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cmick30 · 03-14-2012, 02:40 PM

Hi, people! I'just bought brand new K-5 last weekend... How can I check this lovely camera for the usual defects one needs to check for? You know, sensor stain, mirror flop, and whatnot... I have 18-55mm WR and 50mm f/1.7 M lenses... Also, how much did new firmware help with autofocus and stuff?
I didn't buy the camera assuming it would have defects. BUT, having read a lot about SOME issues, present on SOME models, I want to have a piece of mind, knowing that my camera is spotless...
Many thanks,
Mike

westmill · 03-14-2012, 02:54 PM

Well you can start with downloading the latest firmware version 1.13. You can check which firmware is currently loaded simply by
turning on the camera whilst holding the menu button down. There has been numerous fixes lately and is worth checking.

Docrwm · 03-14-2012, 03:03 PM

Congratulations & Welcome Aboard!

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-beginners-corner-q/141990-new-camera-tests.html

cmick30 · 03-14-2012, 03:03 PM

Oh, thanks for bringing that up!

Do I need to download and install all the firmwares that came before 1.13, or just that one?

Parallax · 03-14-2012, 03:09 PM

You just need the latest.

Docrwm · 03-14-2012, 03:17 PM

Originally posted by cmick30

Oh, thanks for bringing that up!

Do I need to download and install all the firmwares that came before 1.13, or just that one?

Just the latest, but make certain you have a FULL battery. Its done when it says "Complete" even though the light is still flashing.

riff · 03-14-2012, 04:19 PM

Congrats cmick30, get out there and shoot!

Originally posted by Docrwm

Just the latest, but make certain you have a FULL battery.

I should probably update, how many hours does it take?

Docrwm · 03-14-2012, 04:28 PM

Originally posted by riff

Congrats cmick30, get out there and shoot!

I should probably update, how many hours does it take?

Just a few minutes once you extract the file and put it in the root directory of an sd card.

lammie200 · 03-14-2012, 04:49 PM

Originally posted by cmick30

Hi, people! I'just bought brand new K-5 last weekend... How can I check this lovely camera for the usual defects one needs to check for? You know, sensor stain, mirror flop, and whatnot... I have 18-55mm WR and 50mm f/1.7 M lenses... Also, how much did new firmware help with autofocus and stuff?
I didn't buy the camera assuming it would have defects. BUT, having read a lot about SOME issues, present on SOME models, I want to have a piece of mind, knowing that my camera is spotless...
Many thanks,
Mike

AFAIK sensor stains have not been an issue for many months now. It is very doubtful that they will be a problem for you. You can do a search on how to check, but they might not show up right away because they are heat related. Something about a heated adhesive leaching through layers.

There has been nothing definitive that I have seen concerning what production batches are prone to mirror flopping. I have seen posts about the miminum amount of shutter activations when they started to occur, but I am not sure there is a hard fast rule about it. One of the posters that had flopping early on said he had about 6000 activations if I recall correctly.

Get the Pentax two year extended warranty if you are in the USA. It is $20. A no-brainer.

**Mapleleaf-Mick** · 03-14-2012, 05:39 PM

Just go out and enjoy the camera. Don't be pessimistic. There are thousands of us out here who have never had a problem with their K5. Have fun with your new toy. As previously mentioned, get the Pentax two year warranty if you can. That should make you sleep better.

brosen · 03-14-2012, 06:54 PM

Agree, the USA Ext Warranty it's a no brainer

03-14-2012, 02:40 PM	#1
cmick30 Inactive Account Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 2	How to check K-5 for possible defects? Hi, people! I'just bought brand new K-5 last weekend... How can I check this lovely camera for the usual defects one needs to check for? You know, sensor stain, mirror flop, and whatnot... I have 18-55mm WR and 50mm f/1.7 M lenses... Also, how much did new firmware help with autofocus and stuff? I didn't buy the camera assuming it would have defects. BUT, having read a lot about SOME issues, present on SOME models, I want to have a piece of mind, knowing that my camera is spotless... Many thanks, Mike

03-14-2012, 03:03 PM	#3
Docrwm Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Somewhere in the Southern US Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,285	Congratulations & Welcome Aboard! https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-beginners-corner-q/141990-new-camera-tests.html Last edited by Docrwm; 03-14-2012 at 03:17 PM.

03-14-2012, 04:49 PM	#9
lammie200 Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: San Francisco Photos: Albums Posts: 1,033	Originally posted by cmick30 Hi, people! I'just bought brand new K-5 last weekend... How can I check this lovely camera for the usual defects one needs to check for? You know, sensor stain, mirror flop, and whatnot... I have 18-55mm WR and 50mm f/1.7 M lenses... Also, how much did new firmware help with autofocus and stuff? I didn't buy the camera assuming it would have defects. BUT, having read a lot about SOME issues, present on SOME models, I want to have a piece of mind, knowing that my camera is spotless... Many thanks, Mike AFAIK sensor stains have not been an issue for many months now. It is very doubtful that they will be a problem for you. You can do a search on how to check, but they might not show up right away because they are heat related. Something about a heated adhesive leaching through layers. There has been nothing definitive that I have seen concerning what production batches are prone to mirror flopping. I have seen posts about the miminum amount of shutter activations when they started to occur, but I am not sure there is a hard fast rule about it. One of the posters that had flopping early on said he had about 6000 activations if I recall correctly. Get the Pentax two year extended warranty if you are in the USA. It is $20. A no-brainer. Last edited by lammie200; 03-14-2012 at 05:55 PM.

03-14-2012, 05:39 PM	#10
Mapleleaf-Mick Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Saskatoon, Canada Posts: 299	Just Shoot Just go out and enjoy the camera. Don't be pessimistic. There are thousands of us out here who have never had a problem with their K5. Have fun with your new toy. As previously mentioned, get the Pentax two year warranty if you can. That should make you sleep better.

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03-14-2012, 02:54 PM	#2
westmill Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Stoke on Trent Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,146	Well you can start with downloading the latest firmware version 1.13. You can check which firmware is currently loaded simply by turning on the camera whilst holding the menu button down. There has been numerous fixes lately and is worth checking.

03-14-2012, 03:03 PM	#4
cmick30 Inactive Account Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 2 Original Poster	Oh, thanks for bringing that up! Do I need to download and install all the firmwares that came before 1.13, or just that one?

03-14-2012, 03:09 PM	#5
Parallax Senior Moderator Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: South Dakota Photos: Gallery Posts: 19,333	You just need the latest.

03-14-2012, 03:17 PM	#6
Docrwm Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Somewhere in the Southern US Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,285	Originally posted by cmick30 Oh, thanks for bringing that up! Do I need to download and install all the firmwares that came before 1.13, or just that one? Just the latest, but make certain you have a FULL battery. Its done when it says "Complete" even though the light is still flashing.

03-14-2012, 04:19 PM	#7
riff Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Photos: Albums Posts: 1,408	Congrats cmick30, get out there and shoot! Originally posted by Docrwm Just the latest, but make certain you have a FULL battery. I should probably update, how many hours does it take?

03-14-2012, 04:28 PM	#8
Docrwm Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Somewhere in the Southern US Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,285	Originally posted by riff Congrats cmick30, get out there and shoot! I should probably update, how many hours does it take? Just a few minutes once you extract the file and put it in the root directory of an sd card.

03-14-2012, 06:54 PM	#11
brosen Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: US Posts: 183	Agree, the USA Ext Warranty it's a no brainer

How to check K-5 for possible defects?

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