Aperture block on K50...Finding legacy lenses with aperture rings give new life!

PBRD · 05-14-2021, 12:36 AM - **3 Likes**

I was gutted when my K50 "died" with aperture block. However...I have since been experimenting with older (for film camera lenses) which have an aperture ring. These lenses tend to be of exceptional build quality and later versions have AF. My K50 has therefore started a new life and I am loving some of the results. Just saying...you don't have to take your camera apart or pay for someone else to fix it.

Martin Stu · 05-14-2021, 02:30 AM

I also like to use old film lenses on my K-50...

**Michail_P** · 05-14-2021, 03:10 AM

Hope you really enjoy its new life. That's nice, to move on and find a good use.

swanlefitte · 05-14-2021, 03:48 AM

My ks-2 got abf around feb. I used my camera every day. I just fixed it, but haven't missed much because of vintage lenses, the 55-300 plm, and the 77mm limited.

**Sir Nameless** · 05-14-2021, 05:01 AM

The A-block on my K50 is still working (last time I checked) but I still use mostly "K" and "M" lenses on it.

angerdan · 05-14-2021, 05:09 AM

Originally posted by PBRD

I have since been experimenting with older (for film camera lenses) which have an aperture ring.
These lenses tend to be of exceptional build quality and later versions have AF.

Legacy glass can used on film and digital cameras.
Lenses with Aperture Ring, Autofocus | PentaxForums.com

**pepperberry farm** · 05-14-2021, 06:35 AM

my first suggestion when I read about another camera that suffers this failure is to NOT repair or discard the camera, but to make the camera your permanent, fully-manual body and run with it...

there's a huge world out there of film-era lenses that are amazing....

Not a Number · 05-14-2021, 12:06 PM

It is certainly nice to have working alternatives.

reh321 · 05-14-2021, 12:27 PM

Originally posted by PBRD

I was gutted when my K50 "died" with aperture block. However...I have since been experimenting with older (for film camera lenses) which have an aperture ring. These lenses tend to be of exceptional build quality and later versions have AF. My K50 has therefore started a new life and I am loving some of the results. Just saying...you don't have to take your camera apart or pay for someone else to fix it.

When my K-30 first started suffering from "Dark Image Syndrome", I purchased a FA 28-105mm here {before that purchase, I didn't have any auto-focus lenses with an aperture ring}, and after the problem became too bad, I used it exclusively. I thought I was 'set', but then they lower the price on the KP to $700, and I got one of them, so I don't use the K-30 very much any more. However, it is still usable in 'green button' and "Av' modes, so this is another alternative to doing 'transplant surgery' on the body.

**Kevin B123** · 05-14-2021, 12:57 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by pepperberry farm

my first suggestion when I read about another camera that suffers this failure is to NOT repair or discard the camera, but to make the camera your permanent, fully-manual body and run with it...

there's a huge world out there of film-era lenses that are amazing....

This certainly has some merit, unless your favorite lens is a non PLM DA lens.

**pepperberry farm** · 05-14-2021, 02:15 PM

Originally posted by Kevin B123

This certainly has some merit, unless your favorite lens is a non PLM DA lens.

agreed - but why only have one camera body?

**Kevin B123** · 05-14-2021, 02:21 PM

Originally posted by pepperberry farm

agreed - but why only have one camera body?

Now you are talking, what shall we suggest for the second body

I was just guessed money is an issue, in not having it fixed in the first place.

**pepperberry farm** · 05-14-2021, 02:36 PM

Originally posted by Kevin B123

Now you are talking, what shall we suggest for the second body

I was just guessed money is an issue, in not having it fixed in the first place.

we're here, not only to advise, but to spend someone else's money....

I'd suggest either a K-5 IIs or a K-3 (for going easy on their wallet)....

reh321 · 05-14-2021, 02:57 PM

Originally posted by pepperberry farm

agreed - but why only have one camera body?

I don't recall anyone's talking about having only one camera body.
At the time my K-30 started suffering from "Dark Image Syndrome" I also had three other working bodies - a Canon film body, a Pentax "Super Program" {another film body} and a Pentax Q-7.
For me, my K-30 was the most useful of the three, and I chose not to purchase another one right away.
Several months later I decided to purchase a KP at $1000, but then the price came down to $700 before I could act on my decision.
It is still useful to think of ways to use a Pentax n0 that cannot control the lens's aperture.

reh321 · 05-14-2021, 03:11 PM

I purchased my K-30 in June 2015.
I purchased the FA lens sometime around June 2017, and mostly just carried it around in my bag for the next year - it added very little weight to my bag.
I started using the FA lens regularly sometime around July 2018.
I purchased the KP on Black Friday 2018, and used the K-30 only intermittently since then.

05-14-2021, 12:36 AM - 3 Likes	#1
PBRD New Member Join Date: May 2016 Location: East Sussex Posts: 13	Aperture block on K50...Finding legacy lenses with aperture rings give new life! I was gutted when my K50 "died" with aperture block. However...I have since been experimenting with older (for film camera lenses) which have an aperture ring. These lenses tend to be of exceptional build quality and later versions have AF. My K50 has therefore started a new life and I am loving some of the results. Just saying...you don't have to take your camera apart or pay for someone else to fix it.

