K50 shots black

telum · 03-30-2018, 11:21 AM

Hi all.

All of a sudden my k50 takes very dark photos in bright daylight.

My ev is neutral and I have to compensate at least 3 steps to even see anything. Auto mode is the same. Shutter speed seems ok, and changing it in Manuel does not help either.

So do I have a defect body or is it some newbie setting I am missing?

Thanks !

**UncleVanya** · 03-30-2018, 11:27 AM

Sounds like your aperture control may have died - this is a known issue with the K-30, K-50 and it is annoying. Do you have any lenses with manual aperture rings? If so you can try using the camera in M mode and dial in a wide open aperture and try some shots. If those come out right and the one's with auto-aperture come out dark you have confirmed your problem.

**caliscouser** · 03-30-2018, 11:28 AM

Sorry but this sounds like your camera has suffered the aperture solenoid problem that is well known on these cameras.

Go over to the K-30/K-50 forum to read more. Pentax K-30 & K-50 - PentaxForums.com

The only real solution is to replace the aperture solenoid with a donor 'white' solenoid

**kernos** · 03-30-2018, 12:57 PM

There is the possible temporary solution of blasting off 100 or so shots (at 5mb or so) by holding the button down. Worked for me with a repaired K50 that hopefully has the latest solenoid. Might work as replacing the solenoid is expensive through Precision. But, by all means look at the thread.

**caliscouser** · 03-30-2018, 02:02 PM

Originally posted by kernos

There is the possible temporary solution of blasting off 100 or so shots (at 5mb or so) by holding the button down. Worked for me with a repaired K50 that hopefully has the latest solenoid. Might work as replacing the solenoid is expensive through Precision. But, by all means look at the thread.

Don't recommend that. Some people have damaged the shutter mechanism doing this.
All sorts of people will come out of the woodwork claiming miracle cures for this problem.

Replacing the solenoid with a white donor one is the only long term solution. Everything else is a band-aid in my opinion.

The Squirrel Mafia · 03-30-2018, 02:32 PM - **1 Like**

my fix of the K-30 aperture problem without disassembly: Pentax SLR Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review

^ Try that fix to see if it does anything.

Like caliscouser stated, it's more than likely going to be a temporary fix. Replacing the "green" solenoid with a "white" solenoid is the only permanent solution.

**kernos** · 04-01-2018, 06:04 AM

Originally posted by caliscouser

Don't recommend that. Some people have damaged the shutter mechanism doing this.
All sorts of people will come out of the woodwork claiming miracle cures for this problem.

Replacing the solenoid with a white donor one is the only long term solution. Everything else is a band-aid in my opinion.

Thanks for the info. First I've heard of a shutter problem and I've followed this issue closely having had 3 ACB issues (1 K30 now an M42 camera and 2 with a K50 before and after solenoid repair)

photolady95 · 04-01-2018, 06:48 AM

Another possible fix. I have two K-30s, one broken and a K-50 not broken yet. The broken K-30 has the same problem as the your K-50 and I use the AA adapter and haven't had any more problems. Note the K-50 and K-30s have the same innards and are prone to ABF.

telum · 04-01-2018, 01:00 PM

Thanks for all your replies, I will start digging into the material! :-)

surfar · 04-01-2018, 04:09 PM

Originally posted by photolady95

I have two K-30s, one broken and a K-50 not broken yet. The broken K-30 has the same problem as the your K-50 and I use the AA adapter and haven't had any more problems

Ive "fixed" a K-50 with the AAs...and so far its fine,not sure how long it will go for though.

telum · 04-03-2018, 12:37 AM

it is a bit disturbing though - if I were to buy a new body, can any be trusted to have a good solonoid that will not break after some time?

**clackers** · 04-03-2018, 12:42 AM

Originally posted by telum

it is a bit disturbing though - if I were to buy a new body, can any be trusted to have a good solonoid that will not break after some time?

Supposedly, none of the current models are affected - just the lower level models of the past.

A dealer repair is expensive because they replace the whole aperture block instead of a $15 solenoid.

**kernos** · 04-03-2018, 08:21 AM

Originally posted by surfar

Ive "fixed" a K-50 with the AAs...and so far its fine,not sure how long it will go for though.

The AA battery fix is good to know. I'm happy with my K30 as a permanent m42 camera, but I would really like to have a functioning K50 in the future.

photolady95 · 04-03-2018, 10:28 AM

I've read some where on this forum that the ABF is mostly caused by non use of the camera. I don't know that is the cause but a friend had a K-30 he didn't use much and last month his camera developed the ABF. He uses it with the AA Adapter also.

**suraswami** · 04-03-2018, 11:25 AM

AA adapter is temporary fix, eventually the issue will come back. Best is to replace with White Solenoid.

Some of us (including myself) have done this solenoid swap, it's neither super easy nor hard. I took a chance and it came out well.

Other option is to use the new 55-300 PLM lens that doesn't need the aperture lever, the lens has some kind of built in diaphragm (somebody who has better knowledge than me can explain better). Use the K50 + 55-300 PLM and get the newer K70 and be done. Throwing $150 at a camera which doesn't have that much used market price is not worth it (in my opinion).

03-30-2018, 11:21 AM	#1
telum Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Posts: 45	K50 shots black Hi all. All of a sudden my k50 takes very dark photos in bright daylight. My ev is neutral and I have to compensate at least 3 steps to even see anything. Auto mode is the same. Shutter speed seems ok, and changing it in Manuel does not help either. So do I have a defect body or is it some newbie setting I am missing? Thanks !

