Originally posted by Dan Mark, If you are loyal to the brand then I kindly suggest that you avoid spreading baseless rumors about failure rates of Pentax gear.
The higher failure rate of Pentax camera models with a green solenoid is well documented in this forum and, indeed, all over the internet. It's not a "baseless rumour".
Originally posted by Dan Your statement that the green solenoid is likely to fail implies that people who buy a K-70 should expect it to fail. That's nonsense.
There is some evidence that the aperture control mechanism in the K-70 has been redesigned so as to ensure that the green solenoid works better than in in earlier models such as the K-30 and the K-50. My opinion is that I would not trust a green solenoid replacement but, if the repair involves replacing the entire aperture control mechanism then I see no problem. Apologies if I have not made that clear.
Originally posted by Dan When such exaggerations come from a forum moderator they are more likely to harm the brand than when they come from known brand bashers.
Based upon the evidence on this forum and others, I don't believe I'm overstating the green solenoid issue. That is my point of view, as a member. At the same time, I've been exclusively using Pentax cameras since the 1980s and I encourage every one I come across to purchase Pentax gear. I'm somewhat flabbergasted that you choose to align me with brand bashers. The fact that your green solenoid equipped camera is functioning correctly is great. That should not prevent any member from looking to provide advice that (I believe) is likely to ensure trouble free operation for many years to come.
Originally posted by Dan To the contrary, I wrote that "clearly it is better to do the repair with the white solenoid", because it has a lower failure rate than the green solenoid.
We appear to be singing from the same song sheet.
Originally posted by Dan I only took issue with your baseless statement that the green solenoid is likely to fail. It is possible to provide good repair advice without overstating the statistical basis for that recommendation.
You have a problem with my use of the word "likely" I apologise for the use of the word "likely" Would you be happy if I said "more likely"?
Originally posted by Dan I have both a K-S2 (from the early, less-reliable production run) and a K-70. Both have performed flawlessly. Neither is "likely" to fail. People who are considering a purchase of the K-70 should not be dissuaded by folks who draw faulty statistical inferences from anecdotal data.
Dan
As noted, the K-70 is, based upon reports from members, less likely to exhibit the problem, possibly as some members have pointed out, due to a change in design of the whole aperture mechanism. The green solenoid has, after all, worked well in other applications, such as for pop-up flash operation, so it can be that the change of design of the aperture mechanism in the K-70 has solved the issue. But, it's also a bit early to say for sure, as the problem tended to show up only after some use in K-30 and K-50 cameras, so it could be argued that time will tell with K-70 cameras. For the money, if it was me, I'd rather buy a KP to avoid the (to me) risk. When I buy any gear, I expect it to work for many years as I can't afford to upgrade my gear regularly. I imagine Ricoh has been as annoyed about this issue as users have been. And, if other members are correct, then they have been working to fix the issue.
Your statistical position is no different from mine. You have two cameras that work well. That's as anecdotal as my comments, except that I base mine on reading about the issue for some years. I just wish the designers of these cameras used the same system as in my K5 and K-1 because, (to me) that would seem to indicate to be the better system. I know of no aperture control issues with K7, K5, K5ii, K3, K3ii, K-1, K-1ii or KP cameras so, anecdotally, it would seem that system is the better design.
I trust that clarifies my position.