Originally posted by wlachan I don't have the K-5, but can't the button be obtained from Pentax and just push it in yourself? Should save lots of trouble on both ends.
From the only pics I've seen, which were posted earlier in the thread (and I have looked for a service manual, parts breakdown without luck so far), it's not a simple 'push in' type, but a circlip that needs to be pushed onto the grooved shaft once the lens release is pushed into place. I don't see any way to get into that area without camera disassembly, although a parts breakdown or service manual pic would say for sure. It
looks like the only way to the backside of the pin where the clip goes would require either removing the front lens mount assembly (not the mount itself, but the block the lens mount attaches to), IF that's possible without further disassembly (doesn't immediately seem to be), or at the very least, removal of the bottom plate...which may or may not then require further disassembly from there.
I don't doubt it's likely a quick fix for someone familiar with k7/k5 disassembly and parts in hand, but I wouldn't personally want to pull it apart if other options were available - from the few camera breakdowns I have seen, these things seem to be pretty densely populated with multiple PCBs and wiring, not to mention the dust/water seals. While I've got few issues taking nearly anything apart as well as putting it back together successfully (cars, motorcycles, computers, etc..), I wouldn't want to pull a K5 apart without any documentation in hand. I'm somewhat surprised no service manual or parts breakdown diagrams have surfaced online, if anyone knows otherwise or has been inside their K5 (or K7, same body), please speak up.