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**eaglem** · 12-13-2013, 11:51 PM

When using the camera today on one shot the shutter went off on a long burst on it's own and was still shooting after I switched the camera off. It stopped not too long after being switch off so I switched the camera back on and continued taking shots without another mishap. Has this happened to anyone else? I have a feeling it may have been a one off glitch. Oh, and GTW, I wasn't using a grip.

**jbinpg** · 12-14-2013, 12:15 AM

Happened to me once after the camera had been left out in -20degC cold for 5 hours and the external battery connector broke. Pretty sure it is power related as in if the voltage drops below a certain point, you get the mirror (not shutter) flopping at top speed. Mine also stopped flopping shortly after turning off the camera power. No recurrence since working with topped up batteries. Check your battery connections.

Jack

**eaglem** · 12-14-2013, 12:30 AM

Thanks I'll do that.

lister6520 · 12-14-2013, 01:51 AM

I had my first 'anomaly' yesterday with the K-3. I was shooting some sunsets with HDR and all went OK except one particular instance. As I pressed the shutter it went ahead and shot the three photos as it normally does but it forgot to do one somewhat important step - it didn't lift the mirror. I of course noticed at once because the image in the OVF didn't black out during the exposure, and just to make sure I wasn't seeing things I looked at the resulting photo which was much as I expected - black with some lighter patches from light coming through the OVF.

The next photo was again fine but just as a precaution I pulled the battery and put it back.

**i_trax** · 12-14-2013, 02:14 AM

Originally posted by eaglem

When using the camera today on one shot the shutter went off on a long burst on it's own and was still shooting after I switched the camera off. It stopped not too long after being switch off so I switched the camera back on and continued taking shots without another mishap. Has this happened to anyone else? I have a feeling it may have been a one off glitch. Oh, and GTW, I wasn't using a grip.

we had +40C in Perth today, could that be heat?

**eaglem** · 12-14-2013, 02:34 AM

Originally posted by i_trax

we had +40C in Perth today, could that be heat?

I know it was hot but this was at 9.30am this morning so heat shouldn't have been a problem at that time.

Erd§ · 12-15-2013, 06:03 AM

Originally posted by eaglem

the shutter went off on a long burst on it's own

Originally posted by eaglem

this was at 9.30am this morning

Weirdly, this also happened to me...just one time...during my first use of the K-3...at just about exactly the same time...Sat 11:30am Qld time. My burst stopped when I hit the menu button. I turned the power switch off and pulled the battery. Hasn't happened since. It was about 30C degrees and the battery (genuine) was fully charged.

Originally posted by jbinpg

you get the mirror (not shutter) flopping at top speed

I also think it was just the mirror as there were no pics being taken during this burst. Even if it is a power/voltage issue, it's still a very weird thing to happen.

**agkchang** · 12-17-2013, 01:26 PM

I had the shutter problem on my first outing with the K-3 on the weekend before Thanksgiving. I had the grip on and AF set to continuous. I don't remember what mode I was in at the time, probably P. The shutter stopped after turning off the camera, but it happened three more times. The temperature could have been low to mid 30's F with wind chill factor. I was on a train going through redwood forest while on a open car to get shots of train at curve points as well as scenery we were passing. I decided to go inside to warm up. Problem didn't happen again while on trip home down the very scenic Highway 1 in California and while in San Francisco primarily at Golden Gate Park. My two K-5's never did that even at 10 degrees F a few weeks earlier while up in the Eastern Sierras. I suspect the cold my case, but wondering if the issue is hardware originated problem. Frustrating though. Glad I had my both K-5's with me as back up and second camera. I already contacted Pentax and looked into sending my K-3 to them after the new year at the Rose Parade. Other than that, getting some good pics.

**agkchang** · 12-17-2013, 01:30 PM

Train ride was from Fort Bragg, CA to Northspur, CA and back to Fort Bragg where problem occurred. Problem never occurred again back in enclosed car on train and during the balance of trip which was warmer.

walter · 12-18-2013, 06:50 PM

That's troubling, it sounds a lot like the K-5 mirror flop issue. On my K-5, it would happen constantly with fully charged batteries in hot weather. I had to send it in to get it fixed.

If it is a battery current or voltage issue it may be more likely to happen with older batteries. My older D-Li90s are three years old which is about the lifespan of lithium ion batteries. They still work great with the K-5, but might not work as well with the K-3 which seems to need more power.

