K-3 sensors died

mail2richw · 05-31-2014, 05:29 PM

After only 3 months of owning this lovely camera it seems that the sensor died. When I take a picture nothing shows on the lcd screen. In the play back review mode no pictures show. When the sd card is plugged into a PC there are squares that represent the images but they are all black. I did hard reset on all settings in the menu, and the menu show on the lcd which means that the lcd is working. Metering functions which indicates that light levels are entering the camera - just nothing is recorded. I've swapped around sd cards and did just about everything I can think of the limit it down to the sensor defect. I pulled out the battery and waited a long while, reinstalled and started the camera - no luck there.

Anyone have suggestions for me to try before sending it out? TIA

Paul the Sunman · 05-31-2014, 06:10 PM

Have you tried it with fully manual exposure? Just in case it is grossly underexposing. However, either way, sounds like a warranty job. I haven't heard of this problem before.

Was there EXIF information attached to the "images"? Might give a clue.

VisualDarkness · 05-31-2014, 06:34 PM - **1 Like**

Check what happens if you shoot without a lens. Does the mirror move? Does the shutter open? What happens in live view without a lens?

**jatrax** · 05-31-2014, 06:57 PM

Try a different lens if possible.

Try all manual exposure to make sure nothing is set wrong.

Check to see that your lens is stopping down properly at the time of shooting.

Make sure the lens cap is off.............

ElJamoquio · 05-31-2014, 07:11 PM

Originally posted by mail2richw

After only 3 months of owning this lovely camera it seems that the sensor died. When I take a picture nothing shows on the lcd screen. In the play back review mode no pictures show. When the sd card is plugged into a PC there are squares that represent the images but they are all black. I did hard reset on all settings in the menu, and the menu show on the lcd which means that the lcd is working. Metering functions which indicates that light levels are entering the camera - just nothing is recorded. I've swapped around sd cards and did just about everything I can think of the limit it down to the sensor defect. I pulled out the battery and waited a long while, reinstalled and started the camera - no luck there.

Anyone have suggestions for me to try before sending it out? TIA

Hmmm... metering is working. Have you tried shooting with a manually set aperture via aperture ring? Don't think it'd actually work though. I'd send it in.

**jpzk** · 05-31-2014, 07:46 PM

Originally posted by jatrax

Try a different lens if possible.

Try all manual exposure to make sure nothing is set wrong.

Check to see that your lens is stopping down properly at the time of shooting.

Make sure the lens cap is off.............

OMG !!
I hope this wasn't the problem!

JP

IchabodCrane · 05-31-2014, 08:06 PM

Have you tried reformatting the SD card in the camera?

mail2richw · 05-31-2014, 08:50 PM

Originally posted by Paul the Sunman

Have you tried it with fully manual exposure? Just in case it is grossly underexposing. However, either way, sounds like a warranty job. I haven't heard of this problem before.

Was there EXIF information attached to the "images"? Might give a clue.

Looks like the shutter isn't opening after following advise below. The ext inf is normal with shutter speed, iso, aperture, focal length and all. Thanks for the reply. It helps when others chime in. Being upset sometimes clouds the thought process.

---------- Post added 05-31-14 at 11:52 PM ----------

Originally posted by VisualDarkness

Check what happens if you shoot without a lens. Does the mirror move? Does the shutter open? What happens in live view without a lens?

Thank you for this. I did remove the lens and noticed the mirror lifting but the shutter is not opening. I wonder if I should change my thread title? Anyway your help is greatly appreciated.

---------- Post added 05-31-14 at 11:53 PM ----------

Originally posted by IchabodCrane

Have you tried reformatting the SD card in the camera?

Yes, it appears to be the shutter not opening.

Trudger1272 · 05-31-2014, 09:09 PM

I had a similar experience yesterday, but I figured it out after some investigation. What apparently happened was while shooting I mistakenly hit the EV button and unknowingly readjusted some things(with the rear e-dial)to make my camera seriously underexpose my shots to where they were almost black. Maybe a different situation, I don't know. But the end results were very similar to what you described.

