[Transit]

I guided the daughter into a K-70 after the K-50 I bought her
got 'the issue'.
Pretty disgusted this went over several models...
She is wondering what to do with it?
Is it worth anything?

[Aaron28]

yes....some folks use them for M42 or other k mount manual lenses.......that how mine is used and used often.....will prolly get another when this one actually dies but that depends how long it lasts......maybe not a large market for them but i believe there are a few who use the "blocked" cameras for all manual use

[Not a Number]

The K-50 is still usable in manual mode with MF & screwmount lens, lens with aperture rings. Or may have some value for someone who wants to tinker around with a camera.

There's one listed in the Market Place.

[ehrwien]

You can still use the 55-300 PLM (with the latest firmware installed on the camera) without problems and any manual aperture lens (K, M, A, F, FA series; any lens that has an aperture ring to set the aperture) without issues.

If you mainly use other DA series lenses (without aperture ring), you have the choice to send in the camera for repair, which costs a whole lot of money if you are out of warranty and doesn't guarantee that it won't fail again, because they exchange the faulty green solenoid with another green one. Perhaps they'll change some other pieces as well, I don't know.

But, if you are willing to do so, you can fix the camera yourself! You don't need an education in electronics repairs, you just have to follow the excellent instructions provided on this site:

Tutorial/Repair Pentax K-70 with aperture-problem: Exchange solenoid - PentaxForums.com for the K-70
Manual solenoid replacement Pentax K30 / Discharge flash-condenser / Solenoid choice - PentaxForums.com for the K-50 / K-30

I had my K-S2 fail a few days ago after 4 or 5 years of use and managed to repair it myself by following the respective manual for the K-S2, and now it's back at old strength and unlikely to fail again.

You do need a little bit of bravery, steady hands and get the necessary tools and parts (which will cost much less than a repair at an authorized shop), but it is very much possible to do the repair yourself.

[reh321]

I got a FA 28-105 lens for my K-30.

It has an aperture ring, so I can set it at the lens, but it is still autofocus.
Any 'F' or 'FA' lens should provide autofocus, but still allow her to set aperture at the lens = then "all" she has to learn is how to perform "green button" metering with it.
See the article at
How to use/meter Manual & M42 Lenses on all Pentax DSLRs (K-1, K-3, K-5, K-30, etc) - PentaxForums.com

[MarkJerling]

I guided the daughter into a K-70 after the K-50 I bought her
got 'the issue'.
Pretty disgusted this went over several models...
She is wondering what to do with it?
Is it worth anything?

You're a handy fellow. Fix it with a white solenoid and it should be good for years to come.

Instructions here: Manual solenoid replacement Pentax K30 / Discharge flash-condenser / Solenoid choice - PentaxForums.com

[Transit]

You're a handy fellow. Fix it with a white solenoid and it should be good for years to come.

Instructions here: Manual solenoid replacement Pentax K30 / Discharge flash-condenser / Solenoid choice - PentaxForums.com

ta 😀
hands are steady but eyes fading
I thought the doner part was only from another camera?
Bloody eyes

---------- Post added 11th Sep 2020 at 12:26 PM ----------

Thanks very much for all the help full detailed replies!
I have forwarded to the protagonist
she's a confirmed Av user
I can't see me pulling the camera open to do the repair
so it might be passed on to another opportunist

[MarkJerling]

ta 😀
hands are steady but eyes fading
I thought the doner part was only from another camera?
Bloody eyes

My problem is my arms are too short.

Yes, donor part from other camera. many older pentaxes have the white solenoid.

[Aaron28]

she's a confirmed Av user

have no problem using Av with M42 or preset lens.....recently did a sunset time lapse in Av with the on board intervalometer with a smc takumar.....reckon if the lens does not have a bayonet Av is useable......center & spot metering only

[Transit]

My problem is my arms are too short.

Yes, donor part from other camera. many older pentaxes have the white solenoid.

Maybe our K-r that went bathing might offer up the bit

[ramseybuckeye]

I thought I had read that even the Pentax autofocus film cameras had the solenoid, if so they can be found at very cheap prices.

[MarkJerling]

Maybe our K-r that went bathing might offer up the bit

Is the K-r dead? It should have the right solenoid, yes.

[Transit]

As a doornail...
Trouble is the sad K-50 is in USA

[MarkJerling]

As a doornail...
Trouble is the sad K-50 is in USA

Probably cheaper to send the solenoid to the USA than to send the camera to you!
On second thought, probably cheaper to find a solenoid there.

[Transit]

The daughter in the States doesn't want to muck about with it.
I'll ask her to bring it back when she comes again