Tight knob issue

jcdoss · 08-31-2020, 08:56 AM

Now that the chuckling has faded a little... I have an issue on my silver K-1mII with the multipurpose knob on the top of the camera. I'm talking about the one that's not labeled on the top corner of the camera that changes settings programmed by the other one, sitting slightly higher labeled with ISO, CL/CH, etc. The review on this site calls it the Third Control Wheel. On my black camera, I can spin the knob easily with one finger with eye in the viewfinder. This makes it easy to adjust ISO on the fly while shooting. The one on the silver camera is far tighter, and requires two fingers to grip and adjust. Any suggestions on a DIY way to loosen that knob up a little short of sending in for repair (which I am not going to do)?

Cheers to you all!

stevebrot · 08-31-2020, 09:49 AM - **2 Likes**

Originally posted by jcdoss

The one on the silver camera is far tighter, and requires two fingers to grip and adjust. Any suggestions on a DIY way to loosen that knob up a little short of sending in for repair (which I am not going to do)?

The sarcastic answer would be to play with the knob on the silver camera until it breaks. The less sarcastic answer is that the knob is supposed to require two fingers and that it is the black camera that has the "dreaded loose knob issue". A seriously sketchy suggestion might include squirting WD-40 into the base of the knob on the silver camera and letting it sit overnight to soak in*

.

All joking aside, including stuff about "knob" vs. "dial", the first thing that comes to my mind is to live with it.

Steve

(...not very helpful today...)

* Suggested in jest ONLY!!! WD-40 is not something to use on one's cameras and definitely not as I described above!

jcdoss · 08-31-2020, 09:53 AM

I guess I like loose knobs, then. Live with it I shall. Thanks for your answer, Steve!

Not a Number · 08-31-2020, 01:12 PM - **1 Like**

I would hazard to guess it may be the weather seal gasket on the dial. Either the black K-1's seal is dried out, crumbled to bits, just loose, or is normal and the silver K-1 gasket is normal or sticky or any combination of them all.

I don't know how the rubber (or whatever) of the gaskets reacts to WD-40 but perhaps a silicone O-ring grease would be better. The difficult part would be working it on to the gasket without taking the top plate off and disassembling the dials/knobs.

MJKoski · 09-01-2020, 04:32 AM - **1 Like**

Select a good setting with two fingers and never change it! I picked ISO so I have three dials for the major functions - shutter speed, aperture and ISO.

jcdoss · 09-01-2020, 06:52 AM

Originally posted by MJKoski

Select a good setting with two fingers and never change it! I picked ISO so I have three dials for the major functions - shutter speed, aperture and ISO.

That's what I do too. I've had it off ISO maybe twice, and it didn't feel natural. I keep it on ISO all the time.

Sykil · 09-01-2020, 07:12 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by jcdoss

That's what I do too. I've had it off ISO maybe twice, and it didn't feel natural. I keep it on ISO all the time.

I've had a used K-1 a little more than a month now and I only move it from ISO to turn wifi on.

The dial is nice and clicky, so it didn't take too long to learn how to switch without looking. Exposure compensation could be convenient too, especially since it's right next to ISO, but there's already a reasonably convenient button on the camera for that...

But back to OP's question, my "third control wheel" is adjustable with just a thumb and a good bit of pressure, but it is rather stiff and more comfortable to adjust with two fingers, so I think Steve is right that your black one is probably "broken" (which is only a problem insomuch as it bothers you) and the silver is working as intended.

Last edited by Sykil; 09-01-2020 at 07:18 AM.

08-31-2020, 08:56 AM	#1
jcdoss Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Ingelheim am Rhein, Germany Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,795	Tight knob issue Now that the chuckling has faded a little... I have an issue on my silver K-1mII with the multipurpose knob on the top of the camera. I'm talking about the one that's not labeled on the top corner of the camera that changes settings programmed by the other one, sitting slightly higher labeled with ISO, CL/CH, etc. The review on this site calls it the Third Control Wheel. On my black camera, I can spin the knob easily with one finger with eye in the viewfinder. This makes it easy to adjust ISO on the fly while shooting. The one on the silver camera is far tighter, and requires two fingers to grip and adjust. Any suggestions on a DIY way to loosen that knob up a little short of sending in for repair (which I am not going to do)? Cheers to you all!

08-31-2020, 09:49 AM - 2 Likes	#2
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by jcdoss The one on the silver camera is far tighter, and requires two fingers to grip and adjust. Any suggestions on a DIY way to loosen that knob up a little short of sending in for repair (which I am not going to do)? The sarcastic answer would be to play with the knob on the silver camera until it breaks. The less sarcastic answer is that the knob is supposed to require two fingers and that it is the black camera that has the "dreaded loose knob issue". A seriously sketchy suggestion might include squirting WD-40 into the base of the knob on the silver camera and letting it sit overnight to soak in* . All joking aside, including stuff about "knob" vs. "dial", the first thing that comes to my mind is to live with it. Steve (...not very helpful today...) * Suggested in jest ONLY!!! WD-40 is not something to use on one's cameras and definitely not as I described above! Last edited by stevebrot; 08-31-2020 at 01:33 PM. Reason: Added strong disclaimer

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08-31-2020, 09:53 AM	#3
jcdoss Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Ingelheim am Rhein, Germany Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,795 Original Poster	I guess I like loose knobs, then. Live with it I shall. Thanks for your answer, Steve!

08-31-2020, 01:12 PM - 1 Like	#4
Not a Number Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Venice, CA Posts: 10,526	I would hazard to guess it may be the weather seal gasket on the dial. Either the black K-1's seal is dried out, crumbled to bits, just loose, or is normal and the silver K-1 gasket is normal or sticky or any combination of them all. I don't know how the rubber (or whatever) of the gaskets reacts to WD-40 but perhaps a silicone O-ring grease would be better. The difficult part would be working it on to the gasket without taking the top plate off and disassembling the dials/knobs.

09-01-2020, 04:32 AM - 1 Like	#5
MJKoski Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Posts: 1,784	Select a good setting with two fingers and never change it! I picked ISO so I have three dials for the major functions - shutter speed, aperture and ISO.

09-01-2020, 06:52 AM	#6
jcdoss Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Ingelheim am Rhein, Germany Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,795 Original Poster	Originally posted by MJKoski Select a good setting with two fingers and never change it! I picked ISO so I have three dials for the major functions - shutter speed, aperture and ISO. That's what I do too. I've had it off ISO maybe twice, and it didn't feel natural. I keep it on ISO all the time.

09-01-2020, 07:12 AM - 1 Like	#7
Sykil Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2020 Location: Austin Posts: 74	Originally posted by jcdoss That's what I do too. I've had it off ISO maybe twice, and it didn't feel natural. I keep it on ISO all the time. I've had a used K-1 a little more than a month now and I only move it from ISO to turn wifi on. The dial is nice and clicky, so it didn't take too long to learn how to switch without looking. Exposure compensation could be convenient too, especially since it's right next to ISO, but there's already a reasonably convenient button on the camera for that... But back to OP's question, my "third control wheel" is adjustable with just a thumb and a good bit of pressure, but it is rather stiff and more comfortable to adjust with two fingers, so I think Steve is right that your black one is probably "broken" (which is only a problem insomuch as it bothers you) and the silver is working as intended. Last edited by Sykil; 09-01-2020 at 07:18 AM.