Originally posted by tobyshootspentax Hi all,
My Pentax K-500 has experienced the dreaded aperture solenoid failure after a few years of otherwise perfect service. Considering this is a known issue, how much luck am I going to have getting Pentax to fix this, and if not, what are my options? I'm not really in much of a position to replace my camera right now, so having it stay broken would not be ideal.
Thanks
Toby
Assuming you are the original owner, the first step would be to ask your local repair facility if they will fix it free of charge. Technically they are not obligated to do so outside of warranty, but some have historically been generous (especially if the camera has a low shutter count) since this issue is not uncommon.
The second thing you can try would be to temporarily un-stick the aperture actuator by fiddling with the voltage, triggering bursts, etc.:
Pentax k 500 aperture block failure resolved! - PentaxForums.com
You can attempt the repair yourself if you can find the part:
K-50 / K-500 Aperture Solenoid fix (DIY with pics) - PentaxForums.com
You can also see if other members can help you perform the repair at a low cost.
Or, lastly, use the camera only with M42 lenses, since those don't require the aperture actuator.
Given the low value of the K-500, paying for the repair at a store may not be economical since you can probably pick up another used K-30/K-50/K-500 for the same price. That would be your worst-case scenario, and you could still sell the damaged K-500 to offset the costs. I'm sure it will attract attention from M42 shooters regardless
Adam
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