Pentax K-3 green line bug/defect?

cuajada · 01-25-2015, 03:04 AM

Hey everyone,
I got my new K-3 about 2 weeks ago and have been trying it out for a couple of days now. Love the feel of the camera (I had a k-30 before), however, it seems that I may have had the bad luck of buying one with a broken sensor.
When I take a couple of shots, and as the camera heats up, a vertical thin green line appears in the left center of the image. The line will get thicker and more pronounced over time. This is of course a huge deal and two sessions have already been ruined (the line is very subtle at first). I haven't been able to find any info on this online, other than that there might have once been a similar issue with the k-7. I just hope the sensor isn't broken.
Does anyone know what I am talking about? Any thoughts or advice?
(I uploaded a screenshot of one of the images -- I couldn't upload the RAW file, due to size.)

Attached Images

richandfleur · 01-25-2015, 03:46 AM - **1 Like**

Was it new?

Return it quick I'd say, don't muck around.

LensBeginner · 01-25-2015, 04:08 AM

I second those who suggest you return it immediately.

It should not be too difficult to fix it in PP, if you shot the events RAW, that is.
In jpeg the line should take at least three pixels, not one, due to interpolation.

**RuiC** · 01-25-2015, 04:24 AM

That's a problem that appeared already on the K-7.
Return it.

cuajada · 01-25-2015, 04:39 AM

Thanks for responding so quickly everyone. I think that's sound advice. The only problem is that I bought it in on a trip to Japan, and I am now in Europe. So returning it will be somewhat of a hassle. It is new, so I was thinking maybe I could get it repaired here via the warranty?

---------- Post added 01-25-15 at 01:00 PM ----------

Originally posted by RuiC

That's a problem that appeared already on the K-7.
Return it.

Thanks for responding! I have seen forum posts about this being an issue with the K-7. Apparently a firmware update was able to resolve it there, at least from what I can tell based on the information I found online. My K3 is updated to the newest firmware though -- so there goes that hope, I guess. I wonder if it's the same basic problem though. My K-30 also already had issues, which is why i decided to upgrade. Not happy about this =(

RonHendriks1966 · 01-25-2015, 05:08 AM

Did you do the pixel allignment in the camera? Maybe it can help, otherwise returning it would be the best way.

cuajada · 01-25-2015, 05:39 AM

Originally posted by RonHendriks1966

Did you do the pixel allignment in the camera? Maybe it can help, otherwise returning it would be the best way.

Hi! Thanks for the reply. By pixel alignment, do you mean the option for pixel mapping?
And perhaps just as additional info: the green line shows up in all formats, JPG, RAW (DNG and PEF) so I don't think its a question of conversion or anything.

semaca · 01-25-2015, 06:21 AM

I know somebody who had a similar green line, but that appeared after shooting some laser show.

**sergysergy** · 01-25-2015, 07:58 AM

are you sure it is not the SD card?

RonHendriks1966 · 01-25-2015, 09:53 AM

Originally posted by cuajada

Hi! Thanks for the reply. By pixel alignment, do you mean the option for pixel mapping?
And perhaps just as additional info: the green line shows up in all formats, JPG, RAW (DNG and PEF) so I don't think its a question of conversion or anything.

Originally posted by sergysergy

are you sure it is not the SD card?

I think both to test. Do the alignment and test another card. When nothing changes, returning is your only option.

cuajada · 01-25-2015, 11:12 AM

Originally posted by sergysergy

are you sure it is not the SD card?

Hi. Thanks for replying. I just tested a different card (different brand, different size etc.), problem was still there unfortunately

**sergysergy** · 01-25-2015, 11:28 AM

mm, that's unfortunate. I hope you find an easy fix!

rawr · 01-25-2015, 04:00 PM

After about one year or use, I had a similar green line appear on the bottom of images from a Fuji point-and-shoot I once had many years ago. The sensor had to be replaced. Warranty repair time.

It seems a very rare defect nowadays on Pentax, or anywhere else for that matter. Sony sensor QC seems pretty good.

Dlanor Sekao · 01-25-2015, 06:47 PM

There is NO way around this.....RETURN it !

r0ckstarr · 01-25-2015, 06:53 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by RuiC

That's a problem that appeared already on the K-7.
Return it.

I have one of those K7's. A firmware update fixed it and it hasn't been an issue since.

If you've updated firmware and confirmed the SD card is not the problem, your only option is to return it.

