Need to get my K1 repaired...!!

After having just received. What I consider, a very excessive quotation. From John Pye Technical. To repair the No 1 port of SD card on my K1. Mwmory card will not read. Can anyone else recommend a trusted repairer..? Plastic left in from a Sandisk SD card. I have read on, Or the U.S site here that you can poke about with some kind of cocktail stick..? But with my eyesight would probably do more harm than good... Thanks in advance ... I also realise I would have to wait until the epidemic is over..

I've got a similar problem with my K5-II - but there is a visible pin out of line and it reports an error. I can use the camera tethered, so I know that's the only problem.

The quotes seem to be based on replacing the motherboard (which is expensive), but I'm considering dismantling myself, to see if I can replace the slot. I'm a bit nervous about tackling that, but otherwise it's a dead camera. Another option would be to find a camera that's got a mechanical failure, and get the local shop to do the work, which should be cheaper and safer.

Mike

That is the annoying part.. Slot 2 is working..! And they would have to wait the part from Ricoh...

There was a debate a while back over the advantages (or not) of card removal vs usb cable. Removal of the card won out but here are two good reasons to use the cable!

What about trying with a narrow nozzle connected to a vacuum cleaner to suck the plastic bit out?
(I did think about suggesting a can of compressed air to blow it out - but then realised that it might go further in, and not out, and who knows what other damage that might cause?)

Another thought - would a flat & moist FF sensor swab be long enough to get in so that the plastic bit might stick to it, and then you could pull it out again??

They are all good ideas. But I was wary to poke around in the slot as I have quite poor eyesight. Probably resulting in creating more damage than already at present. Hence why I was looking for a repairer. I was just put off by the price quoted at J Pye.

Thanks John that's perfect. I'll try and contact them tomorrow.

Are they still going? I remember them from my college days in the late 80's. Glad to see some remnants of old Liverpool still there.

As an alternative could a watch repairer extract the bit of plastic. They have small tweezers and magnifying tools if the bit is accessible without dismantling the camera.

Just a thought.

Paul

Thanks for the reply Paul.. That thought had crossed my mind. But I'm not 100% sure that's the whole problem. As I'm getting memory card error, even when there is no card in the slot. So I want a camera repairer to have a look at it. I will have a better chance when the Lockdown comes to a close and busineses reopen.