Pentax K50 Black Pictures

parthasarathi87 · 07-04-2018, 07:25 AM

Hi I bought my pentax K50 in 2014.. All of a sudden when I changed from 18-55 MM lens to 50MM lens, the camera started to take only black pictures.. the images appear if I keep it in very high ISO and take the picture... But not Clear too...

Is there a known fix for it ? Or is it a product defect? Any help would be much appreciated...

**pepperberry farm** · 07-04-2018, 07:35 AM

sounds like failure of the aperture block, which the K-50 has become known for....

several solutions here:

Pentax K-30 & K-50 - PentaxForums.com

HoutHans · 07-04-2018, 08:32 AM

Yep, smells like aperture block failure.

**UncleVanya** · 07-04-2018, 09:52 AM

Do you have access to any Pentax lens with an aperture ring?

Try this: set the camera to manual and set the shutter speed to something like 30 seconds. Set the aperture to wide open. On your 50 that's probably f1.8. Get a flashlight, or go outside. Point camera towards something and fire the shutter, then turn it around so you can look into the lens from the front. My guess is that despite setting the lens wide open it will be closed very small. If so you will have validated that this is an aperture block failure.

**Cerebum** · 07-04-2018, 04:21 PM

You are in good company :'( happens a lot! Having it fixed costs around the £140 mark. You have a choice, put it towards an upgrade or get it fixed. I had my k30 fixed then a mint k3 fell in my lap shortly after. If you decide to upgrade you can still use your broken k50 with manual lenses which is a whole new world of surprisingly cheap fun. My cheapest vintage lens was £8 and it is brilliant

parthasarathi87 · 07-04-2018, 09:30 PM

Thanks all for your reply .. this appears to be aperture block.. how would it happen all of a sudden when changing a lens? Also , any idea what is the cost of replacing it? Is there any workaround?

I am trying to understand if it would be worth it.. or should I try to do it myself as said in some videos?

parthasarathi87 · 07-04-2018, 09:31 PM

Makes me feel better.. I am in the US and trying to understand the repair cost so that I can weigh in whether to upgrade or not spend any more..

**UncleVanya** · 07-05-2018, 05:22 AM

The options:
1) Send to precision, get same part reinstalled, spend mega $$$ (200-300)

2) send to some guy who advertised a $100 repair with one year warranty (I'm on a phone at the moment so I can't locate good contact info.

3) DIY repair by replacing the solenoid

4) DIY repair by filing the actuater(?)

5) turn this body into a manual apperture only camera, buy a replacement.

I had mine professionally repaired under warranty. I later replaced it with a k-3.

dubyam · 07-12-2018, 11:35 PM

I just had an older K-30 repaired by the gentleman in California doing the repair for $120, with a 1yr warranty. He is terrific to work with, does a clean fix, and my K-30 is working well since returning to me. So well, in fact, that my son is stealing it to take off to college this fall, leaving me with only the K-3 I bought to replace the K-30 before the gent in California started advertising his fix. If I had another one, and it had the same failure, I wouldn't hesitate to send it off to him. Here's the web link:

Pentax Camera Repair - Aperture Control Repair

07-04-2018, 07:25 AM	#1
parthasarathi87 New Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 3	Pentax K50 Black Pictures Hi I bought my pentax K50 in 2014.. All of a sudden when I changed from 18-55 MM lens to 50MM lens, the camera started to take only black pictures.. the images appear if I keep it in very high ISO and take the picture... But not Clear too... Is there a known fix for it ? Or is it a product defect? Any help would be much appreciated...

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07-04-2018, 07:35 AM	#2
pepperberry farm amateur dirt farmer Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: probably out in a field somewhere... Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 41,751	sounds like failure of the aperture block, which the K-50 has become known for.... several solutions here: Pentax K-30 & K-50 - PentaxForums.com

07-04-2018, 08:32 AM	#3
HoutHans Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Appingedam Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,123	Yep, smells like aperture block failure.

07-04-2018, 09:52 AM	#4
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,445	Do you have access to any Pentax lens with an aperture ring? Try this: set the camera to manual and set the shutter speed to something like 30 seconds. Set the aperture to wide open. On your 50 that's probably f1.8. Get a flashlight, or go outside. Point camera towards something and fire the shutter, then turn it around so you can look into the lens from the front. My guess is that despite setting the lens wide open it will be closed very small. If so you will have validated that this is an aperture block failure.

07-04-2018, 04:21 PM	#5
Cerebum Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Lancaster Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,829	You are in good company :'( happens a lot! Having it fixed costs around the £140 mark. You have a choice, put it towards an upgrade or get it fixed. I had my k30 fixed then a mint k3 fell in my lap shortly after. If you decide to upgrade you can still use your broken k50 with manual lenses which is a whole new world of surprisingly cheap fun. My cheapest vintage lens was £8 and it is brilliant

07-04-2018, 09:30 PM	#6
parthasarathi87 New Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 3 Original Poster	Thanks all for your reply .. this appears to be aperture block.. how would it happen all of a sudden when changing a lens? Also , any idea what is the cost of replacing it? Is there any workaround? I am trying to understand if it would be worth it.. or should I try to do it myself as said in some videos?

07-04-2018, 09:31 PM	#7
parthasarathi87 New Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 3 Original Poster	Makes me feel better.. I am in the US and trying to understand the repair cost so that I can weigh in whether to upgrade or not spend any more..

07-05-2018, 05:22 AM	#8
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,445	The options: 1) Send to precision, get same part reinstalled, spend mega $$$ (200-300) 2) send to some guy who advertised a $100 repair with one year warranty (I'm on a phone at the moment so I can't locate good contact info. 3) DIY repair by replacing the solenoid 4) DIY repair by filing the actuater(?) 5) turn this body into a manual apperture only camera, buy a replacement. I had mine professionally repaired under warranty. I later replaced it with a k-3.

07-12-2018, 11:35 PM	#9
dubyam Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Huntsville, AL Posts: 221	I just had an older K-30 repaired by the gentleman in California doing the repair for $120, with a 1yr warranty. He is terrific to work with, does a clean fix, and my K-30 is working well since returning to me. So well, in fact, that my son is stealing it to take off to college this fall, leaving me with only the K-3 I bought to replace the K-30 before the gent in California started advertising his fix. If I had another one, and it had the same failure, I wouldn't hesitate to send it off to him. Here's the web link: Pentax Camera Repair - Aperture Control Repair