Is Pentax K-5 sensor stain real?

Medium FormatPro · 05-08-2013, 05:53 AM

MOD EDIT: It was long, long ago. In a galaxy far, far away.

<link removed>

Last edited by Parallax; 05-08-2013 at 09:17 AM.

mrNewt · 05-08-2013, 06:05 AM

I thought you were saying that the K-01 had stain issues!?
And seriously ... you are using Photo rumors to back up your stories!?

I know early models of K-5 had some issues with dust on the sensor ... and if I am correct, Pentax did fix the issue on later models (mine is clean as a whistle), plus, from the stories I have read, they did fix the early cameras as well when people sent it in for repairs.

elliott · 05-08-2013, 06:07 AM

It was a real problem in the early batches of the original K5, but was solved a long time ago and almost all cameras that were affected were repaired. It is possible that there are some still out there in old stock or in the used market though.

**Digitalis** · 05-08-2013, 06:08 AM

that was published in 2010 - if it was as bigger an issue as it has been with recent Nikon camera bodies them i'm pretty sure we would be hearing about it. My 645D arrived with a few spots on the sensor - but I always clean the sensor/mirror box on a new camera first thing anyway so it wasn't an issue. Anyone who expects their cameras to be perfect out of the box have unrealistic expectations - batteries need charging, camera straps need adjusting, the Dioptre needs adjustment - It isn't a major drama for me to clean out the sensor/mirror box.

**felixkh** · 05-08-2013, 06:08 AM

The sensor stain involved early units. After Pentax exchanged the said units, all new units DO NOT have this problem anymore. I got my K5 in Dec 2011 and it did not have this problem.

Jean Poitiers · 05-08-2013, 06:24 AM

Got my K-5 in Nov 2011 without any problems ... now, the recent Nikon D600 "Dustgate" is on a whole different level IMO ... for funnies, I just typed Nikon D600 in Google and got "Nikon D600 dust" as a suggested response ! J

PS - Also, in France, Chasseur d'Image just did a multi-page write up about the dust problem ...

Phii Mii · 05-08-2013, 06:30 AM - **1 Like**

Why start a thread about an article from 2010? This is really old news and known to nearly all who have a K-5.

pxpaulx · 05-08-2013, 06:31 AM

Originally posted by Digitalis

that was published in 2010 - if it was as bigger an issue as it has been with recent Nikon camera bodies them i'm pretty sure we would be hearing about it. My 645D arrived with a few spots on the sensor - but I always clean the sensor/mirror box on a new camera first thing anyway so it wasn't an issue. Anyone who expects their cameras to be perfect out of the box have unrealistic expectations - batteries need charging, camera straps need adjusting, the Dioptre needs adjustment - It isn't a major drama for me to clean out the sensor/mirror box.

It actually was a pretty big issue - and Pentax addressed it extremely fast. I was one of the first ones to discover the issue - and found out about it less than 2 weeks before a 2 1/2 week trip to Italy. The retailer I bought it from went above and beyond, contacted their Pentax rep who authorized an overnight exchange of a new camera that was checked before being sent.

That aside, what exactly is the point of this thread?

mrNewt · 05-08-2013, 06:36 AM

Originally posted by pxpaulx

That aside, what exactly is the point of this thread?

He is very adamant in trying to prove that Pentax is a really bad brand ... nothing else.

Jean Poitiers · 05-08-2013, 06:37 AM

Originally posted by Phii Mii

Why start a thread about an article from 2010? This is really old news and known to nearly all who have a K-5.

Maybe because Pentax handled better its "Staingate" as opposed to Nikon's handling of its current "Dustgate" ... J

PS - Chasseur d'Image reported that class action suits were being considered against Nikon ...

