[que es tu]

Earlier this year my KS-2 developed “aperture block failure” at around 14000 actuations. After considering advice form members on PF I decided not to repair the KS-2, but get a KP. I love the KP and it is the perfect camera for me. HOWEVER, as soon as I stopped using the KS-2, my 13 y/o son commandeered it along with my DA 35mmf2.4 and DA-L 50-200mm lenses!! He is now shooting circles around me and even getting good BIF photos!! He has learned to work around the dark frames which usually occur only when the camera has sat overnight.
It is a worrisome issue and he therefore is saving up his money for a K-70 of which he will have half by his birthday in November, and my wife and I will give him the other half for his present. What is the consensus now for the reliability/durability of the K-70 and its aperture control solenoid?? I would hate for the aperture to fail on this camera like on the KS-2.
Should he chance the K-70 or would it be better to wait until he can get a KP? He is out shooting daily and uses drive mode on birds, so he can accumulate lots of shutter actuations in a day. He is also studying books on photography in general, and bird photography in specific, so he seems pretty serious. My gut wants to go with the KP, but I don’t know if that is too much for a 13 y/o. All opinions, advice, and suggestions will be considered and appreciated. Thank you!

[aslyfox]

why not consider an " experienced " K 3 or K 3 II

check the marketplace and KEH.com, or the used sections of B & H, Adorama and Amazon

you may find one

[ unless you are afraid that he will really show you up with a " flag ship " Pentax ]

additional thought

he can use the KP when you aren't if it is appropriate

and you could use the K 3 or K 3 II when he isn't when that is appropriate

[FozzFoster]

I'd personally love to have a K-70.. I have the K-S2 and the K-70 was a big improvement..

[MikeMcE]

Well I would give him my KP and get another for myself.


Hang up and DRIVE!

[kypfer]

The K-70 will serve well
Mine's nearly two years old with 24k actuations and it doesn't miss a beat.
The KP has a couple of "extra features", if you really need them, extra af points, an extra three stops of low-light sensitivity and a 1/24000 electronic shutter speed, but my experience is that the battery life isn't quite as good as the K-70. The K-70's fully articulated screen has some advantages in certain situations as well.
I decided the KP was worth the extra investment for what I want, but make a careful comparison of features ... only you (or your son) can decide if the extra price is really worth it ... the price difference might go towards another lens


Enjoy

[stevebrot]

What is the consensus now for the reliability/durability of the K-70 and its aperture control solenoid??

Consensus depends on who you ask. There is a dedicated cadre of about 4 or 5 PF members that will reliably contribute to threads like this with a broad claim that all non-flagship models from the K-30 forward are intrinsically prone to aperture control failure and that the risk is too great to justify a K-70 purchase. On the other side of the coin is the vast majority of happy K-70 owners who have have never had an issue with aperture control. Anecdotal evidence since the problem first surfaced on the K-30 is that owners of that model got hammered with many K-50 owners having similar problems. Reports regarding K-S1 and K-S2 seem to indicate much lower prevalence with the K-70 having even less problems.

Personally, I would not hesitate to buy a K-70 at the current price point should my K-3 die tomorrow. One can buy two for less than the expected price of a K-new.


Steve

[Peter_JDH]

Earlier this year my KS-2 developed “aperture block failure” at around 14000 actuations. After considering advice form members on PF I decided not to repair the KS-2, but get a KP. I love the KP and it is the perfect camera for me. HOWEVER, as soon as I stopped using the KS-2, my 13 y/o son commandeered it along with my DA 35mmf2.4 and DA-L 50-200mm lenses!! He is now shooting circles around me and even getting good BIF photos!! He has learned to work around the dark frames which usually occur only when the camera has sat overnight.
It is a worrisome issue and he therefore is saving up his money for a K-70 of which he will have half by his birthday in November, and my wife and I will give him the other half for his present. What is the consensus now for the reliability/durability of the K-70 and its aperture control solenoid?? I would hate for the aperture to fail on this camera like on the KS-2.
Should he chance the K-70 or would it be better to wait until he can get a KP? He is out shooting daily and uses drive mode on birds, so he can accumulate lots of shutter actuations in a day. He is also studying books on photography in general, and bird photography in specific, so he seems pretty serious. My gut wants to go with the KP, but I don’t know if that is too much for a 13 y/o. All opinions, advice, and suggestions will be considered and appreciated. Thank you!

