Originally posted by bofh I'll try to.
Do you have a source for that, please?
Here in Germany there are some white solenoids for around 50€, green from China with the large magnet (very likely the faulty) and some blue solenoids from Poland. As far as I read, the latter are even worse than the green solenoids.
Plan B is to buy the expensive white solenoid.
E.
Do not buy ANY online solenoids, especially the green Chinese variety, or the blue ones-Photogem has done an excellent thread on here regarding the differences between the solenoids, and what to avoid. Even the white ones sold online tend to be culled from old DVD players, or the wrong models of camera. There are only certain white solenoids that can be used, and again , Photogem covers this.in thread
A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY: Development of the solenoid in Pentax cameras - PentaxForums.com. The K-S1 repair thread is ttps://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/184-pentax-k-s1-k-s2/388567-manual-solenoid-replacement-pentax-k-s1.html.
Although the instructions are quite comprehensive, it will probably take you longer to read them than do the repair! If you can handle a small soldering iron , and have the correct tipped screwdriver, the repair can be done in under an hour.
I purchased my solenoids from John Pye Technical
39-40 Marchington Industrial Estate
Stubby Lane
Uttoxeter
ST14 8LP
tel.01283384409
the Ricoh part number for the solenoid is 77650G119, and as I said cost is £9 plus VAT( 2021 price)
Read more at: K-30 / K-50 Aperture Block Failue - Repair Solution available - Page 64 - PentaxForums.com
John Pye is the Pentax-approved repairer I was referred to by Pentax UK. This was last year, and from what I can gather from the comments of other forum members, John Pye do NOT export, presumably because of all the red tape that that beknighted Brexit decision has caused! However if you contact Pentax in your own country, you should find they will be willing to sell you the updated solenoid if you quote the part number.
As the threads outline, there is another alternative, and that is to obtain a suitable donor camera that has the original, and non-problematic-'white' solenoid. I have managed to buy a couple of ist DLs at low price that I used as donor cameras, removing the white solenoid from the flash compartment. These cameras have two solenoids, so it does not disable a working donor camera, and in fact the green solenoid from the K-S1 can be used in the flash compartment of the donor camera. I have so far not noticed any issues with this since the green solenoids rarely causes problems when used for raising the flash cover.
If you have any problems sourcing an upgraded solenoid from Pentax where you are, for whatever reason, please let me know. I can always buy one from John Pye ( assuming they have not started restricting the sales, of course) and post it out to you.I don't know what the solenoid price is currently, but even with international postage the total should come to under £25, and you will have a solenoid guaranteed to work and -hopefully-last. the K-S1 is worth it.