Thanks to everyone who has reported their issue so far. It really is helpful.
Just an update...
I have not heard back from the local Pentax Rep I had been dealing with, in over four emails now (over the course of a month). I think he finally grew tired of dealing with me. I'm trying to determine what to do with the K5-II loaner he gave me months ago, but he has yet to advise. I don't expect much information from him in regards to the mirror-flapping issue itself, since he has more to do with sales and interfacing with the authorized retailers than technical issues.
The last correspondence I had with the Specialist in Colorado indicated only this:
"We haven't heard anything yet. Any solution would of course have to be engineered and tested before a solution can be offered."
That was all the email said. Nothing more. That was on April 7th.
Ricoh seems to have changed its contact form on its website. Along with all the information I was sending to the Specialist, I had also sent several reports through their website in the past, but never heard anything back. Yesterday, when I visited the form it looked different to what I had remembered, so I filled it out again, along with a link to this thread. Here is the correspondence that has transpired since then.
I am using first initials instead of names, just to protect the privacy of the employees.
- - - - -
Quote: Hi R,
I had already been in touch with M in Colorado and sent him a lot of information over the course of several months about my experiences.
The link I sent you (at the bottom of this email) isn't just people on a forum complaining, but information I've collected from other users about the mirror-flap issue.
Including my own report there, many of them share serial numbers, drive mode, exposure mode, shutter number, environmental conditions, etc. With all those reports of this issue from other K3 users, there should be more information than you could want inside that link. I had sent this link to M as well.
Here's the link again, for your convenience:
https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/172-pentax-k-3/254464-k3-crazy-mirror-sic...ours-here.html
M did tell me that the information had been submitted to Japan. I am no longer a K3 owner myself -- I had this issue over the course of five months through two K3 bodies. After the second body also had the issue, and after not being able to figure out what was causing it, I returned the second K3 body and bought two K5-IIs bodies instead... which have proven a lot more reliable. No issues to date.
Though I'm not a K3 owner anymore, I still hope this issue gets resolved as I'd like to be able to buy Pentax/Ricoh bodies with confidence in the future, and I would love to be a K3 owner again... but only if the issue gets fixed. I need my camera bodies to be reliable. I think 97 reports of this issue between March 12th and now is quite substantial, and one Pentax should respond to.
Thanks for your time.
Quote: Dear Ms. Medina,
Thank you for contacting RICOH.
The rapid mirror activation issue in the K-3 has been submitted to RICOH in Japan for review and evaluation. It may assist the product developers in their evaluation if you c an provide a few details such as what shooting mode you are using when the issue occurs, the drive mode (single, continuous, time-lapse), if a battery grip is installed, and what the shooting conditions are when the malfunction occurs (indoors or out, temperature, dry or raining, etc.).
We appreciate you taking the time to report this problem, which is currently being tested and reviewed, with a goal of identifying a possible cause and developing a solution.
If you are in need of further assistance, please respond to this email or call our technical support center at 800-877-0155.
Sincerely,
R
RICOH IMAGING AMERICAS CORPORATION
Quote: That's it for now. Take all the information as you see fit. When it was just me reporting the issue, I had my doubts whether Japan was really investigating the issue or not, but I do think it's a strong possibility they are taking it a little more seriously now.
I would suggest that anyone who has had the issue, who feels so inclined,
use the web form to report it as well. Be sure to include details and link to this thread as well, telling them others have had the issue too. The more reports they get directly, the better. It doesn't mean you'll have to send your camera in, it just means you are letting them know you had the problem.
Link to form:
http://ricohwebform.tosystems.com
If I hear anything, I will let you know. If anyone else hears anything different, feel free to contact me or post it here -- but please don't post that you just heard from a guy who heard from a guy... LOL - Direct correspondence with Pentax/Ricoh only please
Thanks again all...