Medium FormatPro · 05-08-2013, 06:45 AM

Originally posted by Digitalis

My 645D arrived with a few spots on the sensor - but I always clean the sensor/mirror box on a new camera first thing anyway so it wasn't an issue

IF Pentax ever has had a perfect digital camera it would be the 645d. Now there is one Pentax camera that does stand on it's own - as is. But one also has to wonder if they'll ever be updating it. Even though Hasselblad hasn't yet released the new H5, both Hasselblad and Mamiya should both have sensors in the 100mp range; most likely this year.

altopiet · 05-08-2013, 06:55 AM

Call me stupid, many have and I don't mind, but I can't understand the reason behind starting this thread...

**Digitalis** · 05-08-2013, 06:56 AM

Originally posted by Medium FormatPro

both Hasselblad and Mamiya should both have sensors in the 100mp range; most likely this year.

unlikely - there is still some improvements that have to be made in terms of sensor architecture before we will see significant increases in pixel count above 80Mp. At present the biggest issue is long exposure noise - larger sensors produce a great deal of heat, and preventing that from affecting the sensors noise performance with long exposures is going to be a bridge that will have to be crossed.

rawr · 05-08-2013, 07:04 AM

Such an old (2010) story, and an issue that has already been extensively covered on this forum and in the photo media. You make it sound like there is some sort of cover up happening, but everyone else around here knows this is old news.

Pentax resolved this problem with early K-5's openly (including a Jan 2011 statement and mea culpa directly from Pentax Japan HQ) and directly several years ago. No new DSLRs from Pentax - eg K-30, K-5 II - have had any such issues.

Parallax · 05-08-2013, 09:01 AM - **2 Likes**

................. and in further breaking news:
Two brothers have successfully tested their new invention. "My brother Wilbur and I couldn't be more pleased, Orville said."

05-08-2013, 05:53 AM	#1
Medium FormatPro Banned Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Charleston & Pittsburgh Photos: Albums Posts: 1,668	Is Pentax K-5 sensor stain real? MOD EDIT: It was long, long ago. In a galaxy far, far away. <link removed> Last edited by Parallax; 05-08-2013 at 09:17 AM.

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05-08-2013, 06:05 AM	#2
mrNewt Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: ON, RH Posts: 2,181	I thought you were saying that the K-01 had stain issues!? And seriously ... you are using Photo rumors to back up your stories!? I know early models of K-5 had some issues with dust on the sensor ... and if I am correct, Pentax did fix the issue on later models (mine is clean as a whistle), plus, from the stories I have read, they did fix the early cameras as well when people sent it in for repairs.

05-08-2013, 06:07 AM	#3
elliott Inactive Account Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: North Carolina Photos: Albums Posts: 1,720	It was a real problem in the early batches of the original K5, but was solved a long time ago and almost all cameras that were affected were repaired. It is possible that there are some still out there in old stock or in the used market though.

05-08-2013, 06:08 AM	#4
Digitalis Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Melbourne, Victoria Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,694	that was published in 2010 - if it was as bigger an issue as it has been with recent Nikon camera bodies them i'm pretty sure we would be hearing about it. My 645D arrived with a few spots on the sensor - but I always clean the sensor/mirror box on a new camera first thing anyway so it wasn't an issue. Anyone who expects their cameras to be perfect out of the box have unrealistic expectations - batteries need charging, camera straps need adjusting, the Dioptre needs adjustment - It isn't a major drama for me to clean out the sensor/mirror box.

05-08-2013, 06:08 AM	#5
felixkh Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Singapore Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,201	The sensor stain involved early units. After Pentax exchanged the said units, all new units DO NOT have this problem anymore. I got my K5 in Dec 2011 and it did not have this problem.

05-08-2013, 06:24 AM	#6
Jean Poitiers Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Lost in translation ... Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 18,076	Got my K-5 in Nov 2011 without any problems ... now, the recent Nikon D600 "Dustgate" is on a whole different level IMO ... for funnies, I just typed Nikon D600 in Google and got "Nikon D600 dust" as a suggested response ! J PS - Also, in France, Chasseur d'Image just did a multi-page write up about the dust problem ...

