Originally posted by pinbalwyz You can't fix stupid. It's stupid to buy a known problem put out by Pentax: Defective Camera bodies with machine gun mirror chatter. It tears up the innards and baffles. There are other problems associated with said bodies too like failure to record a picture on one of the two SD cards, etc. I read on one post Pentax had recalled a range of serial #'s associated with this problem...
...I will not ever purchase another Pentax if these kinds of manufacturing defects persist and the company fails to resolve them with its customers.
These days, I accept that few products (if any) are perfect. They're all developed within time and cost constraints, and design flaws occur as a direct result. If a product largely satisfies my requirements and expectations, I can live with the problems. It's quite liberating when you reach a point of acceptance that nothing's perfect!
I just read through your forum posts since joining earlier last year, and all of them - except for one - was about this mirror issue. You seem quite dissatisfied with Ricoh / Pentax, and the mirror flop problem appears to be getting in the way of your enjoyment, and that's no fun. While I don't wish to see anyone move away from Pentax - you might be happier with another brand. They all have problems, of course, but you may find their problems bother you less.
I've had one mirror flop instance that I can remember, and it left the mirror stuck. But, I got it moving again, and since I upgraded the firmware, I've yet to experience it again. If it happens, I'll sort it out - and if I can't, I'll get it fixed. I'm pretty relaxed about it. A professional might not be so relaxed, for good reason, but such professionals would typically carry a back-up.
Good luck with your K3 - I hope you get it fixed to your satisfaction, or find a brand you're happy with.