Pentax K-3 Bizarre 'frying' noise

DoctorX · 07-07-2014, 04:39 AM

I have the same noise on my k-3. After shooting a couple thousand pics it hasn't gotten better or worse so I've decided to pretend it's not there. It's easy to hear though so it would be interesting for other k-3 owners to listen for it.

PiDicus Rex · 07-07-2014, 05:58 AM

Can't be SR in 'Video' mode, as the video SR on the K3 is software based, not Sensor Shift.

You may hear it in live view of Photo modes.

I hear the 'frying' sound with an ear to the body of my K-01, but it's definitely not the SR, just normal operation.
I think it's from one of the on-board motors, probably the one for the Iris.

awaldram · 07-07-2014, 06:17 AM

Originally posted by PiDicus Rex

Can't be SR in 'Video' mode, as the video SR on the K3 is software based, not Sensor Shift.
.

The sensor still needs lifting to it's 'active' position

Its not 'SR' you hear but the electro magnet 'hum' this occurs whenever the sensor is centralized with the aperture (i.e shutter open)

wahee · 07-07-2014, 07:29 AM

hi all

many thanks for the info and experiences. Clifton Cameras, the retailer who sold me the camera sent it back to Pentax. It may take 4 weeks for them to look at it and return it to me.
Pentax have said, upon the description I have given them that the noise is normal and is not something to be concerned about. I shall post up their report once received.

The noise in not uniform like a servo/motor which although strange would not I guess be that unusual

They are going to check the camera over though to be sure.

I am happy enough if all K-3's make this noise. If the advanced features of the camera require that a certain level of audible noise be produced, it just seems rather loud and err.. erratic
I am delighted with the camera, at least for still imaging. It is a quantum shift from my old Nikon D5000. Video seem pretty decent but i'm not so worried about this as I have an HDV camera for this.

Last edited by wahee; 07-07-2014 at 07:44 AM.

stevebrot · 07-07-2014, 07:47 AM

Originally posted by wahee

I can hear it from about 3 feet away from the camera.

My K-3 makes a frying noise in live view, but it is only audible at a few inches distance. I think I want your ears.

Steve

wahee · 07-07-2014, 07:54 AM

Originally posted by stevebrot

My K-3 makes a frying noise in live view, but it is only audible at a few inches distance. I think I want your ears.

Steve

hehe, maybe i'm a bit over sensitive as I work in the audio field and take an instant dislike to earth hums, low end noise and general audio gremlins.

PiDicus Rex · 07-07-2014, 10:01 AM

Originally posted by awaldram

The sensor still needs lifting to it's 'active' position

If that's correct, it makes a joke of all the reasons for sensor shift to be disabled in video mode.

Originally posted by wahee

take an instant dislike to earth hums, low end noise and general audio gremlins

Ditto, but add video flickers, 15625 scream in CRT-TVs, interference patterns between fluro tubes and LCD screens,...
It gets to the point where you see something wrong in lighting or video images that others just don't see, or hear.

stevebrot · 07-07-2014, 11:14 AM

Originally posted by PiDicus Rex

It gets to the point where you see something wrong in lighting or video images that others just don't see, or hear.

Is there something wrong with seeing or hearing things that others don't? I get some of my best ideas from those sources.

Steve

mamethot · 07-07-2014, 11:55 AM

Is this (the noise between shutter noise) what you were hearing?

You Tube

Steve.Ledger · 07-07-2014, 04:08 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by PiDicus Rex

If that's correct, it makes a joke of all the reasons for sensor shift to be disabled in video mode.

It's correct, and so are you.

Just set the camera mode dial to video mode while switched off, remove the lens and look inside as you switch it on.
You'll see the shutter curtains open and the sensor shift into place.

I used the K-01 for this test

rfg · 07-08-2014, 11:16 PM

Originally posted by PiDicus Rex

If that's correct, it makes a joke of all the reasons for sensor shift to be disabled in video mode.

I think the advice is to disable shake reduction, not "sensor shift", and that is because it is implemented digitally, not by sensor shift, when in video mode and causes ugly artefacts.

