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Forum: Pentax K-70 & KF
12-09-2019, 03:13 PM
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Solenoid-Replacement Pentax K-70
(Pentax K-S2 is almost identical exept screw of solenoid situated on left instead of left side!)
Tools required:
- Soldering iron with pencil-tip: Ersa Multi-Pro 20W or soldering needle/USB soldering iron. Butan-gas s.iron = No-Go! Too hot, it will do damage!
- Solder: Good quality thin resin flux solder (I use thin leaded solder, for such a small work it is not really dangerous due to its lead-content) - Screwdrivers JIS 000 or PH000 + PH00 (JIS size works for all screws, if you use PH, then you need the PH000 for the solenoid screw. JIS is preferable!)
- Tweezers or precision pliers
- Headlamp is very useful, makes things easier
- photos of K-70 with location of screws
Preparation:
- Print out all those photos, glue them on some cardboard, drill 2mm holes were the screws are located so you can later on stick all those screws into those holes. Makes it easier and safe due to different length of the screws.
- Make sure you took the battery out 24 hours prior undertaking the repair. This is for discharging the flash-condenser, which is well protected within the K-70, nevertheless you don't want to risk getting a nasty shock! This condenser charges as soon as you open the pop-up-flash with battery inside the switched-on camera! So don't open the flash prior removal of the battery! You need to open it for access of 3 screws!
- For another option how to discharge the flash-condenser read HERE
Sequence of opening the body (Body-cap is mounted on the K-mount for protection of sensor etc.)
1. Remove all screws from the bottom part:
- 11 x screws direct access (green arrows)
- 3 x behind the battery-door (red arrows)
- Like with other Pentax DSLR, there is one screw deep within battery-case left side: DON'T take this one out!
2. Remove all 3 x screws from the left side (2 of them hidden behind the rubber grip):
3. Remove all 3 x screws from the right side (all 3 hidden behind the rubber grip):
4. Open the flash (battery is out!):
Remove the 2 x screws there underneath the pop-up-flash and the 2 x screws where next to where you fix the strap/belt:
5. Remove the 2 x screws behind the rubber-eye-cup:
6. Now you lift the TOP-PART (with the open flash) about 1 cm. This is very important because otherwise the front-part is more difficult to remove!
7. Set the AF-MF switch on MF (see photo #2 but there it is on AF)! Check position again when you assemble it back!
Make sure you understand its position: When on MF, the screwdrive is in/retreated, when on AF, it comes out of this small hole of the stainless-steel bayonet!
Take the FRONT-PART OFF: It is a bit tight, you might have to lever a bit to release it but don't worry, this is normal!
8. Now you have access to the green solenoid:
9. Unsolder both leads and unscrew the screw on the LEFT SIDE (K-S2 has it on the right side, otherwise everything is the same). Take the solenoid out.
10. Install the white-Japan-made Solenoid (the only correct solution, avoid filing/grinding/sanding):
11. Make sure you tighten the screw, you might want to fix it with threat-locking-laquer or nail-varnish, but I never needed to do it!
12.Solder the two wires back to the pins (left=pink//right=lilac). Crucial to do a good job, hold the wires with tweezers and pull to make sure they really are well soldered!
14. Now bring the top-part (with flash) back into position for being able to test the solenoid.
You might want to fix it with 2 screws (right to the viewfinder and the on the right strapholder, so the buttons have a good contact!
CLOSE THE POP-UP-FLASH!
Insert the battery and plug on a lens.
Switch the camera ON, in Av-Mode wide open take a photo.
You can see if the solenoid actuates and the photo should be alright.
If all is alright, take the lens, battery and the 2 screws off again.
15. Lift the Top part again slightly
16. AF-MF-Switch alignement: The is crucial now:
- Outer part of AF-MF-switch on the front-housing on MF:
- The internal part (black plastic, white arrow left) has to be upwards...
.... so the screwdrive mechanism "retreats" into this tiny hole (white arrow right). The rod of the AF-MF switch connects with the internal part!
