K3II Mirror Flap

**clickclick** · 03-26-2017, 07:27 AM

So, I was merrily taking pictures in single shot mode the other day, and suddenly my mirror went nuts flapping. I'd say it lasted 2-3 seconds. By the time I took the camera away from my eye and lowered it to look at the back screen, it had stopped. I was using an M42 mount lens in Av mode, and the camera was now prompting me to input the focal length like I had just turned it on. I hit the "OK" button on the displayed focal length, and went about my way, and it did not repeat. I had a Pentax brand battery in it with at least 3/4 charge, if not more. I've got the latest firmware update, and my S/N is 6295621, so I think it is after the initial release that I believe did have some issues. I've taken upwards of 10K trouble free shots with the camera, so I'm thinking this is a one time anomaly, but I am wondering what others have experienced and any input on the situation?

Thanks

Alnjpn · 03-26-2017, 08:39 AM

How old is your battery? This happened to my secondhand k3 with the old battery but hasn't happened since I replaced it - fingers crossed.

zvon · 03-26-2017, 09:18 AM

it happened to me once, or twice. But I remember it the first time. It was when camera was 2 months in use (first firmware installed). I had sigma 17-50 mounted. Original full charge battery. And it lasted exactly how you described it. I just ignored it and continued on with the session. I do not know what to think of it.

**jatrax** · 03-26-2017, 09:23 AM

It happens with the k-3. Make sure your firmware is up to date. If I remember correctly there was an update that reset the camera if this happened thus stopping it. I used my k-3 for several years with around 40,000 images and had it happen twice.

If it starts happening regularly you will need to send it in for service but once only I would not worry about it at all. But it is really scary when it happens.

screwdriver222 · 03-26-2017, 10:26 AM

This happened to me only once on a K-3 when I had a Sigma 10-20 attached and I had to remove the battery to stop it. It was just before the new firmware came out to reduce/stop it.

**BigMackCam** · 03-26-2017, 11:57 AM

I had the mirror flap once or twice on my K-3. The first time, the mirror got stuck half way through its cycle when I took the battery out and I had to help it back into position. That was worrying

The second time, if I remember correctly, was shortly after a firmware update... I got the short, rapid burst of flapping and then it sorted itself out. Two occasions out of many thousands of shots... I can live with that

**clickclick** · 03-26-2017, 12:08 PM

Originally posted by Alnjpn

How old is your battery? This happened to my secondhand k3 with the old battery but hasn't happened since I replaced it - fingers crossed.

The battery is probably close to a year old. I've got three OEM Pentax batteries, and two after market ones. I rotate them following a FIFO sequence on use and charging, so I don't think it's had that many clicks on it, but I can put a mark on this one to track it so if it happens again, I can see if it's the same battery or not.

This is all sounding hopeful that it's a one time thing.

Thanks for all the input.

Last edited by clickclick; 05-22-2017 at 08:18 AM.

**bwgv001** · 03-26-2017, 12:38 PM

May be check this:
Pentax K-3 II Service Advisory - Pentax Announcements | PentaxForums.com

totsmuyco · 04-07-2017, 05:00 AM

This is an old issue with only a few reported incidents. It happened to mine once and never happened again (fingers crossed). However, it's different compared to the K-3 mirror flap issue. The service advisory referred by bwgv001 is about unresponsive on/off switch regardless of camera settings and consistent freezing when accessing the GPS menu. I don't know if this has anything to do with the K-3II's mirror flap issue. I also don't know if the latest firmware update for the PLM lenses includes correction for this error. I myself am hoping that this is nothing serious. So far, like I said, it hasn't happened again.

Mr Bassie · 05-21-2017, 11:40 AM

I just experienced the dreaded mirror flapping on my secondhand K3II. Is this a major problem for some people or is it typically a rare event?

**BigMackCam** · 05-21-2017, 01:19 PM

Originally posted by Mr Bassie

I just experienced the dreaded mirror flapping on my secondhand K3II. Is this a major problem for some people or is it typically a rare event?

Typically very rare

Mr Bassie · 05-21-2017, 02:45 PM

Originally posted by BigMackCam

Typically very rare

Thank you. Since I posted that message I had the camera lock up on me. I had to remove the battery and that seemed to fix it. I wonder if I got a lemon.

**BigMackCam** · 05-21-2017, 10:33 PM

Originally posted by Mr Bassie

Thank you. Since I posted that message I had the camera lock up on me. I had to remove the battery and that seemed to fix it. I wonder if I got a lemon.

Have you updated it to the latest firmware?

**clickclick** · 05-22-2017, 08:21 AM

If it happens again, I'd also swap out the battery.

So far, I've only had the one occurrence of flap I originally posted about.

tigershoot · 05-29-2017, 11:47 PM

It happened to me on holiday in New Zealand. My K3ii is about 8 months old on the latest firmware. Only happened once.

