K-50 - suddenly totally dark frames :(

piontec · 07-14-2017, 12:00 PM

Hi all,
I have a problem with my K-50. A few days ago it worked perfectly fine. Since then, it was lying gently in my photo bag. When I took it yesterday and shoot a photo, it came totally dark. Not 100% black, some pixels were shown as above black, but completely dark, useless and heavily underexposed. To my eye, it looked like a cap was on the lens (no, it wasn't). I checked the settings, everything seemed OK, but each frame was completely dark. Checked with my Metz 48 flash - the same. In Ap mode, the light meter was showing correct exposure, but the frame was nearly completely black. At first, I thought it's the light meter, but then I compared K-50 to Lumix G6 I had access to. I set the same shutter, ISO and aperture on both of them. The shot out of G6 was perfectly exposed, while out of K-50 - the same nearly 100% black frame. I changed the glass - no difference. I reset all the settings to factory settings - still the same. The only difference is when LV mode is used to shoot a frame - it's still underexposed, but at least something's visible.

Any ideas what's wrong? Is my K-50 dead

?

**jatrax** · 07-14-2017, 12:10 PM

Search this forum for "aperture block" and you will find a lot of information on an issue that might be the problem.

CarlJF · 07-14-2017, 12:11 PM

Do a search for "Aperture block failure". There are many threads discussing the issue...

piontec · 07-14-2017, 12:14 PM

OK, I will reply to my own question:
Dark exposure problems on K-30 or K-50? Read me first! - PentaxForums.com
I haven't heard about the problem before

Now I have it :/

**Dmoran** · 07-14-2017, 02:18 PM

I have a K500 (non weather sealed version of K50). I started to experience this and I do the following. Use the AA adapter and load it with Eneloop rechargeables. Before I start a shoot, I switch to JPEG and put it in high frame rate. Fire off 10-20 shots with the aperture wide open.Towards the end of the burst, it will operate correctly. The camera is fine for the rest of the day. I may be lucky in that I can kick it out of the stuck aperture block condition.

cainmh · 07-28-2017, 04:48 PM

Originally posted by piontec

Hi all,
I have a problem with my K-50. A few days ago it worked perfectly fine. Since then, it was lying gently in my photo bag. When I took it yesterday and shoot a photo, it came totally dark. Not 100% black, some pixels were shown as above black, but completely dark, useless and heavily underexposed. To my eye, it looked like a cap was on the lens (no, it wasn't). I checked the settings, everything seemed OK, but each frame was completely dark. Checked with my Metz 48 flash - the same. In Ap mode, the light meter was showing correct exposure, but the frame was nearly completely black. At first, I thought it's the light meter, but then I compared K-50 to Lumix G6 I had access to. I set the same shutter, ISO and aperture on both of them. The shot out of G6 was perfectly exposed, while out of K-50 - the same nearly 100% black frame. I changed the glass - no difference. I reset all the settings to factory settings - still the same. The only difference is when LV mode is used to shoot a frame - it's still underexposed, but at least something's visible.

Any ideas what's wrong? Is my K-50 dead

?

I just started having the identical problem with my K-S2. OK exposures in live view but severely underexposed while looking through the viewfinder. I can get some reasonable exposures with +5 stops. As far as it will go.

07-14-2017, 12:00 PM	#1
piontec New Member Join Date: Jul 2017 Posts: 2	K-50 - suddenly totally dark frames :( Hi all, I have a problem with my K-50. A few days ago it worked perfectly fine. Since then, it was lying gently in my photo bag. When I took it yesterday and shoot a photo, it came totally dark. Not 100% black, some pixels were shown as above black, but completely dark, useless and heavily underexposed. To my eye, it looked like a cap was on the lens (no, it wasn't). I checked the settings, everything seemed OK, but each frame was completely dark. Checked with my Metz 48 flash - the same. In Ap mode, the light meter was showing correct exposure, but the frame was nearly completely black. At first, I thought it's the light meter, but then I compared K-50 to Lumix G6 I had access to. I set the same shutter, ISO and aperture on both of them. The shot out of G6 was perfectly exposed, while out of K-50 - the same nearly 100% black frame. I changed the glass - no difference. I reset all the settings to factory settings - still the same. The only difference is when LV mode is used to shoot a frame - it's still underexposed, but at least something's visible. Any ideas what's wrong? Is my K-50 dead ?

07-14-2017, 02:18 PM	#5
Dmoran Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 19	Aperture Block I have a K500 (non weather sealed version of K50). I started to experience this and I do the following. Use the AA adapter and load it with Eneloop rechargeables. Before I start a shoot, I switch to JPEG and put it in high frame rate. Fire off 10-20 shots with the aperture wide open.Towards the end of the burst, it will operate correctly. The camera is fine for the rest of the day. I may be lucky in that I can kick it out of the stuck aperture block condition.

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07-14-2017, 12:10 PM	#2
jatrax Site Supporter Join Date: May 2010 Location: Oregon Cascades Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,780	Search this forum for "aperture block" and you will find a lot of information on an issue that might be the problem.

07-14-2017, 12:11 PM	#3
CarlJF Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Quebec City Posts: 1,058	Do a search for "Aperture block failure". There are many threads discussing the issue...

07-14-2017, 12:14 PM	#4
piontec New Member Join Date: Jul 2017 Posts: 2 Original Poster	OK, I will reply to my own question: Dark exposure problems on K-30 or K-50? Read me first! - PentaxForums.com I haven't heard about the problem before Now I have it :/

07-28-2017, 04:48 PM	#6
cainmh Junior Member Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 29	Originally posted by piontec Hi all, I have a problem with my K-50. A few days ago it worked perfectly fine. Since then, it was lying gently in my photo bag. When I took it yesterday and shoot a photo, it came totally dark. Not 100% black, some pixels were shown as above black, but completely dark, useless and heavily underexposed. To my eye, it looked like a cap was on the lens (no, it wasn't). I checked the settings, everything seemed OK, but each frame was completely dark. Checked with my Metz 48 flash - the same. In Ap mode, the light meter was showing correct exposure, but the frame was nearly completely black. At first, I thought it's the light meter, but then I compared K-50 to Lumix G6 I had access to. I set the same shutter, ISO and aperture on both of them. The shot out of G6 was perfectly exposed, while out of K-50 - the same nearly 100% black frame. I changed the glass - no difference. I reset all the settings to factory settings - still the same. The only difference is when LV mode is used to shoot a frame - it's still underexposed, but at least something's visible. Any ideas what's wrong? Is my K-50 dead ? I just started having the identical problem with my K-S2. OK exposures in live view but severely underexposed while looking through the viewfinder. I can get some reasonable exposures with +5 stops. As far as it will go.