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

**photogem** · 03-18-2019, 08:42 AM

Good idea! Huge difference between the both.
And the K10D was a workhorse. I still have one!

K200D was nice as well. Good for those who wanted ooc jpegs.

reh321 · 03-18-2019, 11:50 AM

Originally posted by Merv-O

Well in response to the K10D, I have not heard of the same failure in that camera. However, given its age, I would be concerned about the shutter going out itself (100k+) not the magnet.

I'm not sure age has that much to do with shutter life. Not everyone takes 30K+ photos per year. As of the last time I used it, the shutter in my Super Program {purchased in 1983 - "retired" in 1995, and used only intermittently since then} was just fine.

**Merv-O** · 03-18-2019, 12:25 PM

Originally posted by reh321

I'm not sure age has that much to do with shutter life. Not everyone takes 30K+ photos per year. As of the last time I used it, the shutter in my Super Program {purchased in 1983 - "retired" in 1995, and used only intermittently since then} was just fine.

Reh: I agree, that's why I have 5 bodies and rotate as necessary...for longevity. My K-3ii now has 7000 clicks on it, but my KP already has 6000 (I got it in December if you remember). K-1 has 1,500 and ironically, is rated for 300K....but with a small telephoto aboard (i.e., SIGMA 24-70mm), its big and heavy for all day toting and shooting.

reh321 · 03-18-2019, 01:18 PM

Originally posted by Merv-O

my KP already has 6000 (I got it in December if you remember).

The KP I purchased at roughly the same time has a total count of 538.

reh321 · 03-18-2019, 04:41 PM

Originally posted by reh321

The KP I purchased at roughly the same time has a total count of 538.

I realized over dinner that with the K-30 my average shot total for a year was around 1000. 538 for four months would normally imply an annual total of around 1500 - an increase of 50% of what I had been doing with the K-30 - but May-Aug is usually my busiest time, so I must be using the KP more than 50% more than I was using the K-30 .... higher good ISO must be encouraging me to take more shots than I had realized.

**photogem** · 03-19-2019, 01:45 AM - **1 Like**

Can we please stick with the theme:

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

**steamloco76** · 03-19-2019, 04:48 AM

Originally posted by Merv-O

Reh: I agree, that's why I have 5 bodies and rotate as necessary...for longevity. My K-3ii now has 7000 clicks on it, but my KP already has 6000 (I got it in December if you remember). K-1 has 1,500 and ironically, is rated for 300K....but with a small telephoto aboard (i.e., SIGMA 24-70mm), its big and heavy for all day toting and shooting.

When I was a working local newspaper photojournalist and sports photographer I used four cameras in rotation. Starting with two Super Programs and two MX’s. I never had a shutter related issue with those bodies, however both MX’s had motordrive gear failures and required repairs. I moved on to an LX and three PZ-1p bodies. The 1/250 flash sync speed of the PZ-1p was fanatastic! Luckily, Pentax offered a three year extended warranty for those bodies which I purchased. If you have ever wondered why Pentax never sold another camera with the 1/8000th top speed, 1/250 flash sync Sieko shutter, my experience with three PZ-1p’s used for 8 to 20 rolls of film per week might explain it.

The shutter in my second PZ body failed about 18 months into ownership and was repaired with the extended warranty. Then, the newest body with the lowest shutter count had the shutter let go and a trip to Colorado for warranty repair. The mirror actuator failed on my original body just before the 3 year warranty was up. Pentax replaced that and the shutter. Finally, camera number three, the newest experienced a second shutter failure just after my warranty was up. So I’d say shutter count definitely matters, especially on high speed electronic metal blade shutters.
I never had any problems with my final professionally used Pentax, a *1st D. I did miss the 1/250 flash sync though.

**Merv-O** · 03-19-2019, 08:07 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by steamloco76

When I was a working local newspaper photojournalist and sports photographer I used four cameras in rotation. Starting with two Super Programs and two MX’s. I never had a shutter related issue with those bodies, however both MX’s had motordrive gear failures and required repairs. I moved on to an LX and three PZ-1p bodies. The 1/250 flash sync speed of the PZ-1p was fanatastic! Luckily, Pentax offered a three year extended warranty for those bodies which I purchased. If you have ever wondered why Pentax never sold another camera with the 1/8000th top speed, 1/250 flash sync Sieko shutter, my experience with three PZ-1p’s used for 8 to 20 rolls of film per week might explain it.

