K500 - Fall killed diaphragm controller - It whorts to repair it?

dado1964 · 10-09-2019, 03:22 AM

Hi

I'm Davide, from Italy.

Some months ago I let my K500 fall down, accidentally.

Lens was broken down, but when I substituted it, I found the camera shot were all balck.
Diagnosis is that diaphragm controller is broken, and substituting it (and resetting camera SW) would cost to me around 200 Euros.

To give you an idea, current commercial value for a used, working k500 is in the range of 250-280 Euros.
Buying a more advanced k2S (new, with entry lenses kit) would cost around 450 Euros.

Now my dilemma is: to spend 200 having back a (not too much) used K500, or to spend +250 Euro (maybe less, as I already have a working 18-55 lens) and jump up to a KS2 new?

Hope this is the right place and people to ask this, if not, please excuse me.

Regards

Davide

Medex · 10-09-2019, 03:40 AM

or buy used K-5II / IIs.

**Serkevan** · 10-09-2019, 05:09 AM

I would buy an used K-5/K-5ii as well, for around 200-250€ you can find them in decent state on Ebay or, ideally, in this forum, but there aren't a whole lot of options for EU members unfortunately. It's the same sensor (so you'd get the same pictures) but it's much better made and is a better camera in all other aspects.

If photography is important to you, the K-S2 should be much better as well.

**roberrl** · 10-09-2019, 05:49 AM

I would go for the K-5iis if possible but any K5 will be a great improvement on your K500.

The repair is not worth it with such great value alternatives.

CarlJF · 10-09-2019, 06:00 AM

No, it’s not worth it to repair the K-500. You can try selling it on eBay for parts and get whatever money you can get for it.

As for a replacement, yes a K-S2 is a good choice. But I would also recommend to look at the used market for a K-3. Since you have to get a new camera, you might as well go for an upgraded sensor and autofocus, which the K-3 provides but not the k-5.

MatKus · 10-09-2019, 06:16 AM

As people already said, its not worth to repair K500.
My k50 broken few days ago (sensor shakes for no reason). They told me it will cost me 1200 PLN (~300 USD) to repair. So i bought K5 for 800 PLN (~200 USD) with only 15k shutter count.
Not only cheaper, but i have better camera that will serve me for next year or two until i'll buy K3 replacemnet after some price drops.

**aslyfox** · 10-09-2019, 06:28 AM

depending on cost and shutter count, I would urge you to check out the K 5 Series and the K 3 series

you can do a side by side comparison using the tool found under " Cameras " above

here I set it up to compare the K S2 vs. the K 5 and the K 3:

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-cameras-compared/?c1=Pentax+K-S2&...&c3=Pentax+K-3

jimfellows · 10-09-2019, 06:54 AM

Here is a K-5 with battery grip from the marketplace. I do not have any affiliation with the seller. I have purchased sveral items from the market place and have found it a great place to get good equipment at a good price.

Reduced & free shipping: K-5, F35/2, DA*16-50, Tamron 17-50, Sigma 24/2.8 - PentaxForums.com

Good luck,

Jim

**sergysergy** · 10-09-2019, 07:02 AM

Davide, I feel repairing it or getting the same model is not worth it. For a similar price you can get models that are bit more modern.

**aslyfox** · 10-09-2019, 07:06 AM

Originally posted by jimfellows

Here is a K-5 with battery grip from the marketplace. I do not have any affiliation with the seller. I have purchased sveral items from the market place and have found it a great place to get good equipment at a good price.

Reduced & free shipping: K-5, F35/2, DA*16-50, Tamron 17-50, Sigma 24/2.8 - PentaxForums.com

Good luck,

Jim

references to the market place is good

but the OP is apparantly from Italy and the Seller is from the US

could be a difficulty

jimfellows · 10-09-2019, 07:32 AM

Originally posted by aslyfox

references to the market place is good

but the OP is apparantly from Italy and the Seller is from the US

could be a difficulty

The shipper says he will ship worldwide, other wise I would not have posted it. It is still a good deal even with the extra cost for shipping.

**Serkevan** · 10-09-2019, 07:34 AM

Originally posted by jimfellows

The shipper says he will ship worldwide, other wise I would not have posted it. It is still a good deal even with the extra cost for shipping.