01-25-2015, 03:04 AM	#1
cuajada New Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 22	Pentax K-3 green line bug/defect? Hey everyone, I got my new K-3 about 2 weeks ago and have been trying it out for a couple of days now. Love the feel of the camera (I had a k-30 before), however, it seems that I may have had the bad luck of buying one with a broken sensor. When I take a couple of shots, and as the camera heats up, a vertical thin green line appears in the left center of the image. The line will get thicker and more pronounced over time. This is of course a huge deal and two sessions have already been ruined (the line is very subtle at first). I haven't been able to find any info on this online, other than that there might have once been a similar issue with the k-7. I just hope the sensor isn't broken. Does anyone know what I am talking about? Any thoughts or advice? (I uploaded a screenshot of one of the images -- I couldn't upload the RAW file, due to size.) Attached Images

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01-25-2015, 03:46 AM - 1 Like	#2
richandfleur Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Palmerston North, New Zealand Photos: Albums Posts: 1,788	Was it new? Return it quick I'd say, don't muck around.

01-25-2015, 04:08 AM	#3
LensBeginner Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Photos: Albums Posts: 4,696	I second those who suggest you return it immediately. It should not be too difficult to fix it in PP, if you shot the events RAW, that is. In jpeg the line should take at least three pixels, not one, due to interpolation.

01-25-2015, 04:24 AM	#4
RuiC Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Lisboa - The best destination in Europe Posts: 633	That's a problem that appeared already on the K-7. Return it.

01-25-2015, 04:39 AM	#5
cuajada New Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 22 Original Poster	Thanks for responding so quickly everyone. I think that's sound advice. The only problem is that I bought it in on a trip to Japan, and I am now in Europe. So returning it will be somewhat of a hassle. It is new, so I was thinking maybe I could get it repaired here via the warranty? ---------- Post added 01-25-15 at 01:00 PM ---------- Originally posted by RuiC That's a problem that appeared already on the K-7. Return it. Thanks for responding! I have seen forum posts about this being an issue with the K-7. Apparently a firmware update was able to resolve it there, at least from what I can tell based on the information I found online. My K3 is updated to the newest firmware though -- so there goes that hope, I guess. I wonder if it's the same basic problem though. My K-30 also already had issues, which is why i decided to upgrade. Not happy about this =(

01-25-2015, 05:08 AM	#6
RonHendriks1966 Banned Join Date: Jan 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,675	Did you do the pixel allignment in the camera? Maybe it can help, otherwise returning it would be the best way.

01-25-2015, 05:39 AM	#7
cuajada New Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 22 Original Poster	Originally posted by RonHendriks1966 Did you do the pixel allignment in the camera? Maybe it can help, otherwise returning it would be the best way. Hi! Thanks for the reply. By pixel alignment, do you mean the option for pixel mapping? And perhaps just as additional info: the green line shows up in all formats, JPG, RAW (DNG and PEF) so I don't think its a question of conversion or anything.

01-25-2015, 06:21 AM	#8
semaca Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: RO Posts: 143	I know somebody who had a similar green line, but that appeared after shooting some laser show.

01-25-2015, 07:58 AM	#9
sergysergy Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2011 Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,171	are you sure it is not the SD card?

01-25-2015, 09:53 AM	#10
RonHendriks1966 Banned Join Date: Jan 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,675	Originally posted by cuajada Hi! Thanks for the reply. By pixel alignment, do you mean the option for pixel mapping? And perhaps just as additional info: the green line shows up in all formats, JPG, RAW (DNG and PEF) so I don't think its a question of conversion or anything. Originally posted by sergysergy are you sure it is not the SD card? I think both to test. Do the alignment and test another card. When nothing changes, returning is your only option.

01-25-2015, 11:12 AM	#11
cuajada New Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 22 Original Poster	Originally posted by sergysergy are you sure it is not the SD card? Hi. Thanks for replying. I just tested a different card (different brand, different size etc.), problem was still there unfortunately

01-25-2015, 11:28 AM	#12
sergysergy Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2011 Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,171	mm, that's unfortunate. I hope you find an easy fix!

01-25-2015, 04:00 PM	#13
rawr Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 11,913	After about one year or use, I had a similar green line appear on the bottom of images from a Fuji point-and-shoot I once had many years ago. The sensor had to be replaced. Warranty repair time. It seems a very rare defect nowadays on Pentax, or anywhere else for that matter. Sony sensor QC seems pretty good.

01-25-2015, 06:47 PM	#14
Dlanor Sekao Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Posts: 1,457	There is NO way around this.....RETURN it !

01-25-2015, 06:53 PM - 1 Like	#15
r0ckstarr Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Texas Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,507	Originally posted by RuiC That's a problem that appeared already on the K-7. Return it. I have one of those K7's. A firmware update fixed it and it hasn't been an issue since. If you've updated firmware and confirmed the SD card is not the problem, your only option is to return it.