K50 pictures completely dark
The company called dslrparts has been around for a long time. Recently, they have set up Pentax camera repair. Above, is a cut and paste from their web site. I called and sent e-mail, but haven't heard back yet. This is all they do, fix aperture problems. so Pentax has known about this problem for years.
I've bought 4 Pentax cameras in the past 4.5 yrs, now i wonder?
BTW, when a kid, I had a pen pal in Whangarei. Beautiful country you live in.
I'll try to find the user.
I find the site okay, as it explains in depth what they do and their warranty.
http://www.pentaxcamerarepair.com
http://www.dslrparts.com/
http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/151-pentax-k-30-k-50/332215-pulled-out-my-k-3...
I'm putting in another plug for Mark at PentaxCameraRepair.com.
a few weeks ago, my K30 came down with the same problems that so many others have described - totally black photos, unless I used old lenses with aperture ring
in manual mode. I found the link on this site, contacted Mark by email, heard back from him immediately. Shipped off my K30. Literally, within days, and with great email updates from Mark along the way, I had my camera back.
I've only had it back a few days, so I cannot speak to the longevity of the repair. But the camera is working as well as it ever did. For $100 and with a one year warranty on the work, I'm VERY happy.
Please note, I have no affiliation with the repair site. I'm just a happy customer. Happy to be using my K30 again.
Read more at: http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/151-pentax-k-30-k-50/332215-pulled-out-my-k-3...
I asked about the K70, and it's an updated system, and the K5 (which I also have) uses the same aperture control as the K3. so it seems they put a better aperture control in their hi-end cameras, and have updated it in their new line. My K1 uses a ultrasonic type motor in the lens, so I should be free of this problem.
Pentax is going to call me back in an hour or so about what their management will do in my case, so I'll post whatever I hear. One K30 owner got 30% off from Precision, but I want more if not 100%. I doubt that I'll get it, but if more of you people cal and rant, who knows what will happen?
worse case error i mail it out to Pentaxcamerarepair.com
It would be very costly for many of us here to use your preferred repair centre due to postage costs as it would for people on your side to use ours.
The authorized Pentax repair site, Precision comes poorly regarded. They repair other brands also. Pentax USA is not popular over here like in Europe/Asia due to poor marketing, it's a Canon/Nikon world over here with Canon the current leader.
I did wait awhile before purchasing the K1 as I remember the K3 fiasco with it's major recall. When ever a new product is rushed to market, you can expect problems. I've read Pentax took 10 years to develop the K1, not sure if true.
cheers
I'm not sure "UK based site". What is? This forum? Wondering why so many "foreigners" were on this site.
The authorized Pentax repair site, Precision comes poorly regarded. They repair other brands also. Pentax USA is not popular over here like in Europe/Asia due to poor marketing, it's a Canon/Nikon world over here with Canon the current leader.
I did wait awhile before purchasing the K1 as I remember the K3 fiasco with it's major recall. When ever a new product is rushed to market, you can expect problems. I've read Pentax took 10 years to develop the K1, not sure if true.
cheers
Whilst the forum is based in the UK it is international, and you will see we have many contributors from all over the world which brings a great mix of opinions and images. In the UK we are lucky to have a few excellent Pentax retailers, and there is a dedicated shop in Paris. I sense that Pentax have upped their marketing here since launching the K-1 but customer service needs to come up to speed as well, and I would have thought that a commercially focused outfit like Ricoh would have the resources to sort this. As for 10 years development of the K-1, take that with a pinch of salt. I think a full frame body was put on hold whilst Ricoh/Pentax concentrated on their medium format range, but I gather that the K-1 has much of the 645 DNA as a result.
Pentax is using dc motors in their lenses for the K1, not sure about the K645Z which is a medium format. The K1 is a hot item, came out with one price, and then went up with no sight of abiding.
TheK1 IQ and resolution is remarkable, big difference from my other Pentax cameras.
I shipped my wife's K50 out to CA, and got it back a couple of days ago. Currently, the "fix' is not available, but the owner of the site (pentaxcamerarepair.com)will post it in the future, guess he's making some money. He's been in business for 20 years selling and repairing various makes of cameras, and has posted "how to repair" as he sells used parts. He also has a 100% rating on Ebay.
I did a lot of research on him, and couldn't find anything negative.
After the fix, he keeps the camera for a couple of days for testing before he mails it out. Nice guy, as I called him a few times, and he's easy to speak too.
He charges a flat rate of $100.00 plus shipping, and gives a year warranty. Took a bunch of shots, and the camera works fine. If it was my camera, I would have tried repairing it myself based on posted fixes in filing down the plunger, but my wife knows better. I've also noticed on Ebay that a seller from Japan sells the K30/K50 aperture block for $39.00 shipped, so if you screw up the fix, you can buy a new one thought it will probably fail down the line.
Congrads to those who fixed the problem using the excellent postings.
Paolo
Read more at: http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/151-pentax-k-30-k-50/336501-k30-k50-aperture-...
Some of the problems are when the lens is wide open or near wide open, and work okay at smaller lens opening (like mine did.) Maybe you are experiencing this.
If it works okay in manual mode, then you are having the dreaded aperture block problem.
What is the fix for the aperture block problem? Is the repair shop mentioned offering service? Website or contact info.
Sorry you are having the problem which exists on both the K30 and K50. Take note of your Fstop. Does problem arise when at say 4.5? and no problem say at 18.0?
Some of the problems are when the lens is wide open or near wide open, and work okay at smaller lens opening (like mine did.) Maybe you are experiencing this.
If it works okay in manual mode, then you are having the dreaded aperture block problem.
google pentaxcamerarepair.com
So far, it been okay, about 2 months into repair.
I would set mine to sport mode, fire off about 5 - 8 shots, then it would work, turn off, then same problem.
There are people who repair the camera by filing down a "plunger". You can find this by searching, some good instructions.
Some had a slow degrade, while others when bad fast like mine, about 1200 shots.
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2052 posts
11 years
North Island - New Zealand
Certainly does little to instill confidence that you will be looked after by them, should anything similar occur on future models.