The shutter in my second PZ body failed about 18 months into ownership and was repaired with the extended warranty. Then, the newest body with the lowest shutter count had the shutter let go and a trip to Colorado for warranty repair. The mirror actuator failed on my original body just before the 3 year warranty was up. Pentax replaced that and the shutter. Finally, camera number three, the newest experienced a second shutter failure just after my warranty was up. So I’d say shutter count definitely matters, especially on high speed electronic metal blade shutters.
I never had any problems with my final professionally used Pentax, a *1st D. I did miss the 1/250 flash sync though.

Originally posted by steamloco76

did miss the 1/250 flash sync though

SteamLoco: The 1/250th flash sync was an excellent feature....remember those old Thyristor flash units? They were 3/4's the size of the camera body. Some of those flashes didn't have a lock and over time the clasps would fail and they would slide off....I lost a few Vivitar bounce units that way...Oh the 70's and 80's: still miss the cameras, the music and my youth.....

solvin_dk · 04-11-2019, 06:32 AM

Hi

Can anybody tell me the full list of Pentax cameras, which have the white solenoid for replacements?For the bad solenoid used in Pentax k-50. ( the green one, as I understand )

I have this camera, and I love it. Just to be sure in the future, if the aperture solenoid fail. I’ll love to have a spare part for replacement.

Bestregards,

TorbenPedersen

Denmark

**photogem** · 04-11-2019, 01:30 PM - **2 Likes**

ist-D, ist Ds (1/2),

K100D, K110D, K200D, K-m, K-x K-r
K10D, K20D, Samsung versions of all those.

solvin_dk · 04-12-2019, 04:48 AM

Originally posted by photogem

ist-D, ist Ds (1/2),

K100D, K110D, K200D, K-m, K-x K-r
K10D, K20D, Samsung versions of all those.

Thanks a lot for the information.

One more question. What do you mean, regarding. Samsung versions of all those.

Best regards,

Torben Pedersen

**photogem** · 04-12-2019, 12:39 PM

There are Samsung equivalents:
GX1, GX1s, GX10, GX20
Those came often with the Schneider-Kreuznach/Samsung labelled DA18-55 lens.

the GX1/10 with the MK1 version, the GX20 with the MKII version. But one cannot tell from the outside. Idiotic.
But the K20D came with the DA 18-55 II, same for the Samsung GX20.

There where a few other lenses, all D-Xenon labelled as well.

solvin_dk · 06-05-2019, 04:04 AM

Hi

Have some one tried to lubricate the green solenoid, with super lube. Just a tiny amount could perhaps cure the problem. Super Lube

I have a K-50 with only 1800 clicks, and for a week ago it made 1 dark photo, after no use for 4 month. I have only used envelope batteries, and never the li-ion battery.

My K-50 is from 2014, and I love it. I have since 1980 been a fan of Pentax, due to the rugged feeling, and performance.

Best regards,

Torben Pedersen

Denmark

bigyinn · 06-06-2019, 02:54 PM

Originally posted by solvin_dk

Hi

Have some one tried to lubricate the green solenoid, with super lube. Just a tiny amount could perhaps cure the problem. Super Lube

I have a K-50 with only 1800 clicks, and for a week ago it made 1 dark photo, after no use for 4 month. I have only used envelope batteries, and never the li-ion battery.

My K-50 is from 2014, and I love it. I have since 1980 been a fan of Pentax, due to the rugged feeling, and performance.

Best regards,

Torben Pedersen

Denmark

Generally oil based lubricants are a no no in cameras.

**photogem** · 06-10-2019, 05:39 AM

Originally posted by solvin_dk

Hi

Have some one tried to lubricate the green solenoid, with super lube. Just a tiny amount could perhaps cure the problem. Super Lube

I have a K-50 with only 1800 clicks, and for a week ago it made 1 dark photo, after no use for 4 month. I have only used envelope batteries, and never the li-ion battery.

My K-50 is from 2014, and I love it. I have since 1980 been a fan of Pentax, due to the rugged feeling, and performance.

Best regards,

Torben Pedersen

Denmark

Bad idea Torben, you will not solve the problem doing it like this.

Lube can eventually drop onto the ultra-sensitive electronic circuit and do much more damage.

Why don't you just go and do it the right way, i.e. find a good white solenoid and replace it?

If one has found a working solution, better stick with it instead of trying to fiddle with bad solutions. The green solenoid by itself (magnetic force, wearing material for the body and so forth) is by itself not a good solution.

