Pentax Kr issue

Hi, im looking for help with my Kr.

I got this camera for xmas as a present and it is my first dslr camera. So far im very happy the camera and have taken roughly 2000 pictures without an issue until the other day. As I was taking a picture it seemed that the camera jammed mid cycle. On looking through the viewfinder I was presented with a black screen allowing minor light through. I tried to take a few more pictures thinking this may clear it but on half pressing the shoot button for focusing it sounded as if the camera was trying to cycle through but would not clear. In the end I removed the lense (18-55mm that came with the camera) and the mirror seemed stuck halfway. In the end I flicked the actuator (i think thats what it is called) to the top, put the lense back on turned the camera on off and it reset it self. After a couple more shots its jammed again. First of all I just thought it was the lense so swapped for the 55-200mm lense which was fine until the following day when it to jammed.

Having read through the forums I now believe this to be the mirror flop issue. It seems to be intermittent, some days no jams, some days jams on the first shot. It even jams on the odd occassion with no lens attached when ive been checking it.

So im guessing I will need to send it away for repair. I would like to know if others that have had the same problem have sent it away for repair and the problem has been fixed permanently or if the repair has worked temporarily and eventually the problem resurfaces further down the line. Secondly as it is now seven months old can I return the camera to the retailler and swap it for a replacement model or is sending it off for repair my only option?

My thanks is advance for any replies.

It's still under warranty, so the dealer is responsible for warranty repair.

Just check first that the batteries are still in good order. Rechargeables do have a lifespan, maybe 1000 recharges, and will eventually fail to deliver enough power. This could cause mirror lockup.

Were you using the lithium battery that came with it or using AA's mine some times does strange things with the lithium as is gets down on power but always seems ok with AA's In fact i just use the lithium as a back up now and use good quality rechargable AA's all the time.

Thank you for your responses. Batteries were all in order. I have the original lithium batterie which has probably only been charged less than ten times as I also have two other cheap (although surprisingly good) lithium batteries that I also use. At the time it first happened I have one of the cheap batteries in. This became flat the following day whilst charging so I put in the fully charged pentax battery and got a jam on my third shot.

I forgot to mention that I am in bali at the moment on holiday. The jamming has only been happening for the last few days of my time here and when it started i'd been out in the heat for most of the time. Could it be that this problem is result of climate, and when I return to the colder uk in a couple of days the problem may no longer exist? On a couple of occasions whilst here I have used the video function of the camera and after about nine minutes of recording a red thermometer symbol has appeared which I assumed meant the camera was too hot has appeared and ive turned it off. Again the has not happened in uk the but I have not recored a video for that long before either.

Bondys, I can't comment on the mirror lock up, but the temp thermometer is to do with the live view usage, cannot remember mentions about it specifically for video use but assuming that it is an issue when using LV I'd imagine that using video would cause similar.

As you are in Bali (beautiful part of the world!!), could it be that you've been in proximity ot the sun-kissed beaches there, and you've somehow got a grain or two of sand inside the housing? Maybe you were changing lenses on or near the beach, and a light breeze has carried this sand inside your camera? I'd try a sensor cleaning function (the vibration thingy) to see if it alleviates your problem.

So I did the sensor cleaning and still no change, had a good look inside, looked nice and clean and clear. So a couple of weeks ago i took the camera back to currys. Their knowhow team didn't seem to know a lot at all about camera's and haven't filled me with confidence. They have sent it off to the uk pentax repairers which i think are Johnsons so now just waiting to get it back, hopefully!!! i shall let you know if and when it comes back!

I have been having the exact same problem with my K-r. Only bought it November 2011. Its well looked after and the batteries are all in good order. Took it back to Jessops who have sent it off for repair. Its going to take 6 weeks apparently!! Very frustrating...

grain of sand jammed into the area between the shutter button and the camera body...
fine sewing needle and air blower should get it out, if you can see it.

Hello everybody, I'm new here, in fact I registered on this forum just because I was searching for a solution for the same problem experienced by bondys...
I was in Lithuania, holiday, relaxed, satisfied by my photos with a K-r plus 18-55 lens (all original Pentax bought this year on June!!) and... then it happened!!! How crazy I became!!!
Shutter didn't finish his course, I had to remove the lens and reattach it, shut down the camera, push the shutter button, and then all returned normal functioning. All this happened several times, but I noticed that happened more frequently in Vilnius, where we had a very HOT and sunny weather.
Once at home, I went to the local shop where I bought it, and the same, they didn't know so much about this issue. Of course when into the shop the problem didn't happen !!! They told me to wait for September, because of the usual August holiday closing time of the lab. Now it seems that all is correct.
I also read the instruction manual and found that it could be caused by static charge left on the camera. Maybe because I traveled by plane?? This could make sense...
What do you think about it?
Thanks!
Milla

Hello Milla. That is funny - you had your kr mirror issue in Vilnius, and me too! Today i am bringing it to Vilnius pentax dealer! I do hope its not a problem specific to Vilnius city only )))
mantas.

Hi Mantas!
I recently experienced the same issue also in London, Olympic area, on an extremely windy and dry morning, and in Massa (Italy), pretty near where I live, on a rainy day and into a trade hall. I think many K-r cameras are affected by this type of problem because of a not so well assembling of electrical components by production line (my personal opinion). I think I'm going next level with K-5 or K-30 as soon as I can.
I also noticed that this issue happened more frequently with Pentax 18-55 lens, which I bought with the camera, and less frequently or never with Sigma lens.
Hope this can help anyone else experiencing the same.
Bye bye

Hi all,

The problem with my camera didnt fix itself once I was back in the uk so I took it back to the shop and they sent it away for repair. I cant remember what he part is exactly called but they replaced the mechanism that moves the mirror. So far there hasnt been a problem in the couple of months that ive had it back for but since then its only had very light use. Once I got it back I did notice that it has. A different sound about it while shooting. Its quieter when taking pictures.

So Iif you are having the same problem as me I think your only option is to get it repaired for a long term fix, I think as they replaced the mechanism there must have been a fault with it.