(you have checked this before and understood the principle well, remember!)
17. Assemble the front part back and then the top-part (with flash).
18. Test AF-MF-Switch again! If it doesn't work correctly, take the front-part off again and realign!
19. There is this small plastic ring on the microphone-socket, don't lose it!
When you come to the bottom-plate, make sure you haven't missed this small part, which sometimes comes off:
It slides just on and off easely and is there to protect the cables from the display:
On its place it looks like this:
and with the bottomplate back on place it looks like this:
20. The rest is clear now, all screws in the same order as you got them out.
21. Test the K-70 and all should be fine
I have not written here about the differences of the solenoids, you can find that all HERE
Good luck!
If you are interested in this very interesting history of the development of the solenoid in Pentax SLR and DSLR bodies, then read this post:
A little history about the development of solenoids in Pentax cameras |
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Forum: Pentax DSLR and Camera Articles
12-23-2019, 06:52 AM
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Finally it hit my own black Pentax K-70, purchased Dec.2018. It was my backup Pentax, not so much used because my KP is my workhorse, so low shuttercount under 2000 actuations!
I would have had another year warranty on it which of course now I lost but as I had little trouble with Pentax otherwise and trust it to work well and because I know through my own experience that the Japan Solenoid is the best solution, I chose to go this way (If I would have it repaired I would know that the solenoid could fail again and ... worse, all the screws in the plastic housing have less hold because unscrewed and screwed-in one extra time, meaning the inner-threads would be more worn i.e. "screwed"
The usual tests were very clear, the easiest is actually in Live-View-mode:
If the solenoid is stuck the lens isn't preset to f4 anymore but closed!
I did the test with my SMC Pentax F50mm/f1,7: Stuck at f22!
The green China-Solenoid inside had the usual problem, the plunger would not release anymore. It had the same holding-force as those green China-solenoids taken out from K-30's, K-50's etc., i.e. a stronger holding force than the white made in Japan solenoid.
So next step was swapping this green gremlin against the white made in Japan solenoid and voila: The K-70 works fantastic again.
So my recommendation: As soon as warranty is gone, go for DIY and apply my
Tutorial for replacing the solenoid in the Pentax K-70
with the white "made in Japan solenoid":
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
12-21-2019, 12:30 PM
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I am a little confused about this. Your image EXIF data reports you were using aperture priority mode (f4.5), the shutter speed was 1/125s, and your exposure compensation was -2.70. Presumably without any exposure compensation the camera would have selected a shutter speed around 1/40s.
I don't see how two images taken with a spread of 6 EV could turn out the same. Changing the exposure compensation would change the aperture, shutter speed, or ISO value depending what mode you are in. Two shots taken at at 1/40 sec. f/4.5, ISO 400 would of course be the same. Maybe I am misunderstanding the point you are trying to make. I don't equate EV (brightness of a scene) with exposure compensation (pushing up or pulling down the exposure).
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
05-05-2019, 07:47 AM
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
05-05-2019, 04:58 AM
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Do I ever feel dumb!! Fifty plus years of camera ownership and I never noticed that tiny symbol (at least it's tiny on my K-1).
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
05-04-2019, 03:55 PM
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Page 9 of the K-70 User Manual, top image, it's marked "Image Plane Indicator", next to the strap-lug on the left-hand side of the camera ;)
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
05-04-2019, 08:11 AM
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I admit, I only found out about it a few weeks ago, in a 6week nature photograhy class I took at the local college.
I was excited I could reply to a thread with a little knowledge to share, rather than just sitting on the bench😀
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
05-04-2019, 07:13 AM
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I have only just noticed that on my K1 after reading your post !!
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
05-04-2019, 04:48 AM
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It's measured from the sensor, when the lens is attached to the camera.
On the top of the camera should be a center symbol printed. Looks like a circle with a line through it. That's where it would measure from.