04-12-2019, 12:39 PM	#867
photogem Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 3,520	There are Samsung equivalents: GX1, GX1s, GX10, GX20 Those came often with the Schneider-Kreuznach/Samsung labelled DA18-55 lens. the GX1/10 with the MK1 version, the GX20 with the MKII version. But one cannot tell from the outside. Idiotic. But the K20D came with the DA 18-55 II, same for the Samsung GX20. There where a few other lenses, all D-Xenon labelled as well. Last edited by photogem; 04-24-2019 at 09:53 PM.

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03-18-2019, 08:42 AM	#856
photogem Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 3,520	Good idea! Huge difference between the both. And the K10D was a workhorse. I still have one! K200D was nice as well. Good for those who wanted ooc jpegs.

03-18-2019, 11:50 AM	#857
reh321 Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: South Bend, IN, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,177	Originally posted by Merv-O Well in response to the K10D, I have not heard of the same failure in that camera. However, given its age, I would be concerned about the shutter going out itself (100k+) not the magnet. I'm not sure age has that much to do with shutter life. Not everyone takes 30K+ photos per year. As of the last time I used it, the shutter in my Super Program {purchased in 1983 - "retired" in 1995, and used only intermittently since then} was just fine.

03-18-2019, 12:25 PM	#858
Merv-O Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: Philadelphia Photos: Albums Posts: 2,098	Originally posted by reh321 I'm not sure age has that much to do with shutter life. Not everyone takes 30K+ photos per year. As of the last time I used it, the shutter in my Super Program {purchased in 1983 - "retired" in 1995, and used only intermittently since then} was just fine. Reh: I agree, that's why I have 5 bodies and rotate as necessary...for longevity. My K-3ii now has 7000 clicks on it, but my KP already has 6000 (I got it in December if you remember). K-1 has 1,500 and ironically, is rated for 300K....but with a small telephoto aboard (i.e., SIGMA 24-70mm), its big and heavy for all day toting and shooting.

03-18-2019, 01:18 PM	#859
reh321 Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: South Bend, IN, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,177	Originally posted by Merv-O my KP already has 6000 (I got it in December if you remember). The KP I purchased at roughly the same time has a total count of 538.

03-18-2019, 04:41 PM	#860
reh321 Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: South Bend, IN, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,177	Originally posted by reh321 The KP I purchased at roughly the same time has a total count of 538. I realized over dinner that with the K-30 my average shot total for a year was around 1000. 538 for four months would normally imply an annual total of around 1500 - an increase of 50% of what I had been doing with the K-30 - but May-Aug is usually my busiest time, so I must be using the KP more than 50% more than I was using the K-30 .... higher good ISO must be encouraging me to take more shots than I had realized.

03-19-2019, 01:45 AM - 1 Like	#861
photogem Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 3,520	Can we please stick with the theme: K-30 / K-50 Aperture Block Failue - Repair Solution available

03-19-2019, 04:48 AM	#862
steamloco76 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Pennsylvania Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,710	Originally posted by Merv-O Reh: I agree, that's why I have 5 bodies and rotate as necessary...for longevity. My K-3ii now has 7000 clicks on it, but my KP already has 6000 (I got it in December if you remember). K-1 has 1,500 and ironically, is rated for 300K....but with a small telephoto aboard (i.e., SIGMA 24-70mm), its big and heavy for all day toting and shooting. When I was a working local newspaper photojournalist and sports photographer I used four cameras in rotation. Starting with two Super Programs and two MX’s. I never had a shutter related issue with those bodies, however both MX’s had motordrive gear failures and required repairs. I moved on to an LX and three PZ-1p bodies. The 1/250 flash sync speed of the PZ-1p was fanatastic! Luckily, Pentax offered a three year extended warranty for those bodies which I purchased. If you have ever wondered why Pentax never sold another camera with the 1/8000th top speed, 1/250 flash sync Sieko shutter, my experience with three PZ-1p’s used for 8 to 20 rolls of film per week might explain it. The shutter in my second PZ body failed about 18 months into ownership and was repaired with the extended warranty. Then, the newest body with the lowest shutter count had the shutter let go and a trip to Colorado for warranty repair. The mirror actuator failed on my original body just before the 3 year warranty was up. Pentax replaced that and the shutter. Finally, camera number three, the newest experienced a second shutter failure just after my warranty was up. So I’d say shutter count definitely matters, especially on high speed electronic metal blade shutters. I never had any problems with my final professionally used Pentax, a *1st D. I did miss the 1/250 flash sync though.

