K3 MK3 status screen flickers and goes black

**Perfessor5646** · 10-18-2022, 09:26 AM

After activating the shutter, The status screen on on of my K3-3s will flicker on and off for second or two then go black. When I go to preview the shot just taken it sometimes displays the image for a second, reverts back to status screen then goes black again. The camera does not power off and in Live View the screen functions normally. In fact when it does go back I can put it in Live View mode and switch back to OV mode and things will function normally until I trip the shutter again.

The camera is out of warranty and using FW v1.0.

**UncleVanya** · 10-18-2022, 09:34 AM

Sounds like your status screen is set to off. On the k3 and KP pressing info a couple of times gives the option to turn status screw off (or on).

gatorguy · 10-18-2022, 09:40 AM - **1 Like**

Make sure there's no piece of lint or anything else in the way of the eye-sensor under the eyepiece. Probably not it, but worth checking.

EDIT; Is there a reason you've been avoiding firmware updates? They have all contributed performance enhancement and bug fixes in addition to some added features. It's entirely possible that a firmware update makes things right with the display.

**Kobie** · 10-18-2022, 10:29 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by gatorguy

EDIT; Is there a reason you've been avoiding firmware updates? They have all contributed performance enhancement and bug fixes in addition to some added features. It's entirely possible that a firmware update makes things right with the display.

You beat me to it. Was going to mention the same thing.

kypfer · 10-18-2022, 10:36 AM

I had similar symptoms with the screen flickering or not working at all … it was all down to the eye sensor under the viewfinder.
Cleaning it made no difference so I ended up totally disabling it in the menus … I don't miss it

If you're having problems accessing the menus, work in LiveView for any changes you want to make … the sensor isn't used in LiveView!
I'll agree with the desirability of making firmware updates, my K-3iii is certainly more stable these days than when it was new

**Perfessor5646** · 10-18-2022, 11:46 AM

Only have an iPad Pro. No iMac or PC. Im not especially computer literate therefore not comfortable attempting something that might really mess things up.

MarkJerling · 10-18-2022, 12:14 PM - **1 Like**

With any luck there's another local member who can help you with a firmware update.

**Perfessor5646** · 10-18-2022, 01:27 PM

Well, I reset the settings to the defaults then changed the ones I knew I knew I wanted changed and now it seems to work normally again. Apparently I inadvertently changed some setting and caused the issue. Thanks for the help.

zeropentax · 10-18-2022, 04:18 PM

sorry, how did you restore with black screen? In livewiew?

10-18-2022, 09:26 AM	#1
Perfessor5646 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2018 Location: Louisville, KY Photos: Albums Posts: 565	K3 MK3 status screen flickers and goes black After activating the shutter, The status screen on on of my K3-3s will flicker on and off for second or two then go black. When I go to preview the shot just taken it sometimes displays the image for a second, reverts back to status screen then goes black again. The camera does not power off and in Live View the screen functions normally. In fact when it does go back I can put it in Live View mode and switch back to OV mode and things will function normally until I trip the shutter again. The camera is out of warranty and using FW v1.0.

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10-18-2022, 09:34 AM	#2
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 24,805	Sounds like your status screen is set to off. On the k3 and KP pressing info a couple of times gives the option to turn status screw off (or on).

10-18-2022, 09:40 AM - 1 Like	#3
gatorguy Moderator Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Central Florida Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,090	Make sure there's no piece of lint or anything else in the way of the eye-sensor under the eyepiece. Probably not it, but worth checking. EDIT; Is there a reason you've been avoiding firmware updates? They have all contributed performance enhancement and bug fixes in addition to some added features. It's entirely possible that a firmware update makes things right with the display.

10-18-2022, 10:29 AM - 1 Like	#4
Kobie Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Bowmanville Photos: Albums Posts: 1,093	Originally posted by gatorguy EDIT; Is there a reason you've been avoiding firmware updates? They have all contributed performance enhancement and bug fixes in addition to some added features. It's entirely possible that a firmware update makes things right with the display. You beat me to it. Was going to mention the same thing.

10-18-2022, 10:36 AM	#5
kypfer Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Jersey C.I. Posts: 2,663	I had similar symptoms with the screen flickering or not working at all … it was all down to the eye sensor under the viewfinder. Cleaning it made no difference so I ended up totally disabling it in the menus … I don't miss it If you're having problems accessing the menus, work in LiveView for any changes you want to make … the sensor isn't used in LiveView! I'll agree with the desirability of making firmware updates, my K-3iii is certainly more stable these days than when it was new

10-18-2022, 11:46 AM	#6
Perfessor5646 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2018 Location: Louisville, KY Photos: Albums Posts: 565 Original Poster	Only have an iPad Pro. No iMac or PC. Im not especially computer literate therefore not comfortable attempting something that might really mess things up.

10-18-2022, 12:14 PM - 1 Like	#7
MarkJerling Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: May 2012 Location: Wairarapa, New Zealand Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 19,524	With any luck there's another local member who can help you with a firmware update.

10-18-2022, 01:27 PM	#8
Perfessor5646 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2018 Location: Louisville, KY Photos: Albums Posts: 565 Original Poster	Well, I reset the settings to the defaults then changed the ones I knew I knew I wanted changed and now it seems to work normally again. Apparently I inadvertently changed some setting and caused the issue. Thanks for the help.

10-18-2022, 04:18 PM	#9
zeropentax New Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 2	sorry, how did you restore with black screen? In livewiew?

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