My K-5 took a tumble in June, while we were in the UK on a bird photograhing trip, and had to be sent off for replacement of the bayonet and the display glass - took over a month before I had it returned, due to lack of spare parts (an effect of the Tsunami).

This time it had problems writing/reading the SD card. To begin with it helped to format the card, but then nothing helped, so I drew the conclusion that there was a problem with the Sandisc Extreme III card, so we went to 'our' photoshop yesterday (I got the card replaced, no problem). Left the shop in a good mood, chatting with my wife, everything just great.

Nearby flows a small river, so we decided to leave the car on the photoshop's premises, and simply walk across the street for some bird spotting, and (hopefully) bird photography. Not much around, but magpies and mallards. When I tried to check my first shot the K-5 said 'no card in the camera' - oh, sh*t, did I forget to insert another card?! Oh, well, I had gotten a new one, for the one that had misbehaved, so back to the car, but then I saw that there sure was a card in the camera! Sigh, so it was with heavy feet I returned to the photoshop, and said adieu to my darling K-5 a second time!

Anyone else out there with similar problems?!

Not so far (touches wood). I have another problem, though, the front selection wheel is misbehaving. When I flick through the exposure time in manual mode it will switch to shorter times for a few times and then jumps back to longer times (e.g. 8s, 4s, 3s, 8s, 10s, 8s etc.) with the wheel being turned in the same direction all the time. As I have some small stains on the sensor that didn't bother me overly I think I will send it in now and see if I get a new one.
It seems that Pentax really has some QC problems with the K-5. After 3200 exposures that wheel should work like new. Never had any problems with that on my K20D.

Prieni

Prieni,

Your wheel problem is sadly typical for rotating encoders in a dusty surrounding: I've experienced it a lot with the radios in our buses, where the volume knob can behave just like that. A thorough cleaning should solve it, but it is also shows that + & - buttons would be a much better design! Really a design flaw (unless there are seals that should have been there that didn't get installed - then its sloppy assembly control).

As I haven't heard of this problem from anyone else, let's hope it is the assembly that was faulty, but indeed, get it repaired while you're under warranty!

I've haven't had many issues with my K-5, a few times I've put in the DSHC card it didn't seem to register, but I could pull it out and put it back in and it worked fine.. never any data errors etc. My e-wheels are all working fine and I'm guessing I'm at least at 5000+ exposures.

Good for you! My retailer called today and told me a new K-5 is awaiting me ;-)! So the card reading problem was worse than I imagined :-(!

Mine is from the series with oil-on-the-sensor problem, so I am glad I will get my new tomorrow!

I picked ordered my K-5 in mid February, when the sensor stain issues were very prevalent. I just had faith mine would be stainless.. and it was! So far the minor card reading issue is all I've had, and even that only happens 1 in 50 or more card inserts..

Lucky you ;-)!

The new K-5 is way away from the stain affected series, so I am pretty pleased, as my old was very much in that series (not seen anything, but, you know ...).