Brought a Pentax 10D and immediate problem

JamesAus · 06-22-2007, 02:01 AM

I brought a Pentax 10D today, my first SLR camera, after using a regular digital camera for 5 years.

I've switched on the camera and set it to automatic mode as I just want to try it out first of all, but it keeps on flashing on the view fielder "F - -" at me and I can't take a photo.

I've read every page in the manual, spent nearly 2 hours going through the various sections and searching the web, and am getting extremely frustrated.

I am new to this game, but would have thought the manual could have been a tad more user friendly.

Can anyone help please?

barendvl · 06-22-2007, 02:03 AM

Seems to me the camera can't get a reading from the lens as to which aperture is set.

Which lens are you using? The kit lens?

JamesAus · 06-22-2007, 02:03 AM

Thanks in advance to anyone who takes the time to respond btw.

JamesAus · 06-22-2007, 02:05 AM

Yes, I'm using the kit lenses.

It's a Pentax 18-55mm Lens.

This is the product page where I brought it from - Pentax K10D Digital SLR Camera - w/Pentax 18-55mm Lens

JamesAus · 06-22-2007, 02:14 AM

Ok, you're all going to laugh at me.

The lenses wasn't attached correctly. It appeared to be, but obviously wasnt, as I took it off and put it on again and everything worked fine.

Let the fun begin

barendvl · 06-22-2007, 02:17 AM

Hmm that is strange. Can you make a picture at all?

FYI it is normal that the viewfinder/top LCD shows 'F--' if you use a manual lens since the camera can't communicate with the lens. This shouldnt be a problem with any DA lens though.

Anybody else has an idea?

BTW, did you upgrade your firmware yet to the newest? I don't think it solves the problem, but you could try. As far as I know it doesn't blow your warranty but you should read up on that before upgrading since if this camera has a real fault inside that needs to be fixed, you might want to have your warranty still :-)

barendvl · 06-22-2007, 02:19 AM

Originally posted by JamesAus

Ok, you're all going to laugh at me.

The lenses wasn't attached correctly. It appeared to be, but obviously wasnt, as I took it off and put it on again and everything worked fine.

Let the fun begin

Haha! Well anyway congratulations on buying a splendid camera. Be sure to come fully prepared for a learning curve if you're a first time dSLR user! But don't be too dissapointed, just be patient and you'll learn.

Be sure to make a lens go 'click' before thinking it is properly attached

bt*ist · 06-22-2007, 02:51 AM

Happened to me too

I had put a manual lens on and set the aperture ring off 'A'. Basically I had 'f--' on every setting. It took me a minute to figure out what was going on... in the <menu> for custom settings, near the bottom of the options there's one that's "Using Aperture Ring" - I've now set that to 'permitted' . So now, to quote the explanation "pictures can be taken even when aperture ring is other than A". Camera is happy, I am happy.

matix · 06-22-2007, 03:34 AM

So... what did you say to the camera when it would only say F... to you?

Good luck with your new camera, you will love it.

Phil

Kaimarx · 06-22-2007, 03:51 AM

Heh, i think this happens more than most care to admit...i get lazy switching lenses and forget to check the view finder when shooting until im 4 or 5 shots in manual...doh!

JamesAus · 06-22-2007, 06:14 AM

Thanks for the welcome guys

Haha - yes I was getting pretty angry after looking at it for so long! Perhaps Pentax could provide a nicer error message saying the lense isn't attached properly

davek · 06-22-2007, 06:25 AM

Originally posted by Kaimarx

Heh, i think this happens more than most care to admit...i

You can say that again. Lots of interesting weather on the way home from work last night. Grabbed the camera, prepared to fire.... nothing.... Check settings, should be ok... nothing.... seeing ----- on the LCD? What's that? Panic..... look at rear screen "No Card"

sigh.

Kaimarx · 06-22-2007, 10:39 AM

Originally posted by davek

You can say that again. Lots of interesting weather on the way home from work last night. Grabbed the camera, prepared to fire.... nothing.... Check settings, should be ok... nothing.... seeing ----- on the LCD? What's that? Panic..... look at rear screen "No Card"

sigh.

That one takes the cake. "DAMMMMMNN THIS MACHINE!!! DAMMMMMNN YOU PENTAAAX!!! DAA.......huh?....oh..... No Card, my bad."

davemdsn · 06-22-2007, 10:51 AM

Pass the cake this way - I have been using DSLRs for over three years and SLRs in general for more than eleven years and every once in a while I do the ultimate blunder - I get upset because the meter/system won't wake up from sleep mode when I half press the shutter, blood pressure starts to rise while I consider throwing the camera at the subject instead of taking a picture only to realize that I have actually turned the switch off. Yeah, I'll take a piece of that cake.

Back in the film days I shot a whole series of formals before a wedding reception with no film in the camera. Good thing it was my own family and we all had a good laugh while I reshot about 30 minutes worth of images.

These kinds of things are just really easy to do.

Chocolar · 06-22-2007, 10:55 AM

Originally posted by matix

So... what did you say to the camera when it would only say F... to you?

Good luck with your new camera, you will love it.

Phil

I heard "The last comic standing" is in Australia, want to try it?

06-22-2007, 02:01 AM	#1
JamesAus Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 68	Brought a Pentax 10D and immediate problem I brought a Pentax 10D today, my first SLR camera, after using a regular digital camera for 5 years. I've switched on the camera and set it to automatic mode as I just want to try it out first of all, but it keeps on flashing on the view fielder "F - -" at me and I can't take a photo. I've read every page in the manual, spent nearly 2 hours going through the various sections and searching the web, and am getting extremely frustrated. I am new to this game, but would have thought the manual could have been a tad more user friendly. Can anyone help please?

