Pentax KS-1 aperture issue?

tortie · 08-31-2019, 07:15 AM

Unable to take pics thru viewfinder but ok thru live view most of the time. Same with all new lenses but works perfectly with very old lenses that don't have contacts. If take pics thru viewfinder they are virtually solid black.
If this is an aperture motor issue as previously reported by several users is it your experience that this would be a costly repair by Pentax?
My camera was purchased in 2015 and worked perfectly until about 4 months ago.
Your advice would be appreciated.
Many thanks
Tortie

**pepperberry farm** · 08-31-2019, 08:56 AM

sounds like your aperture block has failed... a quick search here on the forum will give you multiple options on repair...

tortie · 08-31-2019, 11:00 PM

Originally posted by pepperberry farm

sounds like your aperture block has failed... a quick search here on the forum will give you multiple options on repair...

Thanks for your reply. Looks like a common problem with Pentax that seems to have started before the KS1 was brought out. As to the cost to repair that seems to differ enormously.

slartibartfast01 · 09-01-2019, 02:35 AM

Originally posted by pepperberry farm

sounds like your aperture block has failed... a quick search here on the forum will give you multiple options on repair...

Would live view work if the aperture block had failed?

tortie · 09-03-2019, 08:35 AM

Originally posted by slartibartfast01

Would live view work if the aperture block had failed?

Hello. live view works perfectly fine veiw finder every thing is black

reh321 · 09-05-2019, 09:08 AM

Originally posted by tortie

Hello. live view works perfectly fine veiw finder every thing is black

We have had occasional reports like this. I had thought it was a separate metering issue, but a K-70 user sent his in to Pentax, who replaced the solenoid and a separate resistor
New K-70 - Metering issues between Live View and OVF - PentaxForums.com
so now I don't know what to think.

**photogem** · 09-09-2019, 09:58 AM

Originally posted by tortie

Hello. Live view works perfectly fine; view finder every thing is black

Those are the very typical signs for a bad solenoid!
Nothing else, very typical!

If you can, repair it using the manual
which I wrote.

08-31-2019, 07:15 AM	#1
tortie New Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Normandy, France Posts: 8	Pentax KS-1 aperture issue? Unable to take pics thru viewfinder but ok thru live view most of the time. Same with all new lenses but works perfectly with very old lenses that don't have contacts. If take pics thru viewfinder they are virtually solid black. If this is an aperture motor issue as previously reported by several users is it your experience that this would be a costly repair by Pentax? My camera was purchased in 2015 and worked perfectly until about 4 months ago. Your advice would be appreciated. Many thanks Tortie

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08-31-2019, 08:56 AM	#2
pepperberry farm amateur dirt farmer Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: probably out in a field somewhere... Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 41,765	sounds like your aperture block has failed... a quick search here on the forum will give you multiple options on repair...

08-31-2019, 11:00 PM	#3
tortie New Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Normandy, France Posts: 8 Original Poster	Originally posted by pepperberry farm sounds like your aperture block has failed... a quick search here on the forum will give you multiple options on repair... Thanks for your reply. Looks like a common problem with Pentax that seems to have started before the KS1 was brought out. As to the cost to repair that seems to differ enormously.

09-01-2019, 02:35 AM	#4
slartibartfast01 Pentaxian Join Date: May 2015 Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,931	Originally posted by pepperberry farm sounds like your aperture block has failed... a quick search here on the forum will give you multiple options on repair... Would live view work if the aperture block had failed?

09-03-2019, 08:35 AM	#5
tortie New Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Normandy, France Posts: 8 Original Poster	Originally posted by slartibartfast01 Would live view work if the aperture block had failed? Hello. live view works perfectly fine veiw finder every thing is black

09-05-2019, 09:08 AM	#6
reh321 Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: South Bend, IN, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,184	Originally posted by tortie Hello. live view works perfectly fine veiw finder every thing is black We have had occasional reports like this. I had thought it was a separate metering issue, but a K-70 user sent his in to Pentax, who replaced the solenoid and a separate resistor New K-70 - Metering issues between Live View and OVF - PentaxForums.com so now I don't know what to think.

09-09-2019, 09:58 AM	#7
photogem Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 3,522	Originally posted by tortie Hello. Live view works perfectly fine; view finder every thing is black Those are the very typical signs for a bad solenoid! Nothing else, very typical! If you can, repair it using the manual which I wrote.