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10-09-2019, 05:04 AM   #1
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'SMC Pentax-D FA 100mm F2.8 Macro' intermittent viewfinder black photo

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I have recently bought a SMC Pentax-D FA 100mm F2.8 Macro and it has been working well for the most part. However I have noticed an intermittent problem when shooting through the viewfinder where the photos shot will be totally black. The camera picks up all the correct settings and it shoots fine with screen view. It doesn't do this all the time, last time it occurred I took off the uv filter that i put on to protect the lens, shot through the screen and flicked back to viewfinder and it was working again. I am kind of stumped.

10-09-2019, 05:06 AM   #2
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which camera body?
10-09-2019, 05:09 AM   #3
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Pentax K-S2
10-09-2019, 05:11 AM   #4
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That does sound like the aperture control failure rearing its head... Are you sure it never happens in Live View or could it be a coincidence?


EDIT: does this problem happen with other lenses?

10-09-2019, 05:17 AM   #5
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Definitely not had it in live view. I tried with my Sigma 28-300 and i didn't have any issues. I've had the aperture control failure before and know how to fix that if need be.

[edit] can a filter interfere with a lens light metering properly?

Last edited by WondringLisa; 10-09-2019 at 05:23 AM.
10-09-2019, 05:24 AM   #6
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Mmm. Can you post a picture with EXIF data?

Edit: it is possible that a filter might influence it. Are you using a graduated ND filter?
10-09-2019, 05:35 AM   #7
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Was just a regular UV filter. Attached two shots, not exactly the same settings but close enough.

Attached Images
View Picture EXIF
PENTAX K-S2  Photo 
View Picture EXIF
PENTAX K-S2  Photo 
10-09-2019, 05:36 AM   #8
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QuoteOriginally posted by WondringLisa Quote
Definitely not had it in live view. I tried with my Sigma 28-300 and i didn't have any issues. I've had the aperture control failure before and know how to fix that if need be.

[edit] can a filter interfere with a lens light metering properly?
try to use your lens 100/2,8 in non-A setting, e.g. at f4. In case you have aperture block failure, pictures will still be good, not dark, because aperture will not go beyond f4

---------- Post added 10-09-19 at 03:39 PM ----------

QuoteOriginally posted by WondringLisa Quote
Was just a regular UV filter. Attached two shots, not exactly the same settings but close enough.
BTW if you have aperture block repaired earlier, the failure can repeat because solenoid that was replaced can be the same bad quality as first one.
10-09-2019, 05:42 AM   #9
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QuoteOriginally posted by Medex Quote
try to use your lens 100/2,8 in non-A setting, e.g. at f4. In case you have aperture block failure, pictures will still be good, not dark, because aperture will not go beyond f4

---------- Post added 10-09-19 at 03:39 PM ----------


BTW if you have aperture block repaired earlier, the failure can repeat because solenoid that was replaced can be the same bad quality as first one.
I didn't actually replace it, I just took out the little bit of metal that is part of the mechanism and lightly ran an emery board over the edges of it and put it back, worked fine again after that.

[edit] does seem to be working correctly now. I'll follow up if the issue happens again. I think i'll clean contacts just in case that was a factor.
10-09-2019, 05:46 AM   #10
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Filing off part of the solenoid's plunger is only a temporary solution, it will appear again, unfortunately. It's weird that it doesn't happen in LV however, I can think of nothing that explains it.

Does the D FA default to aperture fully closed when out of the camera? I don't have that one in particular.
10-09-2019, 07:08 AM   #11
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sounds more like a problem with the camera than the lens
10-16-2019, 05:57 PM   #12
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How about other lenses. Do they all work fine?
10-19-2019, 07:28 AM   #13
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Ok, it's deffinitely an apperture block. Looks like the solenoid is broken. Does anyone have a part number to get a replacement?

edit: nvm, found it :-)

Last edited by WondringLisa; 10-19-2019 at 07:37 AM.
10-20-2019, 02:37 AM   #14
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I hope the solenoid you found is is the white coloured made in Japan version!
There are many cheap green Chinaversions on the market, most of them even worse than the original which sits in your K-S2.

See HERE
and here I posted the photos were to find the screws and particular the hidden screws

To unsolder the solenoid is easy, I described it for example here for the K30 , it is exactly the same procedure.

This is the right solenoid but you also can find it in any Pentax DSLR (and Samsung equivalents) before the K-30 except the K7/K5.
10-20-2019, 03:59 AM   #15
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The solenoid in the camera looks to be the green china made version
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