Random K-3 shutter problem

**MJSfoto1956** · 11-01-2014, 07:12 AM

Just got back from a wonderful trip to Tuscany where I led my ten-day photo workshop. We had great weather and the students were in heaven! For me, everything went perfectly with one exception: my Pentax K-3 shutter would occasionally "misfire" with the result of a black photo. The following screenshot shows the random behavior. Here we see a series of brackets (regular, -1, +1) and every once and a while the shutter wouldn't actuate (see images circled in red). It seemed to happen mostly early in the day after the camera had had time to sleep from the previous day's exercise.

Thoughts?

Michael

Attached Images

phoenixvision · 11-01-2014, 07:20 AM

Dd this only happen when bracket shooting? I have had this problem while using a flash, and thought it was the flash not firing, but now I am wondering......

jhmos · 11-01-2014, 07:42 AM

I have had that happen once, sometime in the first couple of months I had the camera, but I don't think its happened again in the last 8 months. The time it did happen, I was experimenting with focus tracking in continuous shooting and AFC mode. Hopefully its some temporary aberration.

John

Unregistered User · 11-01-2014, 08:48 AM

Have you noticed if the camera was reseted. Firmware 1.11 came with a reset function if the mirror flopp issue was to appear. Maybe that is what happened, it wanted to mirror flopp but the camera said no and got reset with a black frame as result.

**MJSfoto1956** · 11-01-2014, 10:11 AM

one thing it did was make a distinctive noise -- I could tell immediately when it happened.
I'll try it with no bracketing and different lenses to see if there is a discernible pattern.

M

stevebrot · 11-01-2014, 11:38 AM

Originally posted by MJSfoto1956

one thing it did was make a distinctive noise -- I could tell immediately when it happened.
I'll try it with no bracketing and different lenses to see if there is a discernible pattern.

M

Hmmmm...time to call Ricoh/Pentax for warranty service I would say.

Steve

asp1880 · 11-01-2014, 01:15 PM

I have something similar on my old 40k click K-5. I've found it's not a completely black frame but just a very (like -5) underexposed frame that's captured. It happens once every 200-1000 shots.

I'm just sharing this so you know it's at least not a unique problem you have. In my case it always happens on the first frame after a longer shooting pause, my workaround is a habit of firing a throwaway shot first thing after every power-on.

Take it in for warranty repair. Shutters do fail and you have lots of evidence.

Regards,
--Anders.

**MJSfoto1956** · 11-01-2014, 01:24 PM

well these images are pure black -- put through RAW processing the only data is thermal noise. Basically, the shutter did not engage.

M

stevebrot · 11-01-2014, 07:00 PM

Originally posted by MJSfoto1956

well these images are pure black -- put through RAW processing the only data is thermal noise. Basically, the shutter did not engage.

M

That sounds like firmware v1.11 doing its job. The runaway mirror issue is present, but just not given free run. A blank frame is the result.

Steve

Al_Kahollick · 11-01-2014, 07:38 PM

Was the camera set for one-push bracketing? Is f/w v1.11 perhaps interpreting that as mirror flopping? I've only used bracketing a couple of times (1-push), but haven't had that problem.

**MJSfoto1956** · 11-02-2014, 07:23 AM - **1 Like**

yes, one-push bracketing is indeed set -- a key feature that I love of Pentax (among others). I'm thinking that this is indeed an interpretation of mirror flopping. I will research more and report back as I have more information.

Thanks for the feedback.

M

jhmos · 11-02-2014, 10:17 AM

Originally posted by stevebrot

That sounds like firmware v1.11 doing its job. The runaway mirror issue is present, but just not given free run. A blank frame is the result.

Steve

The blank frame I had was in January or February, way before v1.11, and there was no mirror flop runnaway in that case. I have had a few mirror flop instances since v1.11 but none of them resulted in a blank frame.

John.

stevebrot · 11-02-2014, 11:13 AM

Originally posted by jhmos

I have had a few mirror flop instances since v1.11 but none of them resulted in a blank frame.

You have a problem. Send your camera in for warranty service while it is still available.

Steve

jhmos · 11-02-2014, 11:17 PM

Originally posted by stevebrot

You have a problem. Send your camera in for warranty service while it is still available.

Steve

Your right, I will send it in. I just wanted to wait till after my trip to Europe. I think it did the mirror flop reset 2 or 3 times in almost 4000 frames while I was away, so it is usable. Not looking forward to losing it for perhaps some months though.

John.

stevebrot · 11-03-2014, 05:45 PM

Originally posted by jhmos

Not looking forward to losing it for perhaps some months though.

I hear you there. Enjoy the remainder of your trip!