You may have to add extra ~20% of import tax. It *is* still a more than decent deal even with all extra costs, but it might be possible to find a better one outside the forum.

**aslyfox** · 10-09-2019, 07:40 AM

Originally posted by jimfellows

The shipper says he will ship worldwide, other wise I would not have posted it. It is still a good deal even with the extra cost for shipping.

sorry I didn't look at where seller would ship to

dado1964 · 10-09-2019, 08:58 AM

Dear Pentaxians

thank you to all of you.
reading all comments, I agree with you, camera repair in this case is not a reasonable.
I'll look for a K5 or KS2, exploring your suggested options to buy

Again, thank you for your contributes

Ciao

Davide

**photogem** · 10-09-2019, 02:28 PM

Originally posted by jimfellows

Here is a K-5 with battery grip from the marketplace. I do not have any affiliation with the seller. I have purchased sveral items from the market place and have found it a great place to get good equipment at a good price.
Reduced & free shipping: K-5, F35/2, DA*16-50, Tamron 17-50, Sigma 24/2.8 - PentaxForums.com

Any purchase outside of the EU and particular from USA will cost at least 19% VAT extra in Europe. Not only 19% on the item's price but also on the shipping costs which are very high from USA to Europe.
If it is above US$ 160 (€ 150) it not only VAT but can be duty as well.

Anyway: The diagnosis "diaphragm controller broken" is possibly just a guess because one has to have the K500 open to know more.
€ 200 for repair is indeed useless.

K5: Very robust, but no KAF-4 ability (PLM lenses)
K-S2: Wolf in sheepsskin but not as robust.

If I would have to decide (and if a PLM lens wouldn't matter) I would not know which one to take.
I think I still would prefer the good old K5.

10-09-2019, 03:22 AM	#1
dado1964 New Member Join Date: Oct 2019 Posts: 2	K500 - Fall killed diaphragm controller - It whorts to repair it? Hi I'm Davide, from Italy. Some months ago I let my K500 fall down, accidentally. Lens was broken down, but when I substituted it, I found the camera shot were all balck. Diagnosis is that diaphragm controller is broken, and substituting it (and resetting camera SW) would cost to me around 200 Euros. To give you an idea, current commercial value for a used, working k500 is in the range of 250-280 Euros. Buying a more advanced k2S (new, with entry lenses kit) would cost around 450 Euros. Now my dilemma is: to spend 200 having back a (not too much) used K500, or to spend +250 Euro (maybe less, as I already have a working 18-55 lens) and jump up to a KS2 new? Hope this is the right place and people to ask this, if not, please excuse me. Regards Davide

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10-09-2019, 03:40 AM	#2
Medex Pentaxian Join Date: May 2013 Location: Vilnius Posts: 1,021	or buy used K-5II / IIs.

10-09-2019, 05:09 AM	#3
Serkevan Site Supporter Join Date: May 2019 Photos: Albums Posts: 5,976	I would buy an used K-5/K-5ii as well, for around 200-250€ you can find them in decent state on Ebay or, ideally, in this forum, but there aren't a whole lot of options for EU members unfortunately. It's the same sensor (so you'd get the same pictures) but it's much better made and is a better camera in all other aspects. If photography is important to you, the K-S2 should be much better as well.

10-09-2019, 05:49 AM	#4
roberrl Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Oxford, UK Photos: Gallery Posts: 346	I would go for the K-5iis if possible but any K5 will be a great improvement on your K500. The repair is not worth it with such great value alternatives.

10-09-2019, 06:00 AM	#5
CarlJF Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Quebec City Posts: 1,185	No, it’s not worth it to repair the K-500. You can try selling it on eBay for parts and get whatever money you can get for it. As for a replacement, yes a K-S2 is a good choice. But I would also recommend to look at the used market for a K-3. Since you have to get a new camera, you might as well go for an upgraded sensor and autofocus, which the K-3 provides but not the k-5.

