K5 giving occasional corrupt images

Darren8306 · 11-05-2011, 11:20 AM

Hi everyone, I was hoping that someone could help me identify a problem. My K-5 has been giving me occasional corrupted images, and I don't know what is causing them. I have attached one for reference.
I haven't even a good way to describe it. Any help would be appreciated.

**RKKS08** · 11-05-2011, 11:56 AM

Try another memory card. And store as raw AND jpg. If it looks faulty on the camera monitor, save to a computer and have a look at both raw and jpg. With some luck, then we can limit the many possible causes to just a handful.

If it looks alright at the camera monitor, but faulty at the computer, try different methods to send it to the computer (by cable, by card reader). If, in this case, the error shows only when using a cable (or an external reader connected by USB), try another cable and another USB port at the computer.

Darren8306 · 11-05-2011, 12:17 PM

I will switch my card now, and start saving in both formats. Trouble is, the problem is not coming up very often. I will post info after the next incidence.

Thanks for the quick suggestion!

audiobomber · 11-05-2011, 07:11 PM

I had similar results from a faulty Adata 16GB card. Some photos looked normal, some were compound (portion of two photos), some just like yours, part of a photo, partly just distorted garbage.

Darren8306 · 11-05-2011, 07:25 PM

Thanks, audiobomber. I am using a SDXC card (changed it to a SDHC as per the first suggestion in this thread) and don't know yet if the problem is with the camera, or the file copying...

brosen · 11-05-2011, 07:44 PM

I have had the same problem two or three times, my K-5 is less than 1 month old, I am using a Lexar Professional 128GB SDXC card. I have the theory that the SDXC driver in the K-5 is buggy. I've used the same 128GB SDXC card in two other cameras taken more than 1,000 pictures with no problems at all, in the K-5 I've taken around 500 and 3 errors already. I understand you were using an SDXC card as well, correct ?

Darren8306 · 11-05-2011, 07:49 PM

Correct...now how can we make this thread most useful?

brosen · 11-05-2011, 07:51 PM

I sent an email to Pentax USA with two of the pictures attached, maybe you can do the same, that way we will have enough traction to make them review the SDXC driver.

Kennod · 11-05-2011, 08:07 PM

I've had exactly the same problem using a Lexar Professional SDXC 64GB card in both K-5 and K-7.

I shoot RAW+ JPG. If I delete images in-camera, and then take more shots, then the next few RAW images are corrupted. Sometimes the image cannot be displayed in-camera. Sometimes looks fine in-camera but get the same corrupted RAW files as the OP when imported. The jpg's seem fine.

I can recreate the problem using a friends identical Lexar SDXC 64GB card. These are the only SDXC cards I have tried. However, if it were an issue (firmware) will SDXC then I would expect it to have been more widely reported.

So my conclusion: Don't delete in-camera using this card.

brosen · 11-05-2011, 08:29 PM

I am using JPEGs and I have had a similar problem, that I cannot zoom in camera

Kennod · 11-05-2011, 10:11 PM

does it only happen after deleting in-camera?

Darren8306 · 11-05-2011, 10:20 PM

I just tested by taking a few hundred photos, about forty at a time, formatting in camera, or deleting in camera each time. I didn't get any failures. Any suggestions on how to make this happen again?

Kennod · 11-06-2011, 12:12 AM

Originally posted by Darren8306

I just tested by taking a few hundred photos, about forty at a time, formatting in camera, or deleting in camera each time. I didn't get any failures. Any suggestions on how to make this happen again?

I can recreate the problem with a Lexar SDXC card as follows:

take several shots (RAW+JPG) - only need 5 or 6
if I import these, there is no problem
now delete 2 or 3 of the images in camera
now take 2 or 3 more shots
now 1 or 2 of the images will be corrupted, either cannot be displayed in camera, or is corrupted when imported
I have also had images that display in camera but but can't zoom in. These are corrupted when imported.

I have NEVER had any corruption after formatting the card, but ALWAYS after I delete some recent images and the take more.

I've used different programs to import, have used both K-5 and K-7 cameras and tested 2 versions of the same card. I put it down to something about this model of card and probably others. Hopefully it is something than can be addressed in firmware, but in the meantime I just never delete in-camera when using my Lexar 64GB SDXC card.

Darren8306 · 11-06-2011, 12:57 AM

I can't recreate the blunder in this fashion, with this SDXC card. Perhaps I will try again tomorrow with fresh eyes.

Kennod · 11-06-2011, 01:28 AM

Of course, your problem may not be the same as mine. Good luck and let us know how you go.

11-05-2011, 11:20 AM	#1
Darren8306 Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: 60° North Posts: 85	K5 giving occasional corrupt images Hi everyone, I was hoping that someone could help me identify a problem. My K-5 has been giving me occasional corrupted images, and I don't know what is causing them. I have attached one for reference. I haven't even a good way to describe it. Any help would be appreciated.

