K-5 freezing each and every shutter actuation

Clavius · 12-24-2015, 10:05 AM

Dang! My third and last K-5 has started to have a serious issue now too:

Each and every shutter actuation it completely locks up. Sometimes when it locks up I can hear the SR whirring for a short time. Every time I end up taking out the battery and reinserting it to unfreeze the device. Only to lock up again with the next shutter actuation.

I've tried different batteries, different SD cards, different lenses. All kinds of shooting modes. I've updated the firmware to the 1.16 version. But it just freezes with each and every shutter actuation.

I've searched high and low on Google and Pentaxforums, but I just can't seem to find similar cases. Only cases of sporadic freezing.

Any ideas? Or is it ripe for the scrapyard?

pathdoc · 12-24-2015, 10:14 AM

If you haven't inexplicably left it in timed mode or mirror-up, I'd say there's something seriously wrong there. If you can't wait for, or don't want, or can't afford the full-frame, I'd say there's a K3 of some sort in your future. You and the K-5 seem to have a very bad relationship. Otherwise a KS-2 or similar to tide you over?

**jatrax** · 12-24-2015, 10:14 AM

My k-5 started doing that, intermittently at first, then with more frequency. This might be the same issue taken to the extreme or something else. There were a lot of reports about this back in the day. If I remember correctly it had to do with the mirror actuator arm binding and causing the motor involved to go into an overvoltage situation which froze the camera. For a while I could fix mine with a sharp rap on the base which dislodged the actuator arm.

In the end the only cure was to send it in for repair, which I did under the extended warranty. Never had an issue after, sold it on a year later and I assume it is still going.

Clavius · 12-24-2015, 10:42 AM

Thanks for confirming guys. That FF is surely in my future, yes. But I would have loved to keep my K-5 as a second body.

plooksta · 01-02-2016, 08:23 PM

Have you attached any unusual flash equipment lately? Is live view working correctly and are your photos normal on screen?

Clavius · 02-09-2016, 12:36 AM

Originally posted by plooksta

Have you attached any unusual flash equipment lately? Is live view working correctly and are your photos normal on screen?

Sorry for not replying. I haven't been very active on the forum lately due to other priorities.

Well, it all started when I had my Metz flash attached. Don't know the model number now, but it's a very modern version, with touch screen. I've tried labelling it as a suspect, but can't find any evidence. Still reluctant to use it on my replacement camera though.

Live view doesn't work at all. It's like it crashes as soon as the camera tries to get an image from the sensor. So, no photos to view on screen either, because it's impossible to take any photos.

I bought mezelf a nice K-5IIs! Waiting for the FF seems unrealistic. And I prefer the sensor over that of the K-3. Problem solved. Though, any magic diy tips for recovery are always welcome. Doesn't hurt to have an extra body.

12-24-2015, 10:05 AM	#1
Clavius Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: De Klundert Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,150	K-5 freezing each and every shutter actuation Dang! My third and last K-5 has started to have a serious issue now too: Each and every shutter actuation it completely locks up. Sometimes when it locks up I can hear the SR whirring for a short time. Every time I end up taking out the battery and reinserting it to unfreeze the device. Only to lock up again with the next shutter actuation. I've tried different batteries, different SD cards, different lenses. All kinds of shooting modes. I've updated the firmware to the 1.16 version. But it just freezes with each and every shutter actuation. I've searched high and low on Google and Pentaxforums, but I just can't seem to find similar cases. Only cases of sporadic freezing. Any ideas? Or is it ripe for the scrapyard?

02-09-2016, 12:36 AM	#6
Clavius Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: De Klundert Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,150 Original Poster	Originally posted by plooksta Have you attached any unusual flash equipment lately? Is live view working correctly and are your photos normal on screen? Sorry for not replying. I haven't been very active on the forum lately due to other priorities. Well, it all started when I had my Metz flash attached. Don't know the model number now, but it's a very modern version, with touch screen. I've tried labelling it as a suspect, but can't find any evidence. Still reluctant to use it on my replacement camera though. Live view doesn't work at all. It's like it crashes as soon as the camera tries to get an image from the sensor. So, no photos to view on screen either, because it's impossible to take any photos. I bought mezelf a nice K-5IIs! Waiting for the FF seems unrealistic. And I prefer the sensor over that of the K-3. Problem solved. Though, any magic diy tips for recovery are always welcome. Doesn't hurt to have an extra body. Last edited by Clavius; 02-09-2016 at 12:59 AM.

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12-24-2015, 10:14 AM	#2
pathdoc Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2015 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,381	If you haven't inexplicably left it in timed mode or mirror-up, I'd say there's something seriously wrong there. If you can't wait for, or don't want, or can't afford the full-frame, I'd say there's a K3 of some sort in your future. You and the K-5 seem to have a very bad relationship. Otherwise a KS-2 or similar to tide you over?

12-24-2015, 10:14 AM	#3
jatrax Site Supporter Join Date: May 2010 Location: Washington Cascades Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,991	My k-5 started doing that, intermittently at first, then with more frequency. This might be the same issue taken to the extreme or something else. There were a lot of reports about this back in the day. If I remember correctly it had to do with the mirror actuator arm binding and causing the motor involved to go into an overvoltage situation which froze the camera. For a while I could fix mine with a sharp rap on the base which dislodged the actuator arm. In the end the only cure was to send it in for repair, which I did under the extended warranty. Never had an issue after, sold it on a year later and I assume it is still going.

12-24-2015, 10:42 AM	#4
Clavius Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: De Klundert Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,150 Original Poster	Thanks for confirming guys. That FF is surely in my future, yes. But I would have loved to keep my K-5 as a second body.

01-02-2016, 08:23 PM	#5
plooksta Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 158	Have you attached any unusual flash equipment lately? Is live view working correctly and are your photos normal on screen?

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