent events in Japan are now impacting on deliveries of new cameras. Even if they are not assembled in Japan many (all?) parts come from there.

Smeggypants Smeggypants

7671 posts
17 years
Smegland

Posted 27/03/2011 - 03:40 Link

Gwyn wrote:
I imagine that recent events in Japan are now impacting on deliveries of new cameras. Even if they are not assembled in Japan many (all?) parts come from there.

The tsnunami/quake only affected one region of Japan.

The Pentax Factory is located here

Which is quite high up and inland looking at the map

Edited by Smeggypants: 27/03/2011 - 03:41

Don Don

6213 posts
20 years
Winterpeg Manitoba Canada

Posted 27/03/2011 - 03:55 Link

Smeggypants wrote:

Gwyn wrote:
I imagine that recent events in Japan are now impacting on deliveries of new cameras. Even if they are not assembled in Japan many (all?) parts come from there.

The tsnunami/quake only affected one region of Japan.

The Pentax Factory is located here

Which is quite high up and inland looking at the map

That is a SONY sensor in that Pentax camera is it not?

Fired many shots. Didn't kill anything.

Smeggypants Smeggypants

7671 posts
17 years
Smegland

Posted 27/03/2011 - 04:45 Link

Was Sony decimated by the perils of nature?