K-30 Black Stripe In Pictures

aikilink · 05-27-2017, 06:39 PM

Hello,

So, a K-30 that I got for a friend a couple years back has been making a good 1/4th of the image black recently. I put it in cleaning mode, and can see a black ribbon/thin plastic strip that is in front of the sensor. I can turn the camera and get it to shake down (it attaches beyond one of the corners of the sensor) out of the way. Taking one good picture puts it right back into place. My thought is that it is part of the shutter mechanism?

My main question is should I tell them to get a new camera, or try to yank it out and see what happens? I don't think it's worth sending for repair (we bought it already used with close to 10K photos on it at the time). I'm not hopeful for a easy fix, but figured I'd see what you all know! Thanks!

ZombieArmy · 05-27-2017, 06:54 PM

I'd really need to see it, it could be anything. If it is part of the mechanism you could probably get it out of the way somehow.

photoptimist · 05-27-2017, 07:10 PM - **1 Like**

That sounds like one of the blades of the shutter. If you remove it by force, then probably all of the images will be 1/4 white.

Na Horuk · 05-28-2017, 06:08 AM

Could be shutter, could be due to indoors flickering lights, could be due to flash, or even SD card writing problems..? I think we would need to see a photo or two to know for certain

edmundrt · 05-28-2017, 07:01 AM - **1 Like**

It sounds like a shutter blade. If you get it replaced, it'll probably cost as much or more than another K-50, so you're probably better off just replacing the camera itself!

nycphotosafari · 06-01-2017, 04:11 PM

It def. merits a return back to Pentax for a cleaning and a once over.

aikilink · 06-16-2017, 06:14 AM

Thanks for your responses and ideas everyone! I am sorry for not getting back here sooner - had a wedding to shoot, and a lot of other family things going on. As some of you understand correctly, there is a physical strip out of place, it is not due to any electronic issues, and as a few of you suspected, I think it is a shutter blade. I'll try to get a photo of it up.

I don't want to pay significantly over $100 to have it looked at when I could get a newer camera for not much north of that. Thank you all! I was more or less curious about it and wondering if it'd be worth yanking out. I feel really bad, since three cameras I got for friends/family have all failed in 2 years or less... one was covered by warranty, thankfully, but, meh. Two K-50s and this K-30 now, while my K-30, K-3, and my K-1 are all going strong. I feel like they all will start doubting Pentax, and it's making me sad about their recurring aperture block failure...

Thanks again!

05-27-2017, 06:39 PM	#1
aikilink Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 124	K-30 Black Stripe In Pictures Hello, So, a K-30 that I got for a friend a couple years back has been making a good 1/4th of the image black recently. I put it in cleaning mode, and can see a black ribbon/thin plastic strip that is in front of the sensor. I can turn the camera and get it to shake down (it attaches beyond one of the corners of the sensor) out of the way. Taking one good picture puts it right back into place. My thought is that it is part of the shutter mechanism? My main question is should I tell them to get a new camera, or try to yank it out and see what happens? I don't think it's worth sending for repair (we bought it already used with close to 10K photos on it at the time). I'm not hopeful for a easy fix, but figured I'd see what you all know! Thanks!

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05-27-2017, 06:54 PM	#2
ZombieArmy Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Florida Posts: 3,210	I'd really need to see it, it could be anything. If it is part of the mechanism you could probably get it out of the way somehow.

05-27-2017, 07:10 PM - 1 Like	#3
photoptimist Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2016 Photos: Albums Posts: 5,128	That sounds like one of the blades of the shutter. If you remove it by force, then probably all of the images will be 1/4 white.

05-28-2017, 06:08 AM	#4
Na Horuk Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Slovenia, probably Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,186	Could be shutter, could be due to indoors flickering lights, could be due to flash, or even SD card writing problems..? I think we would need to see a photo or two to know for certain

05-28-2017, 07:01 AM - 1 Like	#5
edmundrt Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Nagoya Posts: 577	It sounds like a shutter blade. If you get it replaced, it'll probably cost as much or more than another K-50, so you're probably better off just replacing the camera itself!

06-01-2017, 04:11 PM	#6
nycphotosafari New Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: New York City Posts: 5	It def. merits a return back to Pentax for a cleaning and a once over.

06-16-2017, 06:14 AM	#7
aikilink Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 124 Original Poster	Thanks for your responses and ideas everyone! I am sorry for not getting back here sooner - had a wedding to shoot, and a lot of other family things going on. As some of you understand correctly, there is a physical strip out of place, it is not due to any electronic issues, and as a few of you suspected, I think it is a shutter blade. I'll try to get a photo of it up. I don't want to pay significantly over $100 to have it looked at when I could get a newer camera for not much north of that. Thank you all! I was more or less curious about it and wondering if it'd be worth yanking out. I feel really bad, since three cameras I got for friends/family have all failed in 2 years or less... one was covered by warranty, thankfully, but, meh. Two K-50s and this K-30 now, while my K-30, K-3, and my K-1 are all going strong. I feel like they all will start doubting Pentax, and it's making me sad about their recurring aperture block failure... Thanks again!