11-05-2011, 08:07 PM	#9
Kennod Senior Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Melbourne Posts: 126	Don't delete in camera I've had exactly the same problem using a Lexar Professional SDXC 64GB card in both K-5 and K-7. I shoot RAW+ JPG. If I delete images in-camera, and then take more shots, then the next few RAW images are corrupted. Sometimes the image cannot be displayed in-camera. Sometimes looks fine in-camera but get the same corrupted RAW files as the OP when imported. The jpg's seem fine. I can recreate the problem using a friends identical Lexar SDXC 64GB card. These are the only SDXC cards I have tried. However, if it were an issue (firmware) will SDXC then I would expect it to have been more widely reported. So my conclusion: Don't delete in-camera using this card.

11-06-2011, 12:12 AM	#13
Kennod Senior Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Melbourne Posts: 126	Originally posted by Darren8306 I just tested by taking a few hundred photos, about forty at a time, formatting in camera, or deleting in camera each time. I didn't get any failures. Any suggestions on how to make this happen again? I can recreate the problem with a Lexar SDXC card as follows: take several shots (RAW+JPG) - only need 5 or 6 if I import these, there is no problem now delete 2 or 3 of the images in camera now take 2 or 3 more shots now 1 or 2 of the images will be corrupted, either cannot be displayed in camera, or is corrupted when imported I have also had images that display in camera but but can't zoom in. These are corrupted when imported. I have NEVER had any corruption after formatting the card, but ALWAYS after I delete some recent images and the take more. I've used different programs to import, have used both K-5 and K-7 cameras and tested 2 versions of the same card. I put it down to something about this model of card and probably others. Hopefully it is something than can be addressed in firmware, but in the meantime I just never delete in-camera when using my Lexar 64GB SDXC card.

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11-05-2011, 11:56 AM	#2
RKKS08 Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Frankfurt am Main Posts: 1,241	Try another memory card. And store as raw AND jpg. If it looks faulty on the camera monitor, save to a computer and have a look at both raw and jpg. With some luck, then we can limit the many possible causes to just a handful. If it looks alright at the camera monitor, but faulty at the computer, try different methods to send it to the computer (by cable, by card reader). If, in this case, the error shows only when using a cable (or an external reader connected by USB), try another cable and another USB port at the computer.

11-05-2011, 12:17 PM	#3
Darren8306 Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: 60° North Posts: 85 Original Poster	I will switch my card now, and start saving in both formats. Trouble is, the problem is not coming up very often. I will post info after the next incidence. Thanks for the quick suggestion!

11-05-2011, 07:11 PM	#4
audiobomber Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Sudbury, Ontario Photos: Albums Posts: 6,806	I had similar results from a faulty Adata 16GB card. Some photos looked normal, some were compound (portion of two photos), some just like yours, part of a photo, partly just distorted garbage.

11-05-2011, 07:25 PM	#5
Darren8306 Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: 60° North Posts: 85 Original Poster	Thanks, audiobomber. I am using a SDXC card (changed it to a SDHC as per the first suggestion in this thread) and don't know yet if the problem is with the camera, or the file copying...

11-05-2011, 07:44 PM	#6
brosen Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: US Posts: 183	I have had the same problem two or three times, my K-5 is less than 1 month old, I am using a Lexar Professional 128GB SDXC card. I have the theory that the SDXC driver in the K-5 is buggy. I've used the same 128GB SDXC card in two other cameras taken more than 1,000 pictures with no problems at all, in the K-5 I've taken around 500 and 3 errors already. I understand you were using an SDXC card as well, correct ?

11-05-2011, 07:49 PM	#7
Darren8306 Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: 60° North Posts: 85 Original Poster	Correct...now how can we make this thread most useful?

11-05-2011, 07:51 PM	#8
brosen Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: US Posts: 183	I sent an email to Pentax USA with two of the pictures attached, maybe you can do the same, that way we will have enough traction to make them review the SDXC driver.

11-05-2011, 08:29 PM	#10
brosen Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: US Posts: 183	I am using JPEGs and I have had a similar problem, that I cannot zoom in camera

11-05-2011, 10:11 PM	#11
Kennod Senior Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Melbourne Posts: 126	does it only happen after deleting in-camera?

11-05-2011, 10:20 PM	#12
Darren8306 Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: 60° North Posts: 85 Original Poster	I just tested by taking a few hundred photos, about forty at a time, formatting in camera, or deleting in camera each time. I didn't get any failures. Any suggestions on how to make this happen again?

11-06-2011, 12:57 AM	#14
Darren8306 Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: 60° North Posts: 85 Original Poster	I can't recreate the blunder in this fashion, with this SDXC card. Perhaps I will try again tomorrow with fresh eyes.

11-06-2011, 01:28 AM	#15
Kennod Senior Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Melbourne Posts: 126	Of course, your problem may not be the same as mine. Good luck and let us know how you go.