06-22-2007, 03:34 AM	#9
matix Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 239	Help, my new K10D is swearing at me So... what did you say to the camera when it would only say F... to you? Good luck with your new camera, you will love it. Phil

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Nature I brought you these flowers	rm2	Post Your Photos!	8	10-29-2010 11:28 PM
Pentax-M f1.4 50mm lens & K-10D	jimH	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	8	05-19-2009 06:59 AM
Pentax-M f1.4 50mm lens & K-10D	jimH	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	7	04-04-2009 12:52 PM
Guess what the mailman brought me today!	Photochop	Post Your Photos!	14	03-01-2007 12:08 AM
Just found out what Santa brought me!!!	sharpshoota	Pentax DSLR Discussion	11	01-12-2007 01:05 PM

06-22-2007, 02:03 AM	#2
barendvl Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Netherlands, Eindhoven Posts: 133	Seems to me the camera can't get a reading from the lens as to which aperture is set. Which lens are you using? The kit lens?

06-22-2007, 02:05 AM	#4
JamesAus Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 68 Original Poster	Yes, I'm using the kit lenses. It's a Pentax 18-55mm Lens. This is the product page where I brought it from - Pentax K10D Digital SLR Camera - w/Pentax 18-55mm Lens

06-22-2007, 02:14 AM	#5
JamesAus Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 68 Original Poster	Ok, you're all going to laugh at me. The lenses wasn't attached correctly. It appeared to be, but obviously wasnt, as I took it off and put it on again and everything worked fine. Let the fun begin

06-22-2007, 02:17 AM	#6
barendvl Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Netherlands, Eindhoven Posts: 133	Hmm that is strange. Can you make a picture at all? FYI it is normal that the viewfinder/top LCD shows 'F--' if you use a manual lens since the camera can't communicate with the lens. This shouldnt be a problem with any DA lens though. Anybody else has an idea? BTW, did you upgrade your firmware yet to the newest? I don't think it solves the problem, but you could try. As far as I know it doesn't blow your warranty but you should read up on that before upgrading since if this camera has a real fault inside that needs to be fixed, you might want to have your warranty still :-)

06-22-2007, 02:19 AM	#7
barendvl Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Netherlands, Eindhoven Posts: 133	Originally posted by JamesAus Ok, you're all going to laugh at me. The lenses wasn't attached correctly. It appeared to be, but obviously wasnt, as I took it off and put it on again and everything worked fine. Let the fun begin Haha! Well anyway congratulations on buying a splendid camera. Be sure to come fully prepared for a learning curve if you're a first time dSLR user! But don't be too dissapointed, just be patient and you'll learn. Be sure to make a lens go 'click' before thinking it is properly attached

06-22-2007, 02:51 AM	#8
bt*ist Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: London, UK Photos: Gallery Posts: 211	Happened to me too I had put a manual lens on and set the aperture ring off 'A'. Basically I had 'f--' on every setting. It took me a minute to figure out what was going on... in the <menu> for custom settings, near the bottom of the options there's one that's "Using Aperture Ring" - I've now set that to 'permitted' . So now, to quote the explanation "pictures can be taken even when aperture ring is other than A". Camera is happy, I am happy.

06-22-2007, 03:51 AM	#10
Kaimarx Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Auckland Photos: Gallery Posts: 452	Heh, i think this happens more than most care to admit...i get lazy switching lenses and forget to check the view finder when shooting until im 4 or 5 shots in manual...doh!

06-22-2007, 06:14 AM	#11
JamesAus Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 68 Original Poster	Thanks for the welcome guys Haha - yes I was getting pretty angry after looking at it for so long! Perhaps Pentax could provide a nicer error message saying the lense isn't attached properly

06-22-2007, 06:25 AM	#12
davek Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Elmira, On, Canada Posts: 461	Originally posted by Kaimarx Heh, i think this happens more than most care to admit...i You can say that again. Lots of interesting weather on the way home from work last night. Grabbed the camera, prepared to fire.... nothing.... Check settings, should be ok... nothing.... seeing ----- on the LCD? What's that? Panic..... look at rear screen "No Card" sigh.

06-22-2007, 10:39 AM	#13
Kaimarx Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Auckland Photos: Gallery Posts: 452	Originally posted by davek You can say that again. Lots of interesting weather on the way home from work last night. Grabbed the camera, prepared to fire.... nothing.... Check settings, should be ok... nothing.... seeing ----- on the LCD? What's that? Panic..... look at rear screen "No Card" sigh. That one takes the cake. "DAMMMMMNN THIS MACHINE!!! DAMMMMMNN YOU PENTAAAX!!! DAA.......huh?....oh..... No Card, my bad."

06-22-2007, 10:51 AM	#14
davemdsn Inactive Account Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Boise, Idaho Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,413	Pass the cake this way - I have been using DSLRs for over three years and SLRs in general for more than eleven years and every once in a while I do the ultimate blunder - I get upset because the meter/system won't wake up from sleep mode when I half press the shutter, blood pressure starts to rise while I consider throwing the camera at the subject instead of taking a picture only to realize that I have actually turned the switch off. Yeah, I'll take a piece of that cake. Back in the film days I shot a whole series of formals before a wedding reception with no film in the camera. Good thing it was my own family and we all had a good laugh while I reshot about 30 minutes worth of images. These kinds of things are just really easy to do.

06-22-2007, 10:55 AM	#15
Chocolar Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: OC, California Posts: 147	Originally posted by matix So... what did you say to the camera when it would only say F... to you? Good luck with your new camera, you will love it. Phil I heard "The last comic standing" is in Australia, want to try it?