Steve

11-01-2014, 07:12 AM	#1
MJSfoto1956 Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Boston Posts: 1,305	Random K-3 shutter problem Just got back from a wonderful trip to Tuscany where I led my ten-day photo workshop. We had great weather and the students were in heaven! For me, everything went perfectly with one exception: my Pentax K-3 shutter would occasionally "misfire" with the result of a black photo. The following screenshot shows the random behavior. Here we see a series of brackets (regular, -1, +1) and every once and a while the shutter wouldn't actuate (see images circled in red). It seemed to happen mostly early in the day after the camera had had time to sleep from the previous day's exercise. Thoughts? Michael Attached Images

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11-01-2014, 07:20 AM	#2
phoenixvision Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,458	Dd this only happen when bracket shooting? I have had this problem while using a flash, and thought it was the flash not firing, but now I am wondering......

11-01-2014, 07:42 AM	#3
jhmos Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Melbourne Posts: 111	I have had that happen once, sometime in the first couple of months I had the camera, but I don't think its happened again in the last 8 months. The time it did happen, I was experimenting with focus tracking in continuous shooting and AFC mode. Hopefully its some temporary aberration. John

11-01-2014, 08:48 AM	#4
Unregistered User Guest	Have you noticed if the camera was reseted. Firmware 1.11 came with a reset function if the mirror flopp issue was to appear. Maybe that is what happened, it wanted to mirror flopp but the camera said no and got reset with a black frame as result.

11-01-2014, 10:11 AM	#5
MJSfoto1956 Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Boston Posts: 1,305 Original Poster	one thing it did was make a distinctive noise -- I could tell immediately when it happened. I'll try it with no bracketing and different lenses to see if there is a discernible pattern. M

11-01-2014, 11:38 AM	#6
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by MJSfoto1956 one thing it did was make a distinctive noise -- I could tell immediately when it happened. I'll try it with no bracketing and different lenses to see if there is a discernible pattern. M Hmmmm...time to call Ricoh/Pentax for warranty service I would say. Steve

11-01-2014, 01:15 PM	#7
asp1880 Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Lyngby, Copenhagen Photos: Albums Posts: 742	I have something similar on my old 40k click K-5. I've found it's not a completely black frame but just a very (like -5) underexposed frame that's captured. It happens once every 200-1000 shots. I'm just sharing this so you know it's at least not a unique problem you have. In my case it always happens on the first frame after a longer shooting pause, my workaround is a habit of firing a throwaway shot first thing after every power-on. Take it in for warranty repair. Shutters do fail and you have lots of evidence. Regards, --Anders.

11-01-2014, 01:24 PM	#8
MJSfoto1956 Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Boston Posts: 1,305 Original Poster	well these images are pure black -- put through RAW processing the only data is thermal noise. Basically, the shutter did not engage. M

11-01-2014, 07:00 PM	#9
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by MJSfoto1956 well these images are pure black -- put through RAW processing the only data is thermal noise. Basically, the shutter did not engage. M That sounds like firmware v1.11 doing its job. The runaway mirror issue is present, but just not given free run. A blank frame is the result. Steve

11-01-2014, 07:38 PM	#10
Al_Kahollick Banned Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 390	Was the camera set for one-push bracketing? Is f/w v1.11 perhaps interpreting that as mirror flopping? I've only used bracketing a couple of times (1-push), but haven't had that problem.

11-02-2014, 07:23 AM - 1 Like	#11
MJSfoto1956 Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Boston Posts: 1,305 Original Poster	yes, one-push bracketing is indeed set -- a key feature that I love of Pentax (among others). I'm thinking that this is indeed an interpretation of mirror flopping. I will research more and report back as I have more information. Thanks for the feedback. M

11-02-2014, 10:17 AM	#12
jhmos Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Melbourne Posts: 111	Originally posted by stevebrot That sounds like firmware v1.11 doing its job. The runaway mirror issue is present, but just not given free run. A blank frame is the result. Steve The blank frame I had was in January or February, way before v1.11, and there was no mirror flop runnaway in that case. I have had a few mirror flop instances since v1.11 but none of them resulted in a blank frame. John.

11-02-2014, 11:13 AM	#13
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by jhmos I have had a few mirror flop instances since v1.11 but none of them resulted in a blank frame. You have a problem. Send your camera in for warranty service while it is still available. Steve

11-02-2014, 11:17 PM	#14
jhmos Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Melbourne Posts: 111	Originally posted by stevebrot You have a problem. Send your camera in for warranty service while it is still available. Steve Your right, I will send it in. I just wanted to wait till after my trip to Europe. I think it did the mirror flop reset 2 or 3 times in almost 4000 frames while I was away, so it is usable. Not looking forward to losing it for perhaps some months though. John.

11-03-2014, 05:45 PM	#15
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by jhmos Not looking forward to losing it for perhaps some months though. I hear you there. Enjoy the remainder of your trip! Steve