05-08-2013, 06:30 AM - 1 Like	#7
Phii Mii Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 27	Why start a thread about an article from 2010? This is really old news and known to nearly all who have a K-5.

05-08-2013, 06:31 AM	#8
pxpaulx Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Twin Cities, MN Posts: 2,867	Originally posted by Digitalis that was published in 2010 - if it was as bigger an issue as it has been with recent Nikon camera bodies them i'm pretty sure we would be hearing about it. My 645D arrived with a few spots on the sensor - but I always clean the sensor/mirror box on a new camera first thing anyway so it wasn't an issue. Anyone who expects their cameras to be perfect out of the box have unrealistic expectations - batteries need charging, camera straps need adjusting, the Dioptre needs adjustment - It isn't a major drama for me to clean out the sensor/mirror box. It actually was a pretty big issue - and Pentax addressed it extremely fast. I was one of the first ones to discover the issue - and found out about it less than 2 weeks before a 2 1/2 week trip to Italy. The retailer I bought it from went above and beyond, contacted their Pentax rep who authorized an overnight exchange of a new camera that was checked before being sent. That aside, what exactly is the point of this thread?

05-08-2013, 06:36 AM	#9
mrNewt Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: ON, RH Posts: 2,181	Originally posted by pxpaulx That aside, what exactly is the point of this thread? He is very adamant in trying to prove that Pentax is a really bad brand ... nothing else.

05-08-2013, 06:37 AM	#10
Jean Poitiers Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Lost in translation ... Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 18,076	Originally posted by Phii Mii Why start a thread about an article from 2010? This is really old news and known to nearly all who have a K-5. Maybe because Pentax handled better its "Staingate" as opposed to Nikon's handling of its current "Dustgate" ... J PS - *Chasseur d'Image* reported that class action suits were being considered against Nikon ...

05-08-2013, 06:45 AM	#11
Medium FormatPro Banned Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Charleston & Pittsburgh Photos: Albums Posts: 1,668 Original Poster	Originally posted by Digitalis My 645D arrived with a few spots on the sensor - but I always clean the sensor/mirror box on a new camera first thing anyway so it wasn't an issue IF Pentax ever has had a perfect digital camera it would be the 645d. Now there is one Pentax camera that does stand on it's own - as is. But one also has to wonder if they'll ever be updating it. Even though Hasselblad hasn't yet released the new H5, both Hasselblad and Mamiya should both have sensors in the 100mp range; most likely this year.

05-08-2013, 06:55 AM	#12
altopiet Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: The Gem of the Karoo, South Africa Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,307	Call me stupid, many have and I don't mind, but I can't understand the reason behind starting this thread...

05-08-2013, 06:56 AM	#13
Digitalis Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Melbourne, Victoria Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,694	Originally posted by Medium FormatPro both Hasselblad and Mamiya should both have sensors in the 100mp range; most likely this year. unlikely - there is still some improvements that have to be made in terms of sensor architecture before we will see significant increases in pixel count above 80Mp. At present the biggest issue is long exposure noise - larger sensors produce a great deal of heat, and preventing that from affecting the sensors noise performance with long exposures is going to be a bridge that will have to be crossed.

05-08-2013, 07:04 AM	#14
rawr Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 11,913	Such an old (2010) story, and an issue that has already been extensively covered on this forum and in the photo media. You make it sound like there is some sort of cover up happening, but everyone else around here knows this is old news. Pentax resolved this problem with early K-5's openly (including a Jan 2011 statement and mea culpa directly from Pentax Japan HQ) and directly several years ago. No new DSLRs from Pentax - eg K-30, K-5 II - have had any such issues.

05-08-2013, 09:01 AM - 2 Likes	#15
Parallax Senior Moderator Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: South Dakota Photos: Gallery Posts: 19,332	................. and in further breaking news: Two brothers have successfully tested their new invention. "My brother Wilbur and I couldn't be more pleased, Orville said."