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**tmacdon** · 10-27-2017, 03:13 PM

Over the past month or so, every once in a while the F-stop place in viewer, reads "F...." (i.e.,nothing) and does not adjust.

When I remove and replace ("reboot"?) the lens,it works fine again.

Any suggestions as to what's going on ? ....and how I might fix it permanently?

FYI: I generally use only a Pentax 18-270mm lens.

**pepperberry farm** · 10-27-2017, 03:26 PM

clean the contacts on both the lens and body; usually this is an indication that the body is not reading the lens information properly...

jimr-pdx · 10-27-2017, 03:38 PM

When you move to manual lenses (k, m or m42) you will see this a lot

All modern lenses like the 18-270 will report/control the aperture .. unless something interferes with those contacts.

**tmacdon** · 10-27-2017, 06:03 PM

Originally posted by pepperberry farm

clean the contacts on both the lens and body; usually this is an indication that the body is not reading the lens information properly...

Thanks..that seems to be the answer.

How does one"clean" contacts?

**twilhelm** · 10-27-2017, 07:07 PM

Originally posted by tmacdon

Thanks..that seems to be the answer.

How does one"clean" contacts?

I use a q-tip with a bit of isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol). Just don’t saturate it, you don’t want it inside the camera.

stevebrot · 10-27-2017, 09:32 PM

Originally posted by twilhelm

I use a q-tip with a bit of isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol). Just don’t saturate it, you don’t want it inside the camera.

...or lightly buff with a clean microfibre cloth.

Steve

kkoether · 10-27-2017, 11:15 PM

Check the small phillips screws that hold the lens mount to the camera body. My DA* 60-250 has acted up on my K-3 several times and each time it was caused by those screws coming slightly loose.

**kenbrown53** · 10-28-2017, 06:50 AM

Originally posted by tmacdon

Thanks..that seems to be the answer.

How does one"clean" contacts?

A very simple way to clean the contacts is to tear off a piece of paper (as used for general printing) and use this to buff the contacts on both the camera and lens. You'll be surprised by the colour of the paper after cleaning!

**tmacdon** · 10-28-2017, 10:18 AM

I've now cleaned the contacts as suggested..and will take the K-3 out for a test, before traveling overseas soon.

Thanks to all of you!

I had visions of a major repair, and related costs.

I really like the K-3, even though I all of my similarly "elder" friends
are looking for much smaller and lighter equipment..

10-27-2017, 03:13 PM	#1
tmacdon Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Cambridge, MA Posts: 143	F... ? K-3 Over the past month or so, every once in a while the F-stop place in viewer, reads "F...." (i.e.,nothing) and does not adjust. When I remove and replace ("reboot"?) the lens,it works fine again. Any suggestions as to what's going on ? ....and how I might fix it permanently? FYI: I generally use only a Pentax 18-270mm lens.

10-28-2017, 10:18 AM	#9
tmacdon Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Cambridge, MA Posts: 143 Original Poster	Thanks .. I've now cleaned the contacts as suggested..and will take the K-3 out for a test, before traveling overseas soon. Thanks to all of you! I had visions of a major repair, and related costs. I really like the K-3, even though I all of my similarly "elder" friends are looking for much smaller and lighter equipment..

10-27-2017, 03:26 PM	#2
pepperberry farm amateur dirt farmer Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: probably out in a field somewhere... Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 41,781	clean the contacts on both the lens and body; usually this is an indication that the body is not reading the lens information properly...

10-27-2017, 03:38 PM	#3
jimr-pdx Pentaxian Join Date: May 2010 Location: now 1 hour north of PDX Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,897	When you move to manual lenses (k, m or m42) you will see this a lot All modern lenses like the 18-270 will report/control the aperture .. unless something interferes with those contacts.

10-27-2017, 06:03 PM	#4
tmacdon Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Cambridge, MA Posts: 143 Original Poster	Originally posted by pepperberry farm clean the contacts on both the lens and body; usually this is an indication that the body is not reading the lens information properly... Thanks..that seems to be the answer. How does one"clean" contacts?

10-27-2017, 07:07 PM	#5
twilhelm Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Florida Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,369	Originally posted by tmacdon Thanks..that seems to be the answer. How does one"clean" contacts? I use a q-tip with a bit of isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol). Just don’t saturate it, you don’t want it inside the camera.

10-27-2017, 09:32 PM	#6
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by twilhelm I use a q-tip with a bit of isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol). Just don’t saturate it, you don’t want it inside the camera. ...or lightly buff with a clean microfibre cloth. Steve

10-27-2017, 11:15 PM	#7
kkoether Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Huber Heights, OH, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 731	Check the small phillips screws that hold the lens mount to the camera body. My DA* 60-250 has acted up on my K-3 several times and each time it was caused by those screws coming slightly loose.

10-28-2017, 06:50 AM	#8
kenbrown53 Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Perth, Western Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 37	Originally posted by tmacdon Thanks..that seems to be the answer. How does one"clean" contacts? A very simple way to clean the contacts is to tear off a piece of paper (as used for general printing) and use this to buff the contacts on both the camera and lens. You'll be surprised by the colour of the paper after cleaning!

F... ? K-3

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