Steve.Ledger · 07-09-2014, 04:09 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by rfg

I think the advice is to disable shake reduction, not "sensor shift", and that is because it is implemented digitally, not by sensor shift, when in video mode and causes ugly artefacts.

I think you may have missed the point of p'rex's comment

awaldram · 07-09-2014, 07:12 AM

Originally posted by Steve.Ledger

I think you may have missed the point of p'rex's comment

Inadvertently he's hit the nail on the head

Mechanical SR in video mode is bad because the sensor movement cannot be synced with shutter causing ugly rips.

Using software SR allows video and movement to be synced and therfore cleaner video.

Don't who thought up the 'SR noise' some Pentax PR/sales monkey or some web 'expert' who didn't understand 'cleaner' was refering to video not sound.

Actually noise cancelling the SR is trvial electronic wise being a known frequency you can either use a notch filter or just invert and add.

PiDicus Rex · 07-09-2014, 10:21 AM

And yet, the K5IIs doesn't suffer from any such artifacts, otherwise the owners would have reported such.

The cycle speed of the sensor movement has been reported at 500 Hz, the readout from the sensor for video occurs every 1/25th of a second (25 Hz) for PAL and 1/30th of a second (30Hz) for NTSC.
The sensor needs to move that fast for stills, video is easy for it.

Steve.Ledger · 07-09-2014, 01:51 PM

Originally posted by awaldram

Inadvertently he's hit the nail on the head

Mechanical SR in video mode is bad because the sensor movement cannot be synced with shutter causing ugly rips.

Using software SR allows video and movement to be synced and therfore cleaner video.

This is not supported by the evidence.
Similarly the Olympus mechanical SR is superior to digital SR.
There are many examples of how Pentaxs' Movie SR destroys footage.

In video mode, the 'shutter' is electronic.

07-09-2014, 10:21 AM	#29
PiDicus Rex Veteran Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 1,381	And yet, the K5IIs doesn't suffer from any such artifacts, otherwise the owners would have reported such. The cycle speed of the sensor movement has been reported at 500 Hz, the readout from the sensor for video occurs every 1/25th of a second (25 Hz) for PAL and 1/30th of a second (30Hz) for NTSC. The sensor needs to move that fast for stills, video is easy for it. Last edited by PiDicus Rex; 07-09-2014 at 10:27 AM.

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07-07-2014, 04:39 AM	#16
DoctorX Forum Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: Cincinnati Posts: 65	I have the same noise on my k-3. After shooting a couple thousand pics it hasn't gotten better or worse so I've decided to pretend it's not there. It's easy to hear though so it would be interesting for other k-3 owners to listen for it.

07-07-2014, 05:58 AM	#17
PiDicus Rex Veteran Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 1,381	Can't be SR in 'Video' mode, as the video SR on the K3 is software based, not Sensor Shift. You may hear it in live view of Photo modes. I hear the 'frying' sound with an ear to the body of my K-01, but it's definitely not the SR, just normal operation. I think it's from one of the on-board motors, probably the one for the Iris.

07-07-2014, 06:17 AM	#18
awaldram Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Hampshire Photos: Gallery Posts: 732	Originally posted by PiDicus Rex Can't be SR in 'Video' mode, as the video SR on the K3 is software based, not Sensor Shift. . The sensor still needs lifting to it's 'active' position Its not 'SR' you hear but the electro magnet 'hum' this occurs whenever the sensor is centralized with the aperture (i.e shutter open)

07-07-2014, 07:29 AM	#19
wahee Junior Member Join Date: May 2014 Photos: Albums Posts: 29 Original Poster	hi all many thanks for the info and experiences. Clifton Cameras, the retailer who sold me the camera sent it back to Pentax. It may take 4 weeks for them to look at it and return it to me. Pentax have said, upon the description I have given them that the noise is normal and is not something to be concerned about. I shall post up their report once received. The noise in not uniform like a servo/motor which although strange would not I guess be that unusual They are going to check the camera over though to be sure. I am happy enough if all K-3's make this noise. If the advanced features of the camera require that a certain level of audible noise be produced, it just seems rather loud and err.. erratic I am delighted with the camera, at least for still imaging. It is a quantum shift from my old Nikon D5000. Video seem pretty decent but i'm not so worried about this as I have an HDV camera for this. Last edited by wahee; 07-07-2014 at 07:44 AM.

