Stains

derekkite · 04-30-2012, 08:58 PM

My K-5 is serial 3824024, had it since Sept 2011. I checked last fall for stains, didn't show.

A little while ago an out of focus white background shot showed what looks like a sensor stain.

I did an f22 shot of the sky and it showed up. There was a bunch of other dust from a rather dirty trip I took. I cleaned the sensor with a rocket blower, and now I get this

The marks are to the left of center in this crop, but barely visible. A smudge and a faint vertical smudge.

The stain marks are in the middle of the frame and usually are not visible in most photos.

So a couple of questions. Do these stains develop over time? Are these sensor stains or simply dirt? What is the best way of making them show up? F22 infinite focus, or close focus on the sky?

derekkite · 04-30-2012, 09:02 PM

The second one cropped down more:

Franky2step · 04-30-2012, 09:04 PM

My K-5 is a similar age and I have a sensor that looks similar to your original photo. I am interested in some feedback myself before my warranty runs out.

derekkite · 04-30-2012, 09:05 PM

Sorry for the reruns, something strange. I was told that it didn't accept, wait 25 secs, so I did.

yurko_yr · 04-30-2012, 09:45 PM

Hi Derek,
I afraid that the first photo the spots on the right are a stain. The big spots might be just a dust on sensor, but the small spots located in a line with the hallos around are a stain.
Sorry about that. Hope you still have a warranty. I had the same issue with my camera and send it for replacement last spring. The stain in my case showed up only after 4 months. So, it is nothing unusual that you have not seen that before. It took Pentax 4 weeks to send me an replacement camera.
Sorry again and all the best with fixing this issue.
Sincerely,
Yuriy

derekkite · 04-30-2012, 09:57 PM

Thanks yurko_yr. I do have warranty,

Has anyone dealt with Pentax Canada on this issue? What did you do, just bundle the body up and send it in with a sample image? Do they replace the sensor or just send a new body?

yurko_yr · 04-30-2012, 10:05 PM

In my case they sent me a new body. I do not think they are replacing the sensor.
I chatted with Pentax US prior sending the camera to them. So, I would call them or contact them by e-mail.
Yuriy

Karl Stevens · 05-01-2012, 09:54 AM

The stains can develop over time - when I read about the stain issue online I checked and my sensor was clean. A month later (after shooting some video) I checked again and the stains were there.

Originally posted by derekkite

Has anyone dealt with Pentax Canada on this issue?

I took it to my dealer, and they sent it to Pentax Canada. Took nearly three months, during which time I was told that Pentax had sent it to Japan to replace the sensor.

KyPainter · 05-01-2012, 10:39 AM

To quote Pentax (US) on the K-5 stains: All users of these defective products will receive free repair. I assume the same holds true for those outside the US through their respective divisions.

lammie200 · 05-01-2012, 05:33 PM

Originally posted by Karl Stevens

The stains can develop over time - when I read about the stain issue online I checked and my sensor was clean. A month later (after shooting some video) I checked again and the stains were there.

You could get this from previous threads (and maybe you already have) but the stains are likely the result of a heated sensor. There is an adhesive that vaporizes under heat. Video probably heats the sensor up as much as anything.

04-30-2012, 08:58 PM	#1
derekkite Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Nelson B.C. Posts: 3,782	Stains My K-5 is serial 3824024, had it since Sept 2011. I checked last fall for stains, didn't show. A little while ago an out of focus white background shot showed what looks like a sensor stain. I did an f22 shot of the sky and it showed up. There was a bunch of other dust from a rather dirty trip I took. I cleaned the sensor with a rocket blower, and now I get this The marks are to the left of center in this crop, but barely visible. A smudge and a faint vertical smudge. The stain marks are in the middle of the frame and usually are not visible in most photos. So a couple of questions. Do these stains develop over time? Are these sensor stains or simply dirt? What is the best way of making them show up? F22 infinite focus, or close focus on the sky?

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04-30-2012, 09:02 PM	#2
derekkite Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Nelson B.C. Posts: 3,782 Original Poster	The second one cropped down more:

04-30-2012, 09:04 PM	#3
Franky2step Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Niagara Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 793	My K-5 is a similar age and I have a sensor that looks similar to your original photo. I am interested in some feedback myself before my warranty runs out.

04-30-2012, 09:05 PM	#4
derekkite Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Nelson B.C. Posts: 3,782 Original Poster	Sorry for the reruns, something strange. I was told that it didn't accept, wait 25 secs, so I did.

04-30-2012, 09:45 PM	#5
yurko_yr Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Saarbrucken Photos: Gallery Posts: 332	Hi Derek, I afraid that the first photo the spots on the right are a stain. The big spots might be just a dust on sensor, but the small spots located in a line with the hallos around are a stain. Sorry about that. Hope you still have a warranty. I had the same issue with my camera and send it for replacement last spring. The stain in my case showed up only after 4 months. So, it is nothing unusual that you have not seen that before. It took Pentax 4 weeks to send me an replacement camera. Sorry again and all the best with fixing this issue. Sincerely, Yuriy

04-30-2012, 09:57 PM	#6
derekkite Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Nelson B.C. Posts: 3,782 Original Poster	Thanks yurko_yr. I do have warranty, Has anyone dealt with Pentax Canada on this issue? What did you do, just bundle the body up and send it in with a sample image? Do they replace the sensor or just send a new body?

04-30-2012, 10:05 PM	#7
yurko_yr Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Saarbrucken Photos: Gallery Posts: 332	In my case they sent me a new body. I do not think they are replacing the sensor. I chatted with Pentax US prior sending the camera to them. So, I would call them or contact them by e-mail. Yuriy

05-01-2012, 09:54 AM	#8
Karl Stevens Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Photos: Albums Posts: 128	The stains can develop over time - when I read about the stain issue online I checked and my sensor was clean. A month later (after shooting some video) I checked again and the stains were there. Originally posted by derekkite Has anyone dealt with Pentax Canada on this issue? I took it to my dealer, and they sent it to Pentax Canada. Took nearly three months, during which time I was told that Pentax had sent it to Japan to replace the sensor.

05-01-2012, 10:39 AM	#9
KyPainter Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Owensboro, Kentucky Posts: 69	To quote Pentax (US) on the K-5 stains: All users of these defective products will receive free repair. I assume the same holds true for those outside the US through their respective divisions.

05-01-2012, 05:33 PM	#10
lammie200 Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: San Francisco Photos: Albums Posts: 1,033	Originally posted by Karl Stevens The stains can develop over time - when I read about the stain issue online I checked and my sensor was clean. A month later (after shooting some video) I checked again and the stains were there. You could get this from previous threads (and maybe you already have) but the stains are likely the result of a heated sensor. There is an adhesive that vaporizes under heat. Video probably heats the sensor up as much as anything.