K-50 appears to have died

HoutHans · 07-24-2020, 10:48 PM

Thanks a lot for the tips and tricks. I had already thought about the flash capacitor (as a curious kid I learned about electric circuits and voltage the hard way....)

HoutHans · 08-17-2020, 05:43 AM

And now for the really good news: I thought for quite some time on how to best open it up and just when I had a strategy in mind, I gave it it one more try. Guess what: the thing's back to life again. I'm fully aware that this may just be a temporary resurection, but my K-50 is working again. Yay! Thanks everyone for thinking and helping.

**photogem** · 08-17-2020, 08:08 AM

Originally posted by HoutHans

And now for the really good news: I thought for quite some time on how to best open it up and just when I had a strategy in mind, I gave it it one more try. Guess what: the thing's back to life again. I'm fully aware that this may just be a temporary resurrection, but my K-50 is working again.

This is the so-called "zombie state"🧟.

But with some luck it might remain a working zombie... who knows

!

HoutHans · 08-17-2020, 09:57 PM

Zombie or not, it also takes pictures outside graveyards.

reh321 · 08-19-2020, 09:58 AM

Originally posted by ChristianRock

Yeah I think it's toast. What was the shutter count?

It is not "toast".
Even if the body control of aperture stops functioning, you can use it - just have to choose lenses that have their own aperture control.

ChristianRock · 08-19-2020, 11:40 AM

Originally posted by reh321

It is not "toast".
Even if the body control of aperture stops functioning, you can use it - just have to choose lenses that have their own aperture control.

He did get it back to work, but it was not the aperture block (which works with the lenses in A mode).
In the first post the OP describes how he was using an M series lens (no A position) when the issues started happening, and that he can't use lenses with their own aperture control anymore. Also, that the camera mirror was stuck. Everything points to a larger failure not related to the solenoid.

Edit: missed the post where it is stated to "magically" start working again. But still, this was no solenoid failure.

**photogem** · 08-19-2020, 11:42 PM

No, his K50 is not toasted at all!
(I guess that's what is meant with "it't toast"?)

The steps are quite clear and well described:

- First there was the dark-image syndrom!

- Possibly then, when HoutHand first opened his body, he somehow jammed a cable or similar.

- Then, after he opened it again and reassembled it: All worked fine again.

He was lucky!

That the solenoid actuates again is typical: On a German website some guy suggests to open the body and then to loosen the plunger with a screwdriver. Not a good idea because as many in the comments suggest it won't last.

Somehow during all those disassemblies of HoutHans Pentax the plunger got that much demagnetised that it now works.

It possibly won't last forever (that is now common knowledge) but with some luck and if he uses his Pentax very regular and with AA's it might with some luck.

ChristianRock · 08-21-2020, 08:21 AM

It was NOT the solenoid, it must have been another issue, probably power related.

The original post states - the M 100 f4 lens was used and it does NOT have an A setting... and the issue was a stuck mirror....

**photogem** · 08-22-2020, 12:18 AM

Yes, that is indeed the case. I asked him by PM to give me further details but you are quite right with those facts. I had missed this, sorry for that!

**photogem** · 08-24-2020, 12:53 AM

o.k., HoutHans uses mainly manual lenses, but the same problem came with his DA18-135!
So it could well be the solenoid which now works again.
What happen to some is that the mechanism for the aperture gets stuck. If one manually moves the plunger of the solenoid, one releases it again.
This at times can happen just by chance (without knowing what was done!)
Sheer good luck!

08-17-2020, 08:08 AM	#18
photogem Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 3,522	Originally posted by HoutHans And now for the really good news: I thought for quite some time on how to best open it up and just when I had a strategy in mind, I gave it it one more try. Guess what: the thing's back to life again. I'm fully aware that this may just be a temporary resurrection, but my K-50 is working again. This is the so-called "zombie state"🧟. But with some luck it might remain a working zombie... who knows!

08-19-2020, 11:40 AM	#21
ChristianRock Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: People's Republic of America Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,911	Originally posted by reh321 It is not "toast". Even if the body control of aperture stops functioning, you can use it - just have to choose lenses that have their own aperture control. He did get it back to work, but it was not the aperture block (which works with the lenses in A mode). In the first post the OP describes how he was using an M series lens (no A position) when the issues started happening, and that he can't use lenses with their own aperture control anymore. Also, that the camera mirror was stuck. Everything points to a larger failure not related to the solenoid. Edit: missed the post where it is stated to "magically" start working again. But still, this was no solenoid failure. Last edited by ChristianRock; 08-21-2020 at 08:21 AM.

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07-24-2020, 10:48 PM	#16
HoutHans Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Appingedam Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,123 Original Poster	Thanks a lot for the tips and tricks. I had already thought about the flash capacitor (as a curious kid I learned about electric circuits and voltage the hard way....)

08-17-2020, 05:43 AM	#17
HoutHans Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Appingedam Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,123 Original Poster	And now for the really good news: I thought for quite some time on how to best open it up and just when I had a strategy in mind, I gave it it one more try. Guess what: the thing's back to life again. I'm fully aware that this may just be a temporary resurection, but my K-50 is working again. Yay! Thanks everyone for thinking and helping.

08-17-2020, 09:57 PM	#19
HoutHans Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Appingedam Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,123 Original Poster	Zombie or not, it also takes pictures outside graveyards.

08-19-2020, 09:58 AM	#20
reh321 Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: South Bend, IN, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,184	Originally posted by ChristianRock Yeah I think it's toast. What was the shutter count? It is not "toast". Even if the body control of aperture stops functioning, you can use it - just have to choose lenses that have their own aperture control.

08-19-2020, 11:42 PM	#22
photogem Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 3,522	No, his K50 is not toasted at all! (I guess that's what is meant with "it't toast"?) The steps are quite clear and well described: - First there was the dark-image syndrom! - Possibly then, when HoutHand first opened his body, he somehow jammed a cable or similar. - Then, after he opened it again and reassembled it: All worked fine again. He was lucky! That the solenoid actuates again is typical: On a German website some guy suggests to open the body and then to loosen the plunger with a screwdriver. Not a good idea because as many in the comments suggest it won't last. Somehow during all those disassemblies of HoutHans Pentax the plunger got that much demagnetised that it now works. It possibly won't last forever (that is now common knowledge) but with some luck and if he uses his Pentax very regular and with AA's it might with some luck.

08-21-2020, 08:21 AM	#23
ChristianRock Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: People's Republic of America Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,911	It was NOT the solenoid, it must have been another issue, probably power related. The original post states - the M 100 f4 lens was used and it does NOT have an A setting... and the issue was a stuck mirror....

08-22-2020, 12:18 AM	#24
photogem Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 3,522	Yes, that is indeed the case. I asked him by PM to give me further details but you are quite right with those facts. I had missed this, sorry for that!

08-24-2020, 12:53 AM	#25
photogem Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 3,522	o.k., HoutHans uses mainly manual lenses, but the same problem came with his DA18-135! So it could well be the solenoid which now works again. What happen to some is that the mechanism for the aperture gets stuck. If one manually moves the plunger of the solenoid, one releases it again. This at times can happen just by chance (without knowing what was done!) Sheer good luck!