Pentax K10D LCD display

I have owned my Pentax K10D for about 3 months, however today the LCD display stopped showing the picture I had just captured. Further to that none of the buttons on the back of the Camera, i.e the Menu, Info, Fn button work. Is there any way to turn the display on/off? The camera still takes photo's - I just can't see them or use the buttons at the back.

Is this a known problem with the Pentax K10D?

Please advise ASAP as I am due to head off on holiday in a wk or so and had planned to take the camera with me.

Thanks in advance
Martin

you can turn off the instant replay feature, but the buttons should still work. I'm sorry to say that it sounds like something is broken. Timing sucks right before your holiday!

Martin,
Normally, if you hold down MENU while turning the camera on it should display the firmware version number. If not - then you've got a broken K10D
Certainly not a general problem... but you need to get it looked at.
Matt

Hi Matt

When I hold down the MENU button on start up it displays VER: 1.00

So what now?


Thanks
M

Well, you should try the latest firmware version, which is 1.20, downloadable here:

http://www.pentaximaging.com/customer_care/show_firmware?firmId=8793673

It just might solve the problem, and it will certainly solve others.

G

Hi George

Is it ok to go from 1.00 to 1.20?

Thanks
Martin

Yes, it's fine to go from 1.00 to 1.20.

All firmware updates have the previous updates included in them.

Thanks guys

The camera actually started to work before I loaded the software - not sure what happened.

Should I get it checked out after my holiday or just take it as a wee blip?

Cheers
M

That's not a 'blip' that I would be happy living with 'cause you know when it'll fail you again (which it will) . . . when you most need it to work.

Somewhere in the instruction manual (I can't find it just now) there are comments about the camera needing to reset under some circumstances. It is a computer of sorts so taking the battery out, leaving it for a short while and then re-inserting the battery might enable a restart.

If I am remembering correctly it might have something to do with a build up of static.

Found it as the bottom of page 220.

I know roughly what "firmware" is in a PC context, but does my ist*DS have it, too? If so, how would I change it?

All DSLRs have it.

Download it from the Pentax site, and it will tell you what to do.

Basically, copy it to a card, insert card in camera, and press a button (forget which) when you switch on.

Takes a couple of minutes.

G

Thanks for that information. I found the old Pentax UK site such a pain that I was never much tempted to revisit, but it all seems quite clear now.
Is it my imagination, or do Pentax not promote this service much?

I tend to go to the US site for things like this.

G