07-07-2014, 07:47 AM	#20
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by wahee I can hear it from about 3 feet away from the camera. My K-3 makes a frying noise in live view, but it is only audible at a few inches distance. I think I want your ears. Steve

07-07-2014, 07:54 AM	#21
wahee Junior Member Join Date: May 2014 Photos: Albums Posts: 29 Original Poster	Originally posted by stevebrot My K-3 makes a frying noise in live view, but it is only audible at a few inches distance. I think I want your ears. Steve hehe, maybe i'm a bit over sensitive as I work in the audio field and take an instant dislike to earth hums, low end noise and general audio gremlins.

07-07-2014, 10:01 AM	#22
PiDicus Rex Veteran Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 1,381	Originally posted by awaldram The sensor still needs lifting to it's 'active' position If that's correct, it makes a joke of all the reasons for sensor shift to be disabled in video mode. Originally posted by wahee take an instant dislike to earth hums, low end noise and general audio gremlins Ditto, but add video flickers, 15625 scream in CRT-TVs, interference patterns between fluro tubes and LCD screens,... It gets to the point where you see something wrong in lighting or video images that others just don't see, or hear.

07-07-2014, 11:14 AM	#23
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by PiDicus Rex It gets to the point where you see something wrong in lighting or video images that others just don't see, or hear. Is there something wrong with seeing or hearing things that others don't? I get some of my best ideas from those sources. Steve

07-07-2014, 04:08 PM - 1 Like	#25
Steve.Ledger Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Far North Qld Posts: 3,301	Originally posted by PiDicus Rex If that's correct, it makes a joke of all the reasons for sensor shift to be disabled in video mode. It's correct, and so are you. Just set the camera mode dial to video mode while switched off, remove the lens and look inside as you switch it on. You'll see the shutter curtains open and the sensor shift into place. I used the K-01 for this test

07-08-2014, 11:16 PM	#26
rfg Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Sydney Posts: 139	Originally posted by PiDicus Rex If that's correct, it makes a joke of all the reasons for sensor shift to be disabled in video mode. I think the advice is to disable shake reduction, not "sensor shift", and that is because it is implemented digitally, not by sensor shift, when in video mode and causes ugly artefacts.

07-09-2014, 04:09 AM - 1 Like	#27
Steve.Ledger Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Far North Qld Posts: 3,301	Originally posted by rfg I think the advice is to disable shake reduction, not "sensor shift", and that is because it is implemented digitally, not by sensor shift, when in video mode and causes ugly artefacts. I think you may have missed the point of p'rex's comment

07-09-2014, 07:12 AM	#28
awaldram Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Hampshire Photos: Gallery Posts: 732	Originally posted by Steve.Ledger I think you may have missed the point of p'rex's comment Inadvertently he's hit the nail on the head Mechanical SR in video mode is bad because the sensor movement cannot be synced with shutter causing ugly rips. Using software SR allows video and movement to be synced and therfore cleaner video. Don't who thought up the 'SR noise' some Pentax PR/sales monkey or some web 'expert' who didn't understand 'cleaner' was refering to video not sound. Actually noise cancelling the SR is trvial electronic wise being a known frequency you can either use a notch filter or just invert and add.

07-09-2014, 01:51 PM	#30
Steve.Ledger Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Far North Qld Posts: 3,301	Originally posted by awaldram Inadvertently he's hit the nail on the head Mechanical SR in video mode is bad because the sensor movement cannot be synced with shutter causing ugly rips. Using software SR allows video and movement to be synced and therfore cleaner video. This is not supported by the evidence. Similarly the Olympus mechanical SR is superior to digital SR. There are many examples of how Pentaxs' Movie SR destroys footage. In video mode, the 'shutter' is electronic.