On my K-5, the symbol is on the right hand side of the camera, between the top screen and strap connector.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
05-04-2019, 05:01 AM
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Looks like the focal plane mark is on the left side of the K-70.
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Forum: Pentax K-70 & KF
03-25-2019, 06:02 AM
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Forum: Pentax DSLR and Camera Articles
10-06-2018, 04:42 AM
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Since no context was provided by using "Quote Reply", I don't know who this was aimed at, but this misses the point. The method provided elsewhere is the proper place to start:
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Forum: Photographic Technique
11-10-2018, 09:03 PM
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Forum: Photographic Technique
11-10-2018, 07:36 PM
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Forum: Photographic Technique
11-10-2018, 07:18 PM
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Side light to provide shape to the relief. If you shoot it with “flat light” the details will be less pronounced.
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Forum: Photographic Technique
11-10-2018, 06:41 PM
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
09-09-2018, 02:11 PM
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A message from Adam and the PF Moderating Team:
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Forum: Pentax K-70 & KF
05-13-2018, 09:32 AM
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The manuals are structured very differently and are designed to detail each feature of the equipment in order, and grouped as they appear on the actual camera .... eg each aspect of the Status Screen, the Menus, the Modes, Custom setting etc. But we rarely work with a camera in practice by going through things in sequence like this .... in practice we pre-set and decide in advance, and have a small range of specific aspects that we take control of and adjust depending on the photographic situation. The 'WHY' becomes just as important as the 'WHEN' and the 'HOW'. These aspects are not dealt with by manuals, so these sorts of book are great to relate the practical real world application to the knowledge and understanding of the camera.
I have the Magic Lantern guidebook to the K7 which I devoured many times over when I first got my camera, and in many ways that sort of format inspired my own writing of the Guides to the Pentax Flash System.
I think your title for this thread is very poorly expressed .... it conveys a negative impression. Quite clearly there is no question that the eBook offers excellent value for money.
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Forum: Pentax K-70 & KF
05-13-2018, 06:32 AM
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Yvon Bourque's book, PENTAX K-70, Everything you need to know, , , , and then some (Copyright 2016 Yvon Bourque), might well be worth the cost if for no other reason it has a big advantage in readability over the Pentax Operating Manual. Ricoh/Pentax is not unique in these modern times in not providing an instruction book in a format for human frailties. (I cannot imagine the fun of assembling a "kit"camera with instructions from the the same sources). Bourque, fills a need for a "newbie" using much of the format/text of the Manual but he tweaks, expands, and explains as he moves through the menus and other tools that inhabit the camera. There are "links" that will take you to other places in the text and web sites for more information. It is much more comfortable introduction than the "just the facts" Manual that has you flipping back and forth through the pages.
The author assumes some very basic knowledge of photography, that you get an image of what you point at, if you push that button. In that respect, if you are experienced enough to take the K-70 out of the box and set brackets, play with the AF and the EV, AF points, WB adjustments, customizing buttons, and within fifteen minutes are snapping wonderful photos, then this book probably is not for you. If the Operating Manual makes perfect sense then you still might find some things in the book on technique or other interest. If you are a bit overwhelmed by the features of the K-70 after you have used, or tried to use the Manual, than you should find this investment worthwhile.
Overall, this is a "getting your feet wet" instruction book. The author highly recommends shooting RAW but you will have to look elsewhere to understand computer editing programs. There is, what to me was, "filler." I found the history of the Pentax cameras something I could do without. Large photos of lenses compatible with the K-70 were of little use yet, the discussion of compatibility across the whole range of old and new Pentax lenses was important. There is a chapter of movie/video. I am not remotely qualified to evaluate that aspect.
This is a "beginner's" book FOR the K-70. I have been playing with cameras for decades but just entered the world of DSLR. I found, PENTAX K-70, Everything you need to know, , , , and then some, was a great help and well worth the cost even on top of buying the K-70, a 55-300 PLM, and all those "little" things that go along with my kit.
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