Lens connection problems

Schuette · 06-28-2011, 08:22 AM

There seems to be something wrong with my K10D

There doesn't seem to be any info getting from camera to lens. I've tried cleaning the connectors, I've tried other lenses but nothing. I've also checked all the lens on another Pentax body and they are fine. One lens (Penatx) will autofocus and is saying the aperture is changing but it actually isn't based on images. The other two lenses (Sigma) are neither auto-focusing or adjusting the aperture. This camera is between 2 and 3 years old.

JohnBee · 06-28-2011, 08:27 AM

Wow that sucks!
I guess we can all accept that camera's can and do wear down

On the bright side
You now get to look forward to an UPGRADE!

Schuette · 06-28-2011, 08:29 AM

Can't really afford an upgrade right now. Was expecting it to last a few more years than this.

It sucks especially as I was on a photography masterclass with a motorsports photographer today and it was fine when I checked it last night and not fine this morning.

Does anyone know if it's worth trying to get it fixed? Or is it a dead loss.

**Lowell Goudge** · 06-28-2011, 08:54 AM

is it possible that you have it out of the A position?

Just a thought

Schuette · 06-28-2011, 09:05 AM

Yup, definitely in a position. Several times today I have had it in and out of A position as to autofocus I needed it in A (wont autofocus while in an aperture setting) and to get the right aperture I needed it out of A.

Thanks though. I'm really hoping it's something simple like that!

**Lowell Goudge** · 06-28-2011, 09:08 AM

Have you tried applying light pressure to the lens and turning it against the locking pin. Some times contacts don't always allign

Also with the MF lenses do you get focus confirmation? If so suspect the lens! maybe the contact internally for the A position is getting bad

Schuette · 06-28-2011, 09:18 AM

I've tried with two AF lenses that normally auto focus fine. Neither is behaving how they normally do and all three work as normal on a K110D. I've tried gentley turning it both ways.

This isn't looking good is it.

Last edited by Schuette; 06-28-2011 at 09:56 AM.

JeffJS · 06-29-2011, 06:06 AM

Originally posted by Schuette

I've tried with two AF lenses that normally auto focus fine. Neither is behaving how they normally do and all three work as normal on a K110D. I've tried gentley turning it both ways.

This isn't looking good is it.

No, it isn't looking good. You say the lenses are working fine on another camera so:

When you put a lens on the camera, one of your AF lenses, does the camera ask for a Focal length?

If not, Have you tried the AF button for Auto focus? Try exercising the AF/MF switch on the camera several times and make sure the screw drive actually protrudes from the lens mount when on AF.

Do you know what aperture the camera is actually shooting at (wide open or full stopped down)? Have you tried Manual mode to see if you can get it to change apertures?

If the lens has an aperture ring, take it off of A and set it to some aperture. Then activate the Optical Preview (pg 170 in the manual). It Should activate the aperture and stop your lens down to the set value and you'll see the viewfinder darken. If nothing happens, take the lens off and look inside the lens mount at the lever that moves the arm on the lens (for activating the aperture blades). I've read many times about a spring coming loose on that arm in different cameras.

Manual focus one can live with but if you cannot control the aperture, that's an entirely different story. You may now have a nice digital spotmatic. Get yourself some M42 lenses and an adapter. Repair costs for the K10d seem to typically outweigh the replacement value.

Schuette · 06-29-2011, 03:39 PM

Yup the camera asks for a focal length. It seems to be shooting wide open. Have tried using manual to change it, no go. With two of the lenses I get f-- on the top screen, with the other it claims to change it but doesn't based on the resulting pictures. The viewfinder isn't darkening sadly. The lever that adjusts the aperture is moving with the lens off though.

Thank you all. I give advice on another forum and appreciate it isn't easy. I was really hoping it would be a simple fix. Im not giving up on it but it does look like I'm going to have start a-saving!

dnaseigel · 06-29-2011, 04:56 PM

This is a bit of a long shot, but you wouldn't happen to be using a teleconverter on the K10D are you? My Sigma teleconverters make my lenses do exactly what your lenses are doing.

JeffJS · 06-29-2011, 05:18 PM

Definitely sounds like a contact problem. Try getting some actual electrical contact cleaner and swab the contacts down with that.

bwDraco · 06-29-2011, 08:49 PM

Is the aperture control lever broken?

The aperture control lever is at the left side inside the lens mount in front of the mirror and is a tab that moves when you take a picture to stop down the lens. Try releasing the shutter with no lens mounted; if this lever does not move, there is a more serious mechanical problem, not just an electrical contact issue.

--DragonLord

Schuette · 06-29-2011, 11:13 PM

DragonLord, The lever is working. Yay!

Jeff, I will try to get hold of the cleaning fluid.

Dnaseigel, I do own an old teleconveter but never use it. :0)

JeffJS · 06-29-2011, 11:49 PM

You need something that will remove oxidation. Gold plated contacts aren't supposed to oxidize but through use enough of the plating May have scraped off of one of the pins to cause a problem. When it comes to the actual contact area, we aren't dealing with very much here.

MalcS · 07-01-2011, 04:26 PM

Long shot, but a software reset (menu option) can't hurt anything.