10-09-2019, 06:16 AM	#6
MatKus Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2017 Posts: 155	As people already said, its not worth to repair K500. My k50 broken few days ago (sensor shakes for no reason). They told me it will cost me 1200 PLN (~300 USD) to repair. So i bought K5 for 800 PLN (~200 USD) with only 15k shutter count. Not only cheaper, but i have better camera that will serve me for next year or two until i'll buy K3 replacemnet after some price drops.

10-09-2019, 06:28 AM	#7
aslyfox Seeker of Knowledge Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Topeka, Kansas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 24,582	depending on cost and shutter count, I would urge you to check out the K 5 Series and the K 3 series you can do a side by side comparison using the tool found under " Cameras " above here I set it up to compare the K S2 vs. the K 5 and the K 3: https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-cameras-compared/?c1=Pentax+K-S2&...&c3=Pentax+K-3

10-09-2019, 06:54 AM	#8
jimfellows Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 108	Here is a K-5 with battery grip from the marketplace. I do not have any affiliation with the seller. I have purchased sveral items from the market place and have found it a great place to get good equipment at a good price. Reduced & free shipping: K-5, F35/2, DA*16-50, Tamron 17-50, Sigma 24/2.8 - PentaxForums.com Good luck, Jim

10-09-2019, 07:02 AM	#9
sergysergy Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2011 Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,175	Davide, I feel repairing it or getting the same model is not worth it. For a similar price you can get models that are bit more modern.

10-09-2019, 07:06 AM	#10
aslyfox Seeker of Knowledge Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Topeka, Kansas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 24,582	Originally posted by jimfellows Here is a K-5 with battery grip from the marketplace. I do not have any affiliation with the seller. I have purchased sveral items from the market place and have found it a great place to get good equipment at a good price. Reduced & free shipping: K-5, F35/2, DA*16-50, Tamron 17-50, Sigma 24/2.8 - PentaxForums.com Good luck, Jim references to the market place is good but the OP is apparantly from Italy and the Seller is from the US could be a difficulty

10-09-2019, 07:32 AM	#11
jimfellows Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 108	Originally posted by aslyfox references to the market place is good but the OP is apparantly from Italy and the Seller is from the US could be a difficulty The shipper says he will ship worldwide, other wise I would not have posted it. It is still a good deal even with the extra cost for shipping.

10-09-2019, 07:34 AM	#12
Serkevan Site Supporter Join Date: May 2019 Photos: Albums Posts: 5,976	Originally posted by jimfellows The shipper says he will ship worldwide, other wise I would not have posted it. It is still a good deal even with the extra cost for shipping. You may have to add extra ~20% of import tax. It is still a more than decent deal even with all extra costs, but it might be possible to find a better one outside the forum.

10-09-2019, 07:40 AM	#13
aslyfox Seeker of Knowledge Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Topeka, Kansas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 24,582	Originally posted by jimfellows The shipper says he will ship worldwide, other wise I would not have posted it. It is still a good deal even with the extra cost for shipping. sorry I didn't look at where seller would ship to

10-09-2019, 08:58 AM	#14
dado1964 New Member Join Date: Oct 2019 Posts: 2 Original Poster	Dear Pentaxians thank you to all of you. reading all comments, I agree with you, camera repair in this case is not a reasonable. I'll look for a K5 or KS2, exploring your suggested options to buy Again, thank you for your contributes Ciao Davide

10-09-2019, 02:28 PM	#15
photogem Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 3,522	Originally posted by jimfellows Here is a K-5 with battery grip from the marketplace. I do not have any affiliation with the seller. I have purchased sveral items from the market place and have found it a great place to get good equipment at a good price. Reduced & free shipping: K-5, F35/2, DA*16-50, Tamron 17-50, Sigma 24/2.8 - PentaxForums.com Any purchase outside of the EU and particular from USA will cost at least 19% VAT extra in Europe. Not only 19% on the item's price but also on the shipping costs which are very high from USA to Europe. If it is above US$ 160 (€ 150) it not only VAT but can be duty as well. Anyway: The diagnosis "diaphragm controller broken" is possibly just a guess because one has to have the K500 open to know more. € 200 for repair is indeed useless. K5: Very robust, but no KAF-4 ability (PLM lenses) K-S2: Wolf in sheepsskin but not as robust. If I would have to decide (and if a PLM lens wouldn't matter) I would not know which one to take. I think I still would prefer the good old K5.