04-03-2018, 12:42 AM	#12
clackers Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Melbourne Photos: Albums Posts: 16,397	Originally posted by telum it is a bit disturbing though - if I were to buy a new body, can any be trusted to have a good solonoid that will not break after some time? Supposedly, none of the current models are affected - just the lower level models of the past. A dealer repair is expensive because they replace the whole aperture block instead of a $15 solenoid. Last edited by clackers; 04-03-2018 at 04:15 AM.

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03-30-2018, 11:27 AM	#2
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,445	Sounds like your aperture control may have died - this is a known issue with the K-30, K-50 and it is annoying. Do you have any lenses with manual aperture rings? If so you can try using the camera in M mode and dial in a wide open aperture and try some shots. If those come out right and the one's with auto-aperture come out dark you have confirmed your problem.

03-30-2018, 11:28 AM	#3
caliscouser Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: SF Bay Area, CA Photos: Albums Posts: 1,037	Sorry but this sounds like your camera has suffered the aperture solenoid problem that is well known on these cameras. Go over to the K-30/K-50 forum to read more. Pentax K-30 & K-50 - PentaxForums.com The only real solution is to replace the aperture solenoid with a donor 'white' solenoid

03-30-2018, 12:57 PM	#4
kernos Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 456	There is the possible temporary solution of blasting off 100 or so shots (at 5mb or so) by holding the button down. Worked for me with a repaired K50 that hopefully has the latest solenoid. Might work as replacing the solenoid is expensive through Precision. But, by all means look at the thread.

03-30-2018, 02:02 PM	#5
caliscouser Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: SF Bay Area, CA Photos: Albums Posts: 1,037	Originally posted by kernos There is the possible temporary solution of blasting off 100 or so shots (at 5mb or so) by holding the button down. Worked for me with a repaired K50 that hopefully has the latest solenoid. Might work as replacing the solenoid is expensive through Precision. But, by all means look at the thread. Don't recommend that. Some people have damaged the shutter mechanism doing this. All sorts of people will come out of the woodwork claiming miracle cures for this problem. Replacing the solenoid with a white donor one is the only long term solution. Everything else is a band-aid in my opinion.

03-30-2018, 02:32 PM - 1 Like	#6
The Squirrel Mafia Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 3,056	my fix of the K-30 aperture problem without disassembly: Pentax SLR Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review ^ Try that fix to see if it does anything. Like caliscouser stated, it's more than likely going to be a temporary fix. Replacing the "green" solenoid with a "white" solenoid is the only permanent solution.

04-01-2018, 06:04 AM	#7
kernos Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 456	Originally posted by caliscouser Don't recommend that. Some people have damaged the shutter mechanism doing this. All sorts of people will come out of the woodwork claiming miracle cures for this problem. Replacing the solenoid with a white donor one is the only long term solution. Everything else is a band-aid in my opinion. Thanks for the info. First I've heard of a shutter problem and I've followed this issue closely having had 3 ACB issues (1 K30 now an M42 camera and 2 with a K50 before and after solenoid repair)

04-01-2018, 06:48 AM	#8
photolady95 Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Cruising the forum watching his back Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,712	Another possible fix. I have two K-30s, one broken and a K-50 not broken yet. The broken K-30 has the same problem as the your K-50 and I use the AA adapter and haven't had any more problems. Note the K-50 and K-30s have the same innards and are prone to ABF.

04-01-2018, 01:00 PM	#9
telum Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Posts: 45 Original Poster	Thanks for all your replies, I will start digging into the material! :-)

04-01-2018, 04:09 PM	#10
surfar Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: mid nth coast,nsw Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,142	Originally posted by photolady95 I have two K-30s, one broken and a K-50 not broken yet. The broken K-30 has the same problem as the your K-50 and I use the AA adapter and haven't had any more problems Ive "fixed" a K-50 with the AAs...and so far its fine,not sure how long it will go for though.

04-03-2018, 12:37 AM	#11
telum Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Posts: 45 Original Poster	it is a bit disturbing though - if I were to buy a new body, can any be trusted to have a good solonoid that will not break after some time?

04-03-2018, 08:21 AM	#13
kernos Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 456	Originally posted by surfar Ive "fixed" a K-50 with the AAs...and so far its fine,not sure how long it will go for though. The AA battery fix is good to know. I'm happy with my K30 as a permanent m42 camera, but I would really like to have a functioning K50 in the future.

04-03-2018, 10:28 AM	#14
photolady95 Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Cruising the forum watching his back Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,712	I've read some where on this forum that the ABF is mostly caused by non use of the camera. I don't know that is the cause but a friend had a K-30 he didn't use much and last month his camera developed the ABF. He uses it with the AA Adapter also.

04-03-2018, 11:25 AM	#15
suraswami Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2015 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 419	AA adapter is temporary fix, eventually the issue will come back. Best is to replace with White Solenoid. Some of us (including myself) have done this solenoid swap, it's neither super easy nor hard. I took a chance and it came out well. Other option is to use the new 55-300 PLM lens that doesn't need the aperture lever, the lens has some kind of built in diaphragm (somebody who has better knowledge than me can explain better). Use the K50 + 55-300 PLM and get the newer K70 and be done. Throwing $150 at a camera which doesn't have that much used market price is not worth it (in my opinion).