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05-14-2021, 02:30 AM	#2
Martin Stu Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2019 Posts: 1,115	I also like to use old film lenses on my K-50...

05-14-2021, 03:10 AM	#3
Michail_P Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2019 Location: Kalymnos Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,006	Hope you really enjoy its new life. That's nice, to move on and find a good use.

05-14-2021, 03:48 AM	#4
swanlefitte Pentaxian Join Date: May 2015 Location: Minneapolis Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,068	My ks-2 got abf around feb. I used my camera every day. I just fixed it, but haven't missed much because of vintage lenses, the 55-300 plm, and the 77mm limited.

05-14-2021, 05:01 AM	#5
Sir Nameless Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Mass a chew sits Photos: Gallery Posts: 574	The A-block on my K50 is still working (last time I checked) but I still use mostly "K" and "M" lenses on it.

05-14-2021, 05:09 AM	#6
angerdan Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2015 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,642	Originally posted by PBRD I have since been experimenting with older (for film camera lenses) which have an aperture ring. These lenses tend to be of exceptional build quality and later versions have AF. Legacy glass can used on film and digital cameras. Lenses with Aperture Ring, Autofocus \| PentaxForums.com

05-14-2021, 06:35 AM	#7
pepperberry farm amateur dirt farmer Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: probably out in a field somewhere... Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 41,766	my first suggestion when I read about another camera that suffers this failure is to NOT repair or discard the camera, but to make the camera your permanent, fully-manual body and run with it... there's a huge world out there of film-era lenses that are amazing....

05-14-2021, 12:06 PM	#8
Not a Number Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Venice, CA Posts: 10,526	It is certainly nice to have working alternatives.

05-14-2021, 12:27 PM	#9
reh321 Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: South Bend, IN, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,184	Originally posted by PBRD I was gutted when my K50 "died" with aperture block. However...I have since been experimenting with older (for film camera lenses) which have an aperture ring. These lenses tend to be of exceptional build quality and later versions have AF. My K50 has therefore started a new life and I am loving some of the results. Just saying...you don't have to take your camera apart or pay for someone else to fix it. When my K-30 first started suffering from "Dark Image Syndrome", I purchased a FA 28-105mm here {before that purchase, I didn't have any auto-focus lenses with an aperture ring}, and after the problem became too bad, I used it exclusively. I thought I was 'set', but then they lower the price on the KP to $700, and I got one of them, so I don't use the K-30 very much any more. However, it is still usable in 'green button' and "Av' modes, so this is another alternative to doing 'transplant surgery' on the body.

05-14-2021, 12:57 PM - 1 Like	#10
Kevin B123 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Hampshire Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,186	Originally posted by pepperberry farm my first suggestion when I read about another camera that suffers this failure is to NOT repair or discard the camera, but to make the camera your permanent, fully-manual body and run with it... there's a huge world out there of film-era lenses that are amazing.... This certainly has some merit, unless your favorite lens is a non PLM DA lens.

05-14-2021, 02:15 PM	#11
pepperberry farm amateur dirt farmer Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: probably out in a field somewhere... Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 41,766	Originally posted by Kevin B123 This certainly has some merit, unless your favorite lens is a non PLM DA lens. agreed - but why only have one camera body?

05-14-2021, 02:21 PM	#12
Kevin B123 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Hampshire Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,186	Originally posted by pepperberry farm agreed - but why only have one camera body? Now you are talking, what shall we suggest for the second body I was just guessed money is an issue, in not having it fixed in the first place.

05-14-2021, 02:36 PM	#13
pepperberry farm amateur dirt farmer Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: probably out in a field somewhere... Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 41,766	Originally posted by Kevin B123 Now you are talking, what shall we suggest for the second body I was just guessed money is an issue, in not having it fixed in the first place. we're here, not only to advise, but to spend someone else's money.... I'd suggest either a K-5 IIs or a K-3 (for going easy on their wallet)....

05-14-2021, 02:57 PM	#14
reh321 Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: South Bend, IN, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,184	Originally posted by pepperberry farm agreed - but why only have one camera body? I don't recall anyone's talking about having only one camera body. At the time my K-30 started suffering from "Dark Image Syndrome" I also had three other working bodies - a Canon film body, a Pentax "Super Program" {another film body} and a Pentax Q-7. For me, my K-30 was the most useful of the three, and I chose not to purchase another one right away. Several months later I decided to purchase a KP at $1000, but then the price came down to $700 before I could act on my decision. It is still useful to think of ways to use a Pentax n0 that cannot control the lens's aperture.

05-14-2021, 03:11 PM	#15
reh321 Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: South Bend, IN, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,184	I purchased my K-30 in June 2015. I purchased the FA lens sometime around June 2017, and mostly just carried it around in my bag for the next year - it added very little weight to my bag. I started using the FA lens regularly sometime around July 2018. I purchased the KP on Black Friday 2018, and used the K-30 only intermittently since then.