Sorry on many levels to hear of yet another model possibly afflicted by the solenoid problem. I have both a K-30 and a K-50 that were each repaired for faulty aperture solenoids by an authorized Pentax service centre. At least the K-50 was under warranty. The K-30 went after 60,0000 on the shutter so could not complain too much. The repair guy told me that in his experience once a camera is repaired for this problem they seem to stay repaired as he had never done a ‘re-repair’ on one. Both my repairs are now over two years ago and no problem since - even the heavily used K-30. Given the K-70 may also share this sometimes affliction, I can say I am happy I paid for my repair vs taking a chance on a K-70 at much higher cost than the fix (~$200). Granted, I’m interested in the K-3 ii replacement coming out as the flagship models seem more dependable from what I read.

[ChristianRock]

I agree that a used K-3 with its larger buffer and FPS might be better for the BIF photography. It's also a camera that should give you no worries regarding the aperture block.

But the K-70 with the better image processor, tilted screen and some other newer things, might be the "most attractive" for a 13yo.

Another option is to buy a few very affordable manual lenses - 28mm f/3.5, 50mm f/1.7 (or f1.4), M 100 2.8 or Takumar Bayonet 135/2.8, and an M 200 f4 or SMC-A 70-210mm f4, and have him learn real photography (I say that with tongue in cheek obviously, but manual lens photography is very rewarding to learn...).

[swanlefitte]

He loves bif so stick with the ks2 and get the 55-300 plm which uses kaf4 and immune to aperture control failure.
Edit. Forgot. For short lenses, vintage still work and help creativity while being inexpensive. Better to take your time with landscape anyway. All manual is great for an enthusiastic learner.

[que es tu]

He loves bif so stick with the ks2 and get the 55-300 plm which uses kaf4 and immune to aperture control failure.
Edit. Forgot. For short lenses, vintage still work and help creativity while being inexpensive. Better to take your time with landscape anyway. All manual is great for an enthusiastic learner.

He actually is talking about getting an A series telephoto to try out the catch in focus feature!

[mikesbike]

Well, he is saving for a K-70, and is thus calling his plan, which is a good lesson in itself- saving for what you want. But when his birthday comes, since he is so very interested in photography and makes such good progress, I believe it is fitting for him to have an advanced photographer's camera- which is a KP! He would have a lot to grow into. If it is doable, perhaps consider putting a bit more in as "the other half" of his money and really surprise him!

The KP has been lowered in price lately to the degree it not all that much more considering the pro-level construction, features, etc. You just don't often see this class of current-model DSLR at such a price. Then it would also be easy as a family to exchange cameras at times, or use two for certain events when he or you will not be needing any. I agree about the reliability issue also.

Has he done any shooting with the KP yet?

[que es tu]

Yes, surprising him with a KP would be fun! I got mine for $747USD which is only 200 more than the K 70. So putting in a little more is still on the table. He learns fast, so it won't take long to grow into a KP or K3. He has shot a little with the KP while I was at work. Yes, he outdid me!

[The Squirrel Mafia]

The K-30/50/500 seemed to have the most failures followed by the K-S1/S2. There have been a few aperture failures on the K-70, but not on the level of the older cameras. I think he'll be fine for a long while with a K-70.

The other option is giving him your KP after you end up buying the K-new.

[MikeMcE]

Yes, surprising him with a KP would be fun! I got mine for $747USD which is only 200 more than the K 70. So putting in a little more is still on the table. He learns fast, so it won't take long to grow into a KP or K3. He has shot a little with the KP while I was at work. Yes, he outdid me!

I suspect he's a lucky youngster! You both will do great! Enjoy the KP's.

[Cerebum]

Even though failures are rarer in the K70, it would worry me a little. The KP is a beautiful thing but battery life isn't great unless you get a grip which also adds balance with bigger lenses, but that also adds $200. Aslyfox's suggestion of a K3ii is a good one. Great buffer, decent battery life, built like a tank, and that would give you room to get a plm, maybe?