Lens release button lost

debmalya · 09-17-2012, 07:54 PM

The lens release button of my K5 somehow came off and is lost. As far as I can remember this is not an uncommon occurence. However, didn't expect mine to fail, but it did. My warranty expires in 6 days. Called Pentax and they told me to ship it to CRIS in Chandler AZ for repair. When I asked if they could just give me the part they replied in negative. So now I have to send this camera to AZ for them to affix a plastic button.

Eulogy · 09-17-2012, 08:03 PM

Or deal with an alternate means of depressing the lens release. Like a fingernail. Or a pen. Or a ________

debmalya · 09-17-2012, 08:07 PM

Yes, that's how I changed lenses. But I need to get a proper repair work done for the long run and future resale maybe. Pentax told me to ship it with the lens and to avoid poking it with anything to remove the lens!

Eulogy · 09-17-2012, 08:08 PM

Originally posted by debmalya

Yes, that's how I changed lenses. But I need to get a proper repair work done for the long run and future resale maybe. Pentax told me to ship it with the lens and to avoid poking it with anything to remove the lens!

Yikes. Well, send it in, and deal with a camera phone for a few days?(You'll hate your life, but you'll love the K-5 more once you comes back)

JohnBee · 09-17-2012, 08:11 PM

It happens alot actually.

We had two K-5's and both lost their lens release buttons.

I sent my own in to get fixed, and a few months later my wife's fell off as well.
Ironically, both buttons were never found(magic?)

The fact that Pentax will fix it for free is rather reassuring, though it can be a real PITA if it happens during a shoot etc.

**blackcloudbrew** · 09-17-2012, 08:32 PM

I suggest use of a paper clip or two as the replacement. Worked for me, I kept it on my key ring.

mikeSF · 09-17-2012, 09:34 PM

mine is missing at the moment and i found a suitable piece of a toy to use to press it.
I also called Pentax and they refused to send me the part. I have a trip to hawaii coming up in 3 weeks and just dont know when i'll ever be able to be without my camera.

vonBaloney · 09-17-2012, 09:38 PM

Maybe you can convince the guys at CRIS to send you an extra button on the sly for the next time it falls off? I wonder how tight their inventory control is. I imagine them twisting the buttons off a plastic sheet that has dozens on it like the parts on those old plastic model cars...

rawr · 09-17-2012, 10:27 PM

I wonder if the K-5 II has seen some changes in the way the K-5 lens release button mechanism is designed or assembled? They fixed up the AF, maybe they had a go at fixing this issue too?

I haven't seen any mention of any design or assembly improvements from any of the Photokina PR

Maybe someone who is over there should ask a Pentax rep about it.

debmalya · 09-18-2012, 04:50 PM

Originally posted by mikeSF

mine is missing at the moment and i found a suitable piece of a toy to use to press it.
I also called Pentax and they refused to send me the part. I have a trip to hawaii coming up in 3 weeks and just dont know when i'll ever be able to be without my camera.

Me too... I requested them to send me a replacement, which I could probably press on myself but they refused to. They were quite adamant about me having to send it in for repair - for something so common and trivial. It cost me $25 with postage and insurance to send it in. I guess they are betting that some people will not send their's in for repair to avoid the postage and insurance expenses and they can save some trouble and money.

debmalya · 09-18-2012, 04:51 PM

Originally posted by debmalya

Me too... I requested them to send me a replacement, which I could probably press on myself but they refused to. They were quite adamant about me having to send it in for repair - for something so common and trivial. It cost me $25 with postage and insurance to send it in. I guess they are betting that some people will not send their's in for repair to avoid the postage and insurance expenses and they can save some trouble and money.

I doubt they would. Pentax refused to provide the replacement part.

tabl10s · 09-19-2012, 02:45 AM

I used a pin to get the lens off. Follow the instructions on the CRIS site exactly.

debmalya · 09-19-2012, 11:19 AM

Originally posted by tabl10s

I used a pin to get the lens off. Follow the instructions on the CRIS site exactly.

Damn... should I have also included return shipping cost? Mine is still within the standard 1 year warranty period.

debmalya · 09-19-2012, 11:27 AM

Just spoke to CRIS cam - a customer service rep. lady confirmed that return shipment is covered under warranty. She also said that they do not stock the part (she said she checked the inventory) and would have to order from Pentax after they receive the camera. Will take 3-4 weeks for Pentax to supply them the part, repair and then ship it back. What a great camera Pentax makes!

JohnBee · 09-19-2012, 12:22 PM

Originally posted by debmalya

I doubt they would. Pentax refused to provide the replacement part.

Here in Canada, they offered to send in a button for $14.00.
Though they also informed me that installing it would void the warranty.
At any rate, I don't think it's a big enough deal to ponder over tbh, best to just send in the unit and have it done right imo.

09-17-2012, 07:54 PM	#1
debmalya Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: NJ USA Photos: Albums Posts: 209	Lens release button lost The lens release button of my K5 somehow came off and is lost. As far as I can remember this is not an uncommon occurence. However, didn't expect mine to fail, but it did. My warranty expires in 6 days. Called Pentax and they told me to ship it to CRIS in Chandler AZ for repair. When I asked if they could just give me the part they replied in negative. So now I have to send this camera to AZ for them to affix a plastic button.