**Mutters** · 05-31-2014, 09:40 PM

Originally posted by mail2richw

After only 3 months of owning this lovely camera it seems that the sensor died. When I take a picture nothing shows on the lcd screen. In the play back review mode no pictures show. When the sd card is plugged into a PC there are squares that represent the images but they are all black. I did hard reset on all settings in the menu, and the menu show on the lcd which means that the lcd is working. Metering functions which indicates that light levels are entering the camera - just nothing is recorded. I've swapped around sd cards and did just about everything I can think of the limit it down to the sensor defect. I pulled out the battery and waited a long while, reinstalled and started the camera - no luck there.

Anyone have suggestions for me to try before sending it out? TIA

Is there any live view image? More of an inquiry than anything.
It seems to be a 'return to base' asap.

AB

mail2richw · 05-31-2014, 09:50 PM

no live view

stevebrot · 06-01-2014, 12:42 AM

Originally posted by mail2richw

no live view

Bummer. Time to contact Ricoh for a warranty exchange.

If it is any consolation, my original Canon G2 (ancient history, I know, but an expensive camera at the time) developed a dead rear LCD about four months after I bought it back in 2002. The defective screen was replaced under warranty by Canon and the camera has operated flawlessly ever since.

Steve

VisualDarkness · 06-01-2014, 06:57 AM

Sounds like the shutter is jammed, bummer.

mail2richw · 06-01-2014, 07:12 AM

Originally posted by VisualDarkness

Sounds like the shutter is jammed, bummer.

VisualDarkness Your advise landed me to this proper conclusion. I guess it is better than a dead sensor but amounts to the same result - no pictures. Thanks again!

My purchase was made from B&H in New York City. I'll call there first to see if I can return it through them or direct to Ricoh. Today I'll be loading battery into the K-5.

05-31-2014, 05:29 PM	#1
mail2richw Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 65	K-3 sensors died After only 3 months of owning this lovely camera it seems that the sensor died. When I take a picture nothing shows on the lcd screen. In the play back review mode no pictures show. When the sd card is plugged into a PC there are squares that represent the images but they are all black. I did hard reset on all settings in the menu, and the menu show on the lcd which means that the lcd is working. Metering functions which indicates that light levels are entering the camera - just nothing is recorded. I've swapped around sd cards and did just about everything I can think of the limit it down to the sensor defect. I pulled out the battery and waited a long while, reinstalled and started the camera - no luck there. Anyone have suggestions for me to try before sending it out? TIA

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
K-5 Main Circuit Board Died	Alan Granger	Pentax K-5 & K-5 II	6	12-01-2013 07:04 PM
A tale of 3 sensors K-3/K-01/K-7	Painter	Pentax K-3 & K-3 II	21	11-16-2013 09:38 PM
K-30 # of AF sensors used	scottike	Troubleshooting and Beginner Help	5	07-01-2013 08:51 PM
K-5II autofocus sensors - explanation wanted	hjb981	Pentax K-5 & K-5 II	55	09-27-2012 04:27 PM
Sony now making 4/3 sensors	ElrondElensar	Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands	10	07-07-2012 02:43 PM

05-31-2014, 06:10 PM	#2
Paul the Sunman Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Melbourne Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,842	Have you tried it with fully manual exposure? Just in case it is grossly underexposing. However, either way, sounds like a warranty job. I haven't heard of this problem before. Was there EXIF information attached to the "images"? Might give a clue.

05-31-2014, 06:34 PM - 1 Like	#3
VisualDarkness Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Uppsala, Sweden Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,439	Check what happens if you shoot without a lens. Does the mirror move? Does the shutter open? What happens in live view without a lens?

05-31-2014, 06:57 PM	#4
jatrax Site Supporter Join Date: May 2010 Location: Washington Cascades Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,991	Try a different lens if possible. Try all manual exposure to make sure nothing is set wrong. Check to see that your lens is stopping down properly at the time of shooting. Make sure the lens cap is off.............

05-31-2014, 07:11 PM	#5
ElJamoquio Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 4,873	Originally posted by mail2richw After only 3 months of owning this lovely camera it seems that the sensor died. When I take a picture nothing shows on the lcd screen. In the play back review mode no pictures show. When the sd card is plugged into a PC there are squares that represent the images but they are all black. I did hard reset on all settings in the menu, and the menu show on the lcd which means that the lcd is working. Metering functions which indicates that light levels are entering the camera - just nothing is recorded. I've swapped around sd cards and did just about everything I can think of the limit it down to the sensor defect. I pulled out the battery and waited a long while, reinstalled and started the camera - no luck there. Anyone have suggestions for me to try before sending it out? TIA Hmmm... metering is working. Have you tried shooting with a manually set aperture via aperture ring? Don't think it'd actually work though. I'd send it in.

