K-30 / K-50 Aperture Block Failue - Repair Solution available

brunomcf · 01-03-2017, 07:03 AM

I used the same method of post #247, maybe I just removed a bit more material, but it is hard to say due to the small size of the part.

JayDee · 01-10-2017, 05:11 PM

Just wanted to follow up with my repair. I've taken a few hundred shots since then and I haven't had any problem with the aperture since. I leave my camera out on a tripod to take picture of my bird feeder so its gotten a lot of power cycles since mid December.

I hope this encourages some of you to try to take this repair on yourself! Happy to answer any questions anyone has if they get stuck during the process!

Cheers!

pentax360 · 01-10-2017, 11:14 PM

In instances where the part is magnetized has anyone tried demagnetizing it?

I don't have a k-30 or K-50 but I just bought this real to real tape demagnetizer and it stops magnetic screwdrivers from being magnetic, so I'm sure it would work with that part.

They're under $30 on ebay.

richandfleur · 01-10-2017, 11:57 PM

Why not sit your whole K-30 on that thing, nice and easy like...

JayDee · 01-11-2017, 04:10 PM

FWIW, I didn't find my armature to be magnetized what so ever.

JayDee · 01-11-2017, 07:06 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by reh321

So, what did your correction do to fix the problem?

Reduced the surface area of the armature that the magnet can attract, reducing the holding power of it.

marabella · 01-12-2017, 03:03 PM

And here is the first K-S1 with an aperture block failure.

Mine has started two days ago with black (heavily underexposured) pictures.
Battery in and out temporarily solved the issue but today the mechanism totally went stuck.

But I have made a very interesting discovery.
Carefully heating up the body (battery out) to 40°C on a radiator cured the problem - completely!
Unfortunately the black picture phenomenon returned as the camera cooled down to normal temperature (20°C).
Now I have to shoot two to five pictures before I get properly exposured photos.

May be this finding will help us finding the cause and hopefully a permant solution.

HarisF1 · 01-12-2017, 03:09 PM

The heating could have reduced the magnetisation of the armature, if that's what causes this problem.

Not a Number · 01-12-2017, 03:21 PM

Originally posted by marabella

And here is the first K-S1 with an aperture block failure.

Mine has started two days ago with black (heavily underexposured) pictures.
Battery in and out temporarily solved the issue but today the mechanism totally went stuck.

But I have made a very interesting discovery.
Carefully heating up the body (battery out) to 40°C on a radiator cured the problem - completely!
Unfortunately the black picture phenomenon returned as the camera cooled down to normal temperature (20°C).
Now I have to shoot two to five pictures before I get properly exposured photos.

May be this finding will help us finding the cause and hopefully a permant solution.

I don't think this is the first but not many reported. I'm surprised there are few if any reports of the K-01 which shares many of the components with the k-30/50. Of course the mirror block is inter-related and the K-01 should be lacking those - but perhaps the cause lies in the mirror block too.

Originally posted by HarisF1

The heating could have reduced the magnetisation of the armature, if that's what causes this problem.

Or just softening of the lubricants. Warming up an old MF lens with stiff focusing ring often makes it turn smoother until it cools down.

marabella · 01-12-2017, 06:13 PM

AFAIK no one did report a faulty K-S1 in the forum's survey. But that's not the point.

Meanwhile I'm still testing. Results are promising but not satisfying so far.
The camera went from totally dead to a working state now after 1 to 3 black shots.

Perhaps somebody can repeat my procedure and post their result?

Heating up the camera to 40°C should be safe. User manual says 0 to 40. Battery and SD-Card removed. Carddoor open.
I place a thick book between the camera plus thermometer and the radiator.

I let the camera heaten up for 2 hours. Then gave it a burst shot (30-40).
I let it cool down for 2 hours and gave it a burst shot. Exposing it to different light will engage all aperture values. SD-Card not needed.

The second time I have put the camera upside down.

Now I'm continuing with both sides. Same procedure.

If this will fail I'm going to open the camera and try the repair procedure as it's described in this thread.

marabella · 01-14-2017, 01:35 PM

Now, one day after, the camera is working as it should.
Correct exposure with both aperture and shutter speed from the beginning.

I do believe that heating up the camera's side where the solenoid is positioned did the trick.
I only can confirm this for my K-S1 and of course I don't know how other models will react to this method.

But I recommend this procedure before trying a self repair or sending it to a repair center.

paolo11 · 01-14-2017, 02:36 PM

Very Interesting. What made you try this method? Perhaps someone with experience might know why this would work?

**niceshot** · 01-14-2017, 02:40 PM

Originally posted by marabella

Now, one day after, the camera is working as it should.
Correct exposure with both aperture and shutter speed from the beginning.

I do believe that heating up the camera's side where the solenoid is positioned did the trick.
I only can confirm this for my K-S1 and of course I don't know how other models will react to this method.

But I recommend this procedure before trying a self repair or sending it to a repair center.

heat it up with a propane torch lol

paolo11 · 01-14-2017, 02:50 PM

How about the grill, more even heat. (might as well throw a couple of burgers on also.)

**niceshot** · 01-14-2017, 04:34 PM

Originally posted by paolo11

how about the grill, more even heat. (might as well throw a couple of burgers on also.)

i was thinking microwave it

01-14-2017, 01:35 PM	#266
marabella Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 58	Now, one day after, the camera is working as it should. Correct exposure with both aperture and shutter speed from the beginning. I do believe that heating up the camera's side where the solenoid is positioned did the trick. I only can confirm this for my K-S1 and of course I don't know how other models will react to this method. But I recommend this procedure before trying a self repair or sending it to a repair center. Last edited by marabella; 01-14-2017 at 01:51 PM.