**southlander** · 12-19-2013, 07:17 AM

I had my K-3 freeze while on when I was in Melbourne yesterday. On/off switch won't turn it off. Pulled the battery out and put back in. Turned on and then all ok for subsequent shots. The only trigger I can think of is that I might have been at the point of filling Card 1 and the camera failed in its attempt to shift to Card 2.

Jon · 12-19-2013, 01:02 PM

Originally posted by southlander

I had my K-3 freeze while on when I was in Melbourne yesterday. On/off switch won't turn it off. Pulled the battery out and put back in. Turned on and then all ok for subsequent shots. The only trigger I can think of is that I might have been at the point of filling Card 1 and the camera failed in its attempt to shift to Card 2.

I had the same thing happen a couple days ago. Then today I had the machine gun shutter/mirror issue (after upgrading firmware). This is getting out of control.

Class A · 12-19-2013, 08:48 PM

There is a "Firmware 1.01" update available for the K-3 but apparently it does not seem to address the issues encountered here.

I hope you are all letting Pentax know about your issues. I'm confident they can fix the problems but the more they here about it, the better.

Erd§ · 12-19-2013, 09:43 PM

Originally posted by Class A

I hope you are all letting Pentax know about your issues.

I've used my K-3 a dozen times since my first and only mirror burst, without another incident. Until it happens a second time, for me, I'm going to consider my issue a one-off glitch.

photoprof833 · 05-10-2014, 06:13 AM

My pentax k3 is stuck on 2 occasions, with the first optical sigma 50-500 os burst mode av jpg; toshiba sd 16 gb class 10, the second single-shot mode optical pentax 18-135 16 gb card (Class 10 before the coma) but San disck Raw mode av ...... I would say that I expect a propio agg.firmware: with canon never had these problems: I just hope no freez in church during a wedding! Ps remained on the monitor with the last picture taken appears that was not transferred to the scheda.X solve just turn off and on:

12-13-2013, 11:51 PM	#1
eaglem Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Perth Western Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 43,166	My first K-3 problem. When using the camera today on one shot the shutter went off on a long burst on it's own and was still shooting after I switched the camera off. It stopped not too long after being switch off so I switched the camera back on and continued taking shots without another mishap. Has this happened to anyone else? I have a feeling it may have been a one off glitch. Oh, and GTW, I wasn't using a grip.

05-10-2014, 06:13 AM	#15
photoprof833 New Member Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 2	Freeze pentax k3 My pentax k3 is stuck on 2 occasions, with the first optical sigma 50-500 os burst mode av jpg; toshiba sd 16 gb class 10, the second single-shot mode optical pentax 18-135 16 gb card (Class 10 before the coma) but San disck Raw mode av ...... I would say that I expect a propio agg.firmware: with canon never had these problems: I just hope no freez in church during a wedding! Ps remained on the monitor with the last picture taken appears that was not transferred to the scheda.X solve just turn off and on:

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12-14-2013, 12:15 AM	#2
jbinpg Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Prince George, BC Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,546	Happened to me once after the camera had been left out in -20degC cold for 5 hours and the external battery connector broke. Pretty sure it is power related as in if the voltage drops below a certain point, you get the mirror (not shutter) flopping at top speed. Mine also stopped flopping shortly after turning off the camera power. No recurrence since working with topped up batteries. Check your battery connections. Jack

12-14-2013, 12:30 AM	#3
eaglem Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Perth Western Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 43,166 Original Poster	Thanks I'll do that.

12-14-2013, 01:51 AM	#4
lister6520 Veteran Member Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 733	I had my first 'anomaly' yesterday with the K-3. I was shooting some sunsets with HDR and all went OK except one particular instance. As I pressed the shutter it went ahead and shot the three photos as it normally does but it forgot to do one somewhat important step - it didn't lift the mirror. I of course noticed at once because the image in the OVF didn't black out during the exposure, and just to make sure I wasn't seeing things I looked at the resulting photo which was much as I expected - black with some lighter patches from light coming through the OVF. The next photo was again fine but just as a precaution I pulled the battery and put it back.

12-14-2013, 02:14 AM	#5
i_trax Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Perth Western Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,621	Originally posted by eaglem When using the camera today on one shot the shutter went off on a long burst on it's own and was still shooting after I switched the camera off. It stopped not too long after being switch off so I switched the camera back on and continued taking shots without another mishap. Has this happened to anyone else? I have a feeling it may have been a one off glitch. Oh, and GTW, I wasn't using a grip. we had +40C in Perth today, could that be heat?