05-31-2014, 07:46 PM	#6
jpzk Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Québec Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,251	Originally posted by jatrax Try a different lens if possible. Try all manual exposure to make sure nothing is set wrong. Check to see that your lens is stopping down properly at the time of shooting. Make sure the lens cap is off............. OMG !! I hope this wasn't the problem! JP

05-31-2014, 08:06 PM	#7
IchabodCrane Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,728	Have you tried reformatting the SD card in the camera?

05-31-2014, 08:50 PM	#8
mail2richw Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 65 Original Poster	Originally posted by Paul the Sunman Have you tried it with fully manual exposure? Just in case it is grossly underexposing. However, either way, sounds like a warranty job. I haven't heard of this problem before. Was there EXIF information attached to the "images"? Might give a clue. Looks like the shutter isn't opening after following advise below. The ext inf is normal with shutter speed, iso, aperture, focal length and all. Thanks for the reply. It helps when others chime in. Being upset sometimes clouds the thought process. ---------- Post added 05-31-14 at 11:52 PM ---------- Originally posted by VisualDarkness Check what happens if you shoot without a lens. Does the mirror move? Does the shutter open? What happens in live view without a lens? Thank you for this. I did remove the lens and noticed the mirror lifting but the shutter is not opening. I wonder if I should change my thread title? Anyway your help is greatly appreciated. ---------- Post added 05-31-14 at 11:53 PM ---------- Originally posted by IchabodCrane Have you tried reformatting the SD card in the camera? Yes, it appears to be the shutter not opening.

05-31-2014, 09:09 PM	#9
Trudger1272 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Los Angeles Photos: Albums Posts: 288	I had a similar experience yesterday, but I figured it out after some investigation. What apparently happened was while shooting I mistakenly hit the EV button and unknowingly readjusted some things(with the rear e-dial)to make my camera seriously underexpose my shots to where they were almost black. Maybe a different situation, I don't know. But the end results were very similar to what you described.

05-31-2014, 09:40 PM	#10
Mutters Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Melbourne, Australia Photos: Albums Posts: 261	Originally posted by mail2richw After only 3 months of owning this lovely camera it seems that the sensor died. When I take a picture nothing shows on the lcd screen. In the play back review mode no pictures show. When the sd card is plugged into a PC there are squares that represent the images but they are all black. I did hard reset on all settings in the menu, and the menu show on the lcd which means that the lcd is working. Metering functions which indicates that light levels are entering the camera - just nothing is recorded. I've swapped around sd cards and did just about everything I can think of the limit it down to the sensor defect. I pulled out the battery and waited a long while, reinstalled and started the camera - no luck there. Anyone have suggestions for me to try before sending it out? TIA Is there any live view image? More of an inquiry than anything. It seems to be a 'return to base' asap. AB

05-31-2014, 09:50 PM	#11
mail2richw Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 65 Original Poster	no live view

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

06-01-2014, 12:42 AM	#12
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by mail2richw no live view Bummer. Time to contact Ricoh for a warranty exchange. If it is any consolation, my original Canon G2 (ancient history, I know, but an expensive camera at the time) developed a dead rear LCD about four months after I bought it back in 2002. The defective screen was replaced under warranty by Canon and the camera has operated flawlessly ever since. Steve

06-01-2014, 06:57 AM	#13
VisualDarkness Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Uppsala, Sweden Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,439	Sounds like the shutter is jammed, bummer.

06-01-2014, 07:12 AM	#14
mail2richw Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 65 Original Poster	Originally posted by VisualDarkness Sounds like the shutter is jammed, bummer. VisualDarkness Your advise landed me to this proper conclusion. I guess it is better than a dead sensor but amounts to the same result - no pictures. Thanks again! My purchase was made from B&H in New York City. I'll call there first to see if I can return it through them or direct to Ricoh. Today I'll be loading battery into the K-5.