01-14-2017, 02:36 PM	#267
paolo11 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 115	Heating up the camera Very Interesting. What made you try this method? Perhaps someone with experience might know why this would work?

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01-03-2017, 07:03 AM	#256
brunomcf New Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Rheine, Germany Posts: 14	I used the same method of post #247, maybe I just removed a bit more material, but it is hard to say due to the small size of the part.

01-10-2017, 05:11 PM	#257
JayDee New Member Join Date: Dec 2016 Posts: 12	Just wanted to follow up with my repair. I've taken a few hundred shots since then and I haven't had any problem with the aperture since. I leave my camera out on a tripod to take picture of my bird feeder so its gotten a lot of power cycles since mid December. I hope this encourages some of you to try to take this repair on yourself! Happy to answer any questions anyone has if they get stuck during the process! Cheers!

01-10-2017, 11:14 PM	#258
pentax360 Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: OR Posts: 436	In instances where the part is magnetized has anyone tried demagnetizing it? I don't have a k-30 or K-50 but I just bought this real to real tape demagnetizer and it stops magnetic screwdrivers from being magnetic, so I'm sure it would work with that part. They're under $30 on ebay.

01-10-2017, 11:57 PM	#259
richandfleur Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Palmerston North, New Zealand Photos: Albums Posts: 1,788	Why not sit your whole K-30 on that thing, nice and easy like...

01-11-2017, 04:10 PM	#260
JayDee New Member Join Date: Dec 2016 Posts: 12	FWIW, I didn't find my armature to be magnetized what so ever.

01-11-2017, 07:06 PM - 1 Like	#261
JayDee New Member Join Date: Dec 2016 Posts: 12	Originally posted by reh321 So, what did your correction do to fix the problem? Reduced the surface area of the armature that the magnet can attract, reducing the holding power of it.

01-12-2017, 03:03 PM	#262
marabella Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 58	And here is the first K-S1 with an aperture block failure. Mine has started two days ago with black (heavily underexposured) pictures. Battery in and out temporarily solved the issue but today the mechanism totally went stuck. But I have made a very interesting discovery. Carefully heating up the body (battery out) to 40°C on a radiator cured the problem - completely! Unfortunately the black picture phenomenon returned as the camera cooled down to normal temperature (20°C). Now I have to shoot two to five pictures before I get properly exposured photos. May be this finding will help us finding the cause and hopefully a permant solution.

01-12-2017, 03:09 PM	#263
HarisF1 Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Posts: 543	The heating could have reduced the magnetisation of the armature, if that's what causes this problem.

01-12-2017, 03:21 PM	#264
Not a Number Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Venice, CA Posts: 10,526	Originally posted by marabella And here is the first K-S1 with an aperture block failure. Mine has started two days ago with black (heavily underexposured) pictures. Battery in and out temporarily solved the issue but today the mechanism totally went stuck. But I have made a very interesting discovery. Carefully heating up the body (battery out) to 40°C on a radiator cured the problem - completely! Unfortunately the black picture phenomenon returned as the camera cooled down to normal temperature (20°C). Now I have to shoot two to five pictures before I get properly exposured photos. May be this finding will help us finding the cause and hopefully a permant solution. I don't think this is the first but not many reported. I'm surprised there are few if any reports of the K-01 which shares many of the components with the k-30/50. Of course the mirror block is inter-related and the K-01 should be lacking those - but perhaps the cause lies in the mirror block too. Originally posted by HarisF1 The heating could have reduced the magnetisation of the armature, if that's what causes this problem. Or just softening of the lubricants. Warming up an old MF lens with stiff focusing ring often makes it turn smoother until it cools down.

01-12-2017, 06:13 PM	#265
marabella Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 58	AFAIK no one did report a faulty K-S1 in the forum's survey. But that's not the point. Meanwhile I'm still testing. Results are promising but not satisfying so far. The camera went from totally dead to a working state now after 1 to 3 black shots. Perhaps somebody can repeat my procedure and post their result? Heating up the camera to 40°C should be safe. User manual says 0 to 40. Battery and SD-Card removed. Carddoor open. I place a thick book between the camera plus thermometer and the radiator. I let the camera heaten up for 2 hours. Then gave it a burst shot (30-40). I let it cool down for 2 hours and gave it a burst shot. Exposing it to different light will engage all aperture values. SD-Card not needed. The second time I have put the camera upside down. Now I'm continuing with both sides. Same procedure. If this will fail I'm going to open the camera and try the repair procedure as it's described in this thread.

01-14-2017, 02:40 PM	#268
niceshot Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,565	Originally posted by marabella Now, one day after, the camera is working as it should. Correct exposure with both aperture and shutter speed from the beginning. I do believe that heating up the camera's side where the solenoid is positioned did the trick. I only can confirm this for my K-S1 and of course I don't know how other models will react to this method. But I recommend this procedure before trying a self repair or sending it to a repair center. heat it up with a propane torch lol

01-14-2017, 02:50 PM	#269
paolo11 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 115	How about the grill, more even heat. (might as well throw a couple of burgers on also.)

01-14-2017, 04:34 PM	#270
niceshot Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,565	Originally posted by paolo11 how about the grill, more even heat. (might as well throw a couple of burgers on also.) i was thinking microwave it