Well, here we are well into 2014 and still the company can't be bothered to communicate with me. Seems they aren't interested in problems with their products and are seemingly happy to bin letters of complaint.

Well. seems they aren't bothered as my chaser letter with copy of original,remains unanswered - no acknowledgement of receipt, offer to investigate, commiserations - just ignorance. Looks like Pentax have no interest in problem products - what a great company!

No - gave me a verbal estimate over the phone and when I gibbed said they would have to speak to "someone", Came back saying as the warranty had expired there was nothing they could do so I asked them to return the camera as I had no wish to spend more than half the amount it cost in repairs so soon after purchase being more inclined to put that money towards a decent camera. Sadly have lost confidence in the camera and company - wouldn't be confident I wouldn't have to shell out more in the future and given that I seem to be the only one complaining about this problem I suspect I have a "friday afternoon" camera which could have all sorts of other hidden problems. Anyway thanks for all your suggestions. I have chased the company for a response to my letter of complaint - lets see if they can be bothered.

It has been to Johnsons which is where the estimate came from. I have by the way tried all your suggestions none of which work but thanks anyway.

Thanks for the suggestion but I would have hoped that if the problem was as simple as that Johnsons would not have quoted well over £200 to sort it.

Thanks fo the suggestions - as it happens I have bought an external flash which is fine when I know it is needed, however not as convenient and certainly not what I bought the camera for. I wrote complaining to Ricoh in August and am still waiting for a response! Not overly impressed with their customer care. Had various cameras over the years and this is the only one which has developed this problem. Using Auto mode is almost impossible in all but exceedingly good light as the moment the camera decides the flash is needed the camera freezes.

Bought new from well known camera shop - has worked perfectly for 2 years - but not now.

Anyone else experienced problems with the flash on the Kr? Just a month out of warranty mine stopped working, still jumps up when required but freezes the camera. Pentax don't seem worried - been quoted over £200 to put right whatever the problem is which is roughly half the camera price.