09-17-2012, 08:11 PM	#5
JohnBee Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Newrfoundland Photos: Albums Posts: 4,667	It happens alot actually. We had two K-5's and both lost their lens release buttons. I sent my own in to get fixed, and a few months later my wife's fell off as well. Ironically, both buttons were never found(magic?) The fact that Pentax will fix it for free is rather reassuring, though it can be a real PITA if it happens during a shoot etc. Last edited by JohnBee; 09-17-2012 at 08:56 PM.

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09-17-2012, 08:03 PM	#2
Eulogy Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Fredericton, New Brunswick Photos: Gallery Posts: 632	Or deal with an alternate means of depressing the lens release. Like a fingernail. Or a pen. Or a ________

09-17-2012, 08:07 PM	#3
debmalya Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: NJ USA Photos: Albums Posts: 209 Original Poster	Yes, that's how I changed lenses. But I need to get a proper repair work done for the long run and future resale maybe. Pentax told me to ship it with the lens and to avoid poking it with anything to remove the lens!

09-17-2012, 08:08 PM	#4
Eulogy Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Fredericton, New Brunswick Photos: Gallery Posts: 632	Originally posted by debmalya Yes, that's how I changed lenses. But I need to get a proper repair work done for the long run and future resale maybe. Pentax told me to ship it with the lens and to avoid poking it with anything to remove the lens! Yikes. Well, send it in, and deal with a camera phone for a few days?(You'll hate your life, but you'll love the K-5 more once you comes back)

09-17-2012, 08:32 PM	#6
blackcloudbrew Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Cotati, California USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,460	I suggest use of a paper clip or two as the replacement. Worked for me, I kept it on my key ring.

09-17-2012, 09:34 PM	#7
mikeSF Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: East Bay Area, CA Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,620	mine is missing at the moment and i found a suitable piece of a toy to use to press it. I also called Pentax and they refused to send me the part. I have a trip to hawaii coming up in 3 weeks and just dont know when i'll ever be able to be without my camera.

09-17-2012, 09:38 PM	#8
vonBaloney Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 6,029	Maybe you can convince the guys at CRIS to send you an extra button on the sly for the next time it falls off? I wonder how tight their inventory control is. I imagine them twisting the buttons off a plastic sheet that has dozens on it like the parts on those old plastic model cars...

09-17-2012, 10:27 PM	#9
rawr Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 11,913	I wonder if the K-5 II has seen some changes in the way the K-5 lens release button mechanism is designed or assembled? They fixed up the AF, maybe they had a go at fixing this issue too? I haven't seen any mention of any design or assembly improvements from any of the Photokina PR Maybe someone who is over there should ask a Pentax rep about it.

09-18-2012, 04:50 PM	#10
debmalya Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: NJ USA Photos: Albums Posts: 209 Original Poster	Originally posted by mikeSF mine is missing at the moment and i found a suitable piece of a toy to use to press it. I also called Pentax and they refused to send me the part. I have a trip to hawaii coming up in 3 weeks and just dont know when i'll ever be able to be without my camera. Me too... I requested them to send me a replacement, which I could probably press on myself but they refused to. They were quite adamant about me having to send it in for repair - for something so common and trivial. It cost me $25 with postage and insurance to send it in. I guess they are betting that some people will not send their's in for repair to avoid the postage and insurance expenses and they can save some trouble and money.

09-18-2012, 04:51 PM	#11
debmalya Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: NJ USA Photos: Albums Posts: 209 Original Poster	Originally posted by debmalya Me too... I requested them to send me a replacement, which I could probably press on myself but they refused to. They were quite adamant about me having to send it in for repair - for something so common and trivial. It cost me $25 with postage and insurance to send it in. I guess they are betting that some people will not send their's in for repair to avoid the postage and insurance expenses and they can save some trouble and money. I doubt they would. Pentax refused to provide the replacement part.

09-19-2012, 02:45 AM	#12
tabl10s Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Sacramento(formerly from B'Ham, England). Posts: 1,424	I used a pin to get the lens off. Follow the instructions on the CRIS site exactly.

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09-19-2012, 11:19 AM	#13
debmalya Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: NJ USA Photos: Albums Posts: 209 Original Poster	Originally posted by tabl10s I used a pin to get the lens off. Follow the instructions on the CRIS site exactly. Damn... should I have also included return shipping cost? Mine is still within the standard 1 year warranty period.

09-19-2012, 11:27 AM	#14
debmalya Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: NJ USA Photos: Albums Posts: 209 Original Poster	Just spoke to CRIS cam - a customer service rep. lady confirmed that return shipment is covered under warranty. She also said that they do not stock the part (she said she checked the inventory) and would have to order from Pentax after they receive the camera. Will take 3-4 weeks for Pentax to supply them the part, repair and then ship it back. What a great camera Pentax makes!

09-19-2012, 12:22 PM	#15
JohnBee Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Newrfoundland Photos: Albums Posts: 4,667	Originally posted by debmalya I doubt they would. Pentax refused to provide the replacement part. Here in Canada, they offered to send in a button for $14.00. Though they also informed me that installing it would void the warranty. At any rate, I don't think it's a big enough deal to ponder over tbh, best to just send in the unit and have it done right imo.