03-19-2019, 08:07 AM - 1 Like	#863
Merv-O Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: Philadelphia Photos: Albums Posts: 2,098	Originally posted by steamloco76 When I was a working local newspaper photojournalist and sports photographer I used four cameras in rotation. Starting with two Super Programs and two MX’s. I never had a shutter related issue with those bodies, however both MX’s had motordrive gear failures and required repairs. I moved on to an LX and three PZ-1p bodies. The 1/250 flash sync speed of the PZ-1p was fanatastic! Luckily, Pentax offered a three year extended warranty for those bodies which I purchased. If you have ever wondered why Pentax never sold another camera with the 1/8000th top speed, 1/250 flash sync Sieko shutter, my experience with three PZ-1p’s used for 8 to 20 rolls of film per week might explain it. The shutter in my second PZ body failed about 18 months into ownership and was repaired with the extended warranty. Then, the newest body with the lowest shutter count had the shutter let go and a trip to Colorado for warranty repair. The mirror actuator failed on my original body just before the 3 year warranty was up. Pentax replaced that and the shutter. Finally, camera number three, the newest experienced a second shutter failure just after my warranty was up. So I’d say shutter count definitely matters, especially on high speed electronic metal blade shutters. I never had any problems with my final professionally used Pentax, a *1st D. I did miss the 1/250 flash sync though. Originally posted by steamloco76 did miss the 1/250 flash sync though SteamLoco: The 1/250th flash sync was an excellent feature....remember those old Thyristor flash units? They were 3/4's the size of the camera body. Some of those flashes didn't have a lock and over time the clasps would fail and they would slide off....I lost a few Vivitar bounce units that way...Oh the 70's and 80's: still miss the cameras, the music and my youth.....

04-11-2019, 06:32 AM	#864
solvin_dk New Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Denmark Posts: 17	Hi Can anybody tell me the full list of Pentax cameras, which have the white solenoid for replacements?For the bad solenoid used in Pentax k-50. ( the green one, as I understand ) I have this camera, and I love it. Just to be sure in the future, if the aperture solenoid fail. I’ll love to have a spare part for replacement. Bestregards, TorbenPedersen Denmark

04-11-2019, 01:30 PM - 2 Likes	#865
photogem Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 3,520	ist-D, ist Ds (1/2), K100D, K110D, K200D, K-m, K-x K-r K10D, K20D, Samsung versions of all those.

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04-12-2019, 04:48 AM	#866
solvin_dk New Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Denmark Posts: 17	Originally posted by photogem ist-D, ist Ds (1/2), K100D, K110D, K200D, K-m, K-x K-r K10D, K20D, Samsung versions of all those. Thanks a lot for the information. One more question. What do you mean, regarding. Samsung versions of all those. Best regards, Torben Pedersen

06-05-2019, 04:04 AM	#868
solvin_dk New Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Denmark Posts: 17	Hi Have some one tried to lubricate the green solenoid, with super lube. Just a tiny amount could perhaps cure the problem. Super Lube I have a K-50 with only 1800 clicks, and for a week ago it made 1 dark photo, after no use for 4 month. I have only used envelope batteries, and never the li-ion battery. My K-50 is from 2014, and I love it. I have since 1980 been a fan of Pentax, due to the rugged feeling, and performance. Best regards, Torben Pedersen Denmark

06-06-2019, 02:54 PM	#869
bigyinn Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Posts: 54	Originally posted by solvin_dk Hi Have some one tried to lubricate the green solenoid, with super lube. Just a tiny amount could perhaps cure the problem. Super Lube I have a K-50 with only 1800 clicks, and for a week ago it made 1 dark photo, after no use for 4 month. I have only used envelope batteries, and never the li-ion battery. My K-50 is from 2014, and I love it. I have since 1980 been a fan of Pentax, due to the rugged feeling, and performance. Best regards, Torben Pedersen Denmark Generally oil based lubricants are a no no in cameras.

06-10-2019, 05:39 AM	#870
photogem Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 3,520	Originally posted by solvin_dk Hi Have some one tried to lubricate the green solenoid, with super lube. Just a tiny amount could perhaps cure the problem. Super Lube I have a K-50 with only 1800 clicks, and for a week ago it made 1 dark photo, after no use for 4 month. I have only used envelope batteries, and never the li-ion battery. My K-50 is from 2014, and I love it. I have since 1980 been a fan of Pentax, due to the rugged feeling, and performance. Best regards, Torben Pedersen Denmark Bad idea Torben, you will not solve the problem doing it like this. Lube can eventually drop onto the ultra-sensitive electronic circuit and do much more damage. Why don't you just go and do it the right way, i.e. find a good white solenoid and replace it? If one has found a working solution, better stick with it instead of trying to fiddle with bad solutions. The green solenoid by itself (magnetic force, wearing material for the body and so forth) is by itself not a good solution.