12-14-2013, 02:34 AM	#6
eaglem Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Perth Western Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 43,166 Original Poster	Originally posted by i_trax we had +40C in Perth today, could that be heat? I know it was hot but this was at 9.30am this morning so heat shouldn't have been a problem at that time.

12-15-2013, 06:03 AM	#7
Erd§ Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: SEQ Posts: 323	Originally posted by eaglem the shutter went off on a long burst on it's own Originally posted by eaglem this was at 9.30am this morning Weirdly, this also happened to me...just one time...during my first use of the K-3...at just about exactly the same time...Sat 11:30am Qld time. My burst stopped when I hit the menu button. I turned the power switch off and pulled the battery. Hasn't happened since. It was about 30C degrees and the battery (genuine) was fully charged. Originally posted by jbinpg you get the mirror (not shutter) flopping at top speed I also think it was just the mirror as there were no pics being taken during this burst. Even if it is a power/voltage issue, it's still a very weird thing to happen.

12-17-2013, 01:26 PM	#8
agkchang Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Glendale, CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 103	I had the shutter problem on my first outing with the K-3 on the weekend before Thanksgiving. I had the grip on and AF set to continuous. I don't remember what mode I was in at the time, probably P. The shutter stopped after turning off the camera, but it happened three more times. The temperature could have been low to mid 30's F with wind chill factor. I was on a train going through redwood forest while on a open car to get shots of train at curve points as well as scenery we were passing. I decided to go inside to warm up. Problem didn't happen again while on trip home down the very scenic Highway 1 in California and while in San Francisco primarily at Golden Gate Park. My two K-5's never did that even at 10 degrees F a few weeks earlier while up in the Eastern Sierras. I suspect the cold my case, but wondering if the issue is hardware originated problem. Frustrating though. Glad I had my both K-5's with me as back up and second camera. I already contacted Pentax and looked into sending my K-3 to them after the new year at the Rose Parade. Other than that, getting some good pics.

12-17-2013, 01:30 PM	#9
agkchang Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Glendale, CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 103	Train ride was from Fort Bragg, CA to Northspur, CA and back to Fort Bragg where problem occurred. Problem never occurred again back in enclosed car on train and during the balance of trip which was warmer.

12-18-2013, 06:50 PM	#10
walter Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: California Photos: Gallery Posts: 239	That's troubling, it sounds a lot like the K-5 mirror flop issue. On my K-5, it would happen constantly with fully charged batteries in hot weather. I had to send it in to get it fixed. If it is a battery current or voltage issue it may be more likely to happen with older batteries. My older D-Li90s are three years old which is about the lifespan of lithium ion batteries. They still work great with the K-5, but might not work as well with the K-3 which seems to need more power.

12-19-2013, 07:17 AM	#11
southlander Site Supporter Join Date: May 2012 Location: Adelaide Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,364	I had my K-3 freeze while on when I was in Melbourne yesterday. On/off switch won't turn it off. Pulled the battery out and put back in. Turned on and then all ok for subsequent shots. The only trigger I can think of is that I might have been at the point of filling Card 1 and the camera failed in its attempt to shift to Card 2.

12-19-2013, 01:02 PM	#12
Jon Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Goodyear, AZ Posts: 145	Originally posted by southlander I had my K-3 freeze while on when I was in Melbourne yesterday. On/off switch won't turn it off. Pulled the battery out and put back in. Turned on and then all ok for subsequent shots. The only trigger I can think of is that I might have been at the point of filling Card 1 and the camera failed in its attempt to shift to Card 2. I had the same thing happen a couple days ago. Then today I had the machine gun shutter/mirror issue (after upgrading firmware). This is getting out of control.

12-19-2013, 08:48 PM	#13
Class A Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Wellington, New Zealand Posts: 11,251	There is a "Firmware 1.01" update available for the K-3 but apparently it does not seem to address the issues encountered here. I hope you are all letting Pentax know about your issues. I'm confident they can fix the problems but the more they here about it, the better.

12-19-2013, 09:43 PM	#14
Erd§ Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: SEQ Posts: 323	Originally posted by Class A I hope you are all letting Pentax know about your issues. I've used my K-3 a dozen times since my first and only mirror burst, without another incident. Until it happens a second time, for me, I'm going to consider my issue a one-off glitch.

My first K-3 problem.

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