03-26-2017, 07:27 AM	#1
clickclick Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: May 2016 Location: East Coast Posts: 2,903	K3II Mirror Flap So, I was merrily taking pictures in single shot mode the other day, and suddenly my mirror went nuts flapping. I'd say it lasted 2-3 seconds. By the time I took the camera away from my eye and lowered it to look at the back screen, it had stopped. I was using an M42 mount lens in Av mode, and the camera was now prompting me to input the focal length like I had just turned it on. I hit the "OK" button on the displayed focal length, and went about my way, and it did not repeat. I had a Pentax brand battery in it with at least 3/4 charge, if not more. I've got the latest firmware update, and my S/N is 6295621, so I think it is after the initial release that I believe did have some issues. I've taken upwards of 10K trouble free shots with the camera, so I'm thinking this is a one time anomaly, but I am wondering what others have experienced and any input on the situation? Thanks

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03-26-2017, 08:39 AM	#2
Alnjpn Senior Member Join Date: May 2015 Location: Osaka Posts: 158	How old is your battery? This happened to my secondhand k3 with the old battery but hasn't happened since I replaced it - fingers crossed.

03-26-2017, 09:18 AM	#3
zvon Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Photos: Gallery Posts: 143	it happened to me once, or twice. But I remember it the first time. It was when camera was 2 months in use (first firmware installed). I had sigma 17-50 mounted. Original full charge battery. And it lasted exactly how you described it. I just ignored it and continued on with the session. I do not know what to think of it.

03-26-2017, 09:23 AM	#4
jatrax Site Supporter Join Date: May 2010 Location: Washington Cascades Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,991	It happens with the k-3. Make sure your firmware is up to date. If I remember correctly there was an update that reset the camera if this happened thus stopping it. I used my k-3 for several years with around 40,000 images and had it happen twice. If it starts happening regularly you will need to send it in for service but once only I would not worry about it at all. But it is really scary when it happens.

03-26-2017, 10:26 AM	#5
screwdriver222 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Plymouth Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 139	This happened to me only once on a K-3 when I had a Sigma 10-20 attached and I had to remove the battery to stop it. It was just before the new firmware came out to reduce/stop it.

03-26-2017, 11:57 AM	#6
BigMackCam Digitiser of Film Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: North East of England Posts: 20,670	I had the mirror flap once or twice on my K-3. The first time, the mirror got stuck half way through its cycle when I took the battery out and I had to help it back into position. That was worrying The second time, if I remember correctly, was shortly after a firmware update... I got the short, rapid burst of flapping and then it sorted itself out. Two occasions out of many thousands of shots... I can live with that

03-26-2017, 12:08 PM	#7
clickclick Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: May 2016 Location: East Coast Posts: 2,903 Original Poster	Originally posted by Alnjpn How old is your battery? This happened to my secondhand k3 with the old battery but hasn't happened since I replaced it - fingers crossed. The battery is probably close to a year old. I've got three OEM Pentax batteries, and two after market ones. I rotate them following a FIFO sequence on use and charging, so I don't think it's had that many clicks on it, but I can put a mark on this one to track it so if it happens again, I can see if it's the same battery or not. This is all sounding hopeful that it's a one time thing. Thanks for all the input. Last edited by clickclick; 05-22-2017 at 08:18 AM.

03-26-2017, 12:38 PM	#8
bwgv001 Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Alabama Photos: Gallery Posts: 697	May be check this: Pentax K-3 II Service Advisory - Pentax Announcements \| PentaxForums.com

04-07-2017, 05:00 AM	#9
totsmuyco Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Iloilo City Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,276	This is an old issue with only a few reported incidents. It happened to mine once and never happened again (fingers crossed). However, it's different compared to the K-3 mirror flap issue. The service advisory referred by bwgv001 is about unresponsive on/off switch regardless of camera settings and consistent freezing when accessing the GPS menu. I don't know if this has anything to do with the K-3II's mirror flap issue. I also don't know if the latest firmware update for the PLM lenses includes correction for this error. I myself am hoping that this is nothing serious. So far, like I said, it hasn't happened again.

05-21-2017, 11:40 AM	#10
Mr Bassie Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,258	I just experienced the dreaded mirror flapping on my secondhand K3II. Is this a major problem for some people or is it typically a rare event?

05-21-2017, 01:19 PM	#11
BigMackCam Digitiser of Film Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: North East of England Posts: 20,670	Originally posted by Mr Bassie I just experienced the dreaded mirror flapping on my secondhand K3II. Is this a major problem for some people or is it typically a rare event? Typically very rare

05-21-2017, 02:45 PM	#12
Mr Bassie Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,258	Originally posted by BigMackCam Typically very rare Thank you. Since I posted that message I had the camera lock up on me. I had to remove the battery and that seemed to fix it. I wonder if I got a lemon.

05-21-2017, 10:33 PM	#13
BigMackCam Digitiser of Film Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: North East of England Posts: 20,670	Originally posted by Mr Bassie Thank you. Since I posted that message I had the camera lock up on me. I had to remove the battery and that seemed to fix it. I wonder if I got a lemon. Have you updated it to the latest firmware?

05-22-2017, 08:21 AM	#14
clickclick Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: May 2016 Location: East Coast Posts: 2,903 Original Poster	If it happens again, I'd also swap out the battery. So far, I've only had the one occurrence of flap I originally posted about.

05-29-2017, 11:47 PM	#15
tigershoot Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Ashford, Kent Posts: 63	It happened to me on holiday in New Zealand. My K3ii is about 8 months old on the latest firmware. Only happened once.