06-28-2011, 08:22 AM	#1
Schuette New Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 7	Lens connection problems There seems to be something wrong with my K10D There doesn't seem to be any info getting from camera to lens. I've tried cleaning the connectors, I've tried other lenses but nothing. I've also checked all the lens on another Pentax body and they are fine. One lens (Penatx) will autofocus and is saying the aperture is changing but it actually isn't based on images. The other two lenses (Sigma) are neither auto-focusing or adjusting the aperture. This camera is between 2 and 3 years old.

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06-28-2011, 08:27 AM	#2
JohnBee Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Newrfoundland Photos: Albums Posts: 4,667	Wow that sucks! I guess we can all accept that camera's can and do wear down On the bright side You now get to look forward to an UPGRADE!

06-28-2011, 08:29 AM	#3
Schuette New Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 7 Original Poster	Can't really afford an upgrade right now. Was expecting it to last a few more years than this. It sucks especially as I was on a photography masterclass with a motorsports photographer today and it was fine when I checked it last night and not fine this morning. Does anyone know if it's worth trying to get it fixed? Or is it a dead loss.

06-28-2011, 08:54 AM	#4
Lowell Goudge Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,892	is it possible that you have it out of the A position? Just a thought

06-28-2011, 09:05 AM	#5
Schuette New Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 7 Original Poster	Yup, definitely in a position. Several times today I have had it in and out of A position as to autofocus I needed it in A (wont autofocus while in an aperture setting) and to get the right aperture I needed it out of A. Thanks though. I'm really hoping it's something simple like that!

06-28-2011, 09:08 AM	#6
Lowell Goudge Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,892	Have you tried applying light pressure to the lens and turning it against the locking pin. Some times contacts don't always allign Also with the MF lenses do you get focus confirmation? If so suspect the lens! maybe the contact internally for the A position is getting bad

06-28-2011, 09:18 AM	#7
Schuette New Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 7 Original Poster	I've tried with two AF lenses that normally auto focus fine. Neither is behaving how they normally do and all three work as normal on a K110D. I've tried gentley turning it both ways. This isn't looking good is it. Last edited by Schuette; 06-28-2011 at 09:56 AM.

06-29-2011, 06:06 AM	#8
JeffJS Inactive Account Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Michigan, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,484	Originally posted by Schuette I've tried with two AF lenses that normally auto focus fine. Neither is behaving how they normally do and all three work as normal on a K110D. I've tried gentley turning it both ways. This isn't looking good is it. No, it isn't looking good. You say the lenses are working fine on another camera so: When you put a lens on the camera, one of your AF lenses, does the camera ask for a Focal length? If not, Have you tried the AF button for Auto focus? Try exercising the AF/MF switch on the camera several times and make sure the screw drive actually protrudes from the lens mount when on AF. Do you know what aperture the camera is actually shooting at (wide open or full stopped down)? Have you tried Manual mode to see if you can get it to change apertures? If the lens has an aperture ring, take it off of A and set it to some aperture. Then activate the Optical Preview (pg 170 in the manual). It Should activate the aperture and stop your lens down to the set value and you'll see the viewfinder darken. If nothing happens, take the lens off and look inside the lens mount at the lever that moves the arm on the lens (for activating the aperture blades). I've read many times about a spring coming loose on that arm in different cameras. Manual focus one can live with but if you cannot control the aperture, that's an entirely different story. You may now have a nice digital spotmatic. Get yourself some M42 lenses and an adapter. Repair costs for the K10d seem to typically outweigh the replacement value.

06-29-2011, 03:39 PM	#9
Schuette New Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 7 Original Poster	Yup the camera asks for a focal length. It seems to be shooting wide open. Have tried using manual to change it, no go. With two of the lenses I get f-- on the top screen, with the other it claims to change it but doesn't based on the resulting pictures. The viewfinder isn't darkening sadly. The lever that adjusts the aperture is moving with the lens off though. Thank you all. I give advice on another forum and appreciate it isn't easy. I was really hoping it would be a simple fix. Im not giving up on it but it does look like I'm going to have start a-saving!

06-29-2011, 04:56 PM	#10
dnaseigel Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Rockford, IL Photos: Gallery Posts: 179	This is a bit of a long shot, but you wouldn't happen to be using a teleconverter on the K10D are you? My Sigma teleconverters make my lenses do exactly what your lenses are doing.

06-29-2011, 05:18 PM	#11
JeffJS Inactive Account Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Michigan, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,484	Definitely sounds like a contact problem. Try getting some actual electrical contact cleaner and swab the contacts down with that.

06-29-2011, 08:49 PM	#12
bwDraco Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: New York Photos: Albums Posts: 1,071	Is the aperture control lever broken? The aperture control lever is at the left side inside the lens mount in front of the mirror and is a tab that moves when you take a picture to stop down the lens. Try releasing the shutter with no lens mounted; if this lever does not move, there is a more serious mechanical problem, not just an electrical contact issue. --DragonLord

06-29-2011, 11:13 PM	#13
Schuette New Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 7 Original Poster	DragonLord, The lever is working. Yay! Jeff, I will try to get hold of the cleaning fluid. Dnaseigel, I do own an old teleconveter but never use it. :0)

06-29-2011, 11:49 PM	#14
JeffJS Inactive Account Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Michigan, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,484	You need something that will remove oxidation. Gold plated contacts aren't supposed to oxidize but through use enough of the plating May have scraped off of one of the pins to cause a problem. When it comes to the actual contact area, we aren't dealing with very much here.

07-01-2011, 04:26 PM	#15
MalcS Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Virginia Photos: Albums Posts: 51	Long shot, but a software reset (menu option) can't hurt anything.