Makes me wonder if there is a cause for this problem ?

In my case, it became apparent, after fitting new, ( well, second-hand ) , extension tubes ???

Picture 'A', below shows the correct position of all the parts when the ON/OFF switch is pushed to the preview position.
I have coloured some of the parts to make it easier to see.

The assembly coloured yellow moves to the up position. Also seen here is the spring arm, coloured red , which pulls the yellow assembly back down when the ON/OFF switch is moved from the preview position.

My problem was that the red spring arm had moved below the yellow assembly, and so was not returning the yellow assembly to the lower position.






Picture 'B' is an example of the position of the spring arm, when the preview mode is entered.







If you remove the lens from the camera, and operate the preview function, you should see the small spring arm moving up, it is quite hard to spot. I managed to swing this spring arm over the 'yellow' assembly using some fine dental instruments, it took a few goes and a third hand would have been useful, as you need to keep the camera in preview mode, ( so that the 'red' spring is visible ), push down the 'yellow' assembly a little to allow you to flip the 'red' spring into the correct position.

It goes without saying, that you try this at your own risk, I suspect you could do a lot of damage if things go wrong.

I'm off to finish the Glenfarclas, so happy that the K10 is up and running, enjoy your dram George. ( Simon C. )

Thanks George, although we have never met, I have started to think of you as the ' Simon Cowell' of PentaxUser.com,

You are not afraid to speak your mind, and quite able to call a spade a shovel.

Any words of wisdom from you are welcome.

( p.s. if you are Simon Cowell and have Cheryl Tweedy on your knee, could you give her my number )

ChrisA and Simon, I tried to give the impression that there was two ways to get past the church, the long way to the right and the short, ( more travelled ), way to the left, to the original Burns plot.

Sorry it didn't work for you.

Well I once created a DeLorean Time Machine from a Bultaco 350, so I don't see a the AF280T as a challenge.

But it might take a while . . . . . . . .

One of a series taken in this churchyard in Dumfries.

Robert Burns was originally buried in a plot here, and it still has a Robert Burns mausoleum on site.

I think the Pentax 10-17mm fisheye works well here, any opinions ?

Fixed the K10 this morning. I'm as happy as a dog with 2 c**ks

It was indeed what I suspected, a lever moved from it's position on the aperture selection assembly.

( My description of parts - others may have their own terms ! )

Job was a wee bit of a fiddle, I used some dental probes and a dental mirror, and as is usual for this type of work, a third arm with a small hand on it, sticking out of my forehead would have been bloody useful.

I'll try and put a pic or 2 together and a description of the fix on to the Trouble Shooter thread, in case anybody else has the same problem.

Just glad I didn't have to send it off for repair . . .

Tried the lenses on my DS, and they work ok, so it appears to be K10 at fault.

Looking into the lens mount of both camera's there is a spring loaded leaver / linkage that I would assume holds the lens aperture wide open when on the A setting. As you move the on/off switch to preview, this linkage rises to stop down the lens.

Unfortunately, on the K10 it is in the up position all the time, stopping the lens right down, hence the dark viewfinder.

It seems there is a small leaver that operates this up/down movement and it has moved from the operating position. It looks as though I may be able to return it to position, but as I have had 1 or 3 Malt Whisky's, I may leave it until tomorrow to give it a go.

As for the picture, didn't really do much to it, other than crop some foreground tree branches, I'll be back up that way in three months time, hopefully the K10 will be working, although I doubt that the weather will be the same ?

I was going to a job in Lochinver on the West Coast of Scotland, and I know a spot on the road where, if the conditions are right, there is some fantastic scenery. Well, I left Inverness about 06:30 and it was heavy rain, I got near to Ullapool and the clouds were beginning to part and I could see signs of sunlight. Passed through Ullapool and things were looking good. I got to the 'sweet-spot', the light was great, the water was calm, the hills were in sunshine, so I grabbed the K10 lifted it to my eye, all was very dark !!!

Checked all my settings, couldn't see anything wrong. It appeared that the FA50/1.4, although set on A, was actually fully stopped down, I tried another lens with the same result. Couldn't even get focus because everything was so dark.

Took the batteries out, reset to factory settings and still no joy, I could have cried.

I'm back home now and will see if I can figure what's wrong over the weekend.

Took this picture with the small point & shoot I carry for work, just to remind myself what I missed,

You could be right John, fresh and clean up there.

The coastline from Thurso round to Wick and down to the Moray firth, has been used to land fish for years and years, and I have travelled up and down this coast for the last 20 'odd' years, yet I discovered last week, three old harbours that I didn't know existed. I took nearly 700 images the week I was in Caithness, a lot were just at different exposures, but I know now, how Clint Eastwood feels with his finger on the trigger !!!!

I could have ended up with 5000 shots if I had a Can-ikon, with the 6-9 fps, and no time to process them, I love my K10D.

I would like a K20, but I don't think I've out-grown the K10 yet, may miss the option K20 and see if a K30 comes out next year, no hurry for me, to be honest.

In-fact I have trouble getting the 10-17mm fisheye off the K10, the combination still amazes me.