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Forum: Pentax K-30 & K-50
06-01-2023, 04:51 AM
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Photogem, THANK YOU!!! I will report back when I finish. Or sadly if I get stuck and need to post another question---I hope not!! I will try to find where I read about the wires being hard to unsolder because of a "wax" like substance. Again, thank you greatly for your time and advice. JimC
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Forum: Pentax K-30 & K-50
06-01-2023, 04:28 AM
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Photogem, I have ordered the white solenoid on ebay. I have seen enough of the videos on taking the k50 apart to feel fairly comfortable. But I have not seen a video where the solenoid is actually replaced. The videos I have seen merely filed down the horseshoe component of the solenoid without removal of the actual green solenoid from the camera. I am in my mid-60's with decent eye sight so I want to use the correct approach to replace the solenoid.
It appears to me to unsolder the wires from the current green solenoid BEFORE i loosen the screw that holds it to the camera. I have read in a couple of posts the wires are "hard" to unsolder because of a wax material. Can you give me any insight into unsoldering the two wires to the solenoid? Would you leave it mounted to the camera while unsoldering?
Assuming I succeed in unsoldering the wires and removing the green solenoid, would I mount the new white solenoid to be camera prior to soldering the camera wires to it?
All advice is appreciated as I believe the removal and replacement of the solenoid will be be most difficult part of the job.
Thank you, JimC
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
05-11-2023, 06:07 AM
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Geophotoguy, I did the online chat with B&H yesterday and all they can say is the k70's have been manufactured "recently" but no specific dates. I have not decided what to do yet myself. I "assume" manufactured recently means these K70's have the "modified" green solenoid stated in the other post in this thread. I just feel uneasy about the modified approach. I would feel much better if it was the dependable "white" solenoid. JimC
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Forum: Pentax K-30 & K-50
05-10-2023, 07:59 AM
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Photogem, thank you for ALL of your time to help me. I am still pondering what to do, evaluating my finances,etc. JimC
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
05-10-2023, 07:32 AM
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Wheafield--thank you! Sorry if i actually posted in the incorrect forum. JimC
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Forum: Pentax K-30 & K-50
05-10-2023, 06:46 AM
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Not a Number...thanks! I did see the post and webpage on the repair service in Oregon but I could not find any additional posts as to a forum member's experience using them. Do you have any first hand knowledge? Thanks JimC
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Forum: Ask B&H Photo!
05-10-2023, 04:21 AM
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I have the failed aperture issue in a K50 associated with the "green" solenoid. Per a forum post, it appears that all K70's manufactured after Jan 1, 2021 have the Japanese made "white" solenoid. Can you confirm your current inventory of K70's have the "white" solenoid? I am specifically interested in the one on sale:
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1257877-REG/pentax_16981_k_70_dslr_ca...SABEgJMmfD_BwE
Additionally, is there any difference, other than the exterior cosmetic of black/silver model versus the "all black" model in the K70's? The all black k70 is on sale for $527 but the black/silver is $477. I would prefer the all black but at that price difference my preference evaporates provided the cameras are otherwise identical. Can you confirm the "only" difference between the two K70's is the cosmetic exterior appearance? Is the all black mdoel also manufactured with the "white" solenoid?
Thank you,
Jim
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
05-10-2023, 04:21 AM
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I have the failed aperture issue in a K50 associated with the "green" solenoid. Per a forum post, it appears that all K70's manufactured after Jan 1, 2021 have the Japanese made "white" solenoid. Can you confirm your current inventory of K70's have the "white" solenoid? I am specifically interested in the one on sale:
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1257877-REG/pentax_16981_k_70_dslr_ca...SABEgJMmfD_BwE
Additionally, is there any difference, other than the exterior cosmetic of black/silver model versus the "all black" model in the K70's? The all black k70 is on sale for $527 but the black/silver is $477. I would prefer the all black but at that price difference my preference evaporates provided the cameras are otherwise identical. Can you confirm the "only" difference between the two K70's is the cosmetic exterior appearance? Is the all black mdoel also manufactured with the "white" solenoid?
Thank you,
Jim
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Forum: Pentax K-30 & K-50
05-09-2023, 11:07 AM
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Photogem--on further question. In your opinion, is a Pentax DSLR camera with "sporadic" usage after longer periods of non-use prone to the solenoid issue? From what I have read the cameras manufactured with the original "white solenoid" were much better but can they whether periods of non-usage? I will retire in 19 months and will have more time for digital photography but until then my camera will be used "sporadically" just given the lack of free time with overtime work hours and not always feeling the best. Perhaps I need to "REALLY" hope to repair my K50 and defer any new camera decision until I retire if Pentax cameras are prone to a solenoid issue when not used regularly. Or maybe Adam's lens recommendation if my K50 repair fails. JimC
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Forum: Pentax K-30 & K-50
05-09-2023, 10:38 AM
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Photogem---Thanks, for the advice. I somehow missed your post in all of the solenoid posts. I agree the repair is the least expensive approach and if I fail, without shocking myself in the process, then I am only out the $50 USD. I still want to sort out recommendations for a potential camera replacement or whether Adam's recommended lens is a viable solution. At one point, I had a Kd20 and assumed it was my emergency back-up camera but I have not been able to locate it after multiple frantic searches through the house. My wife believes I loaned it to someone who we no longer have contact information (a former neighbor). If I don't find the Kd20, then I may still try to repair my K50 and hope it works. Then the repaired K50 could be my back-up camera and I still get a new one. The Pentax K5iiS does not appear to be sold new now---only used. I don't like to buy used stuff and inherit someone else's problem(s) or they did not care for the camera as I would, etc. As with everything else in life it all comes down to how many $$$'s I can afford and the timing of spending those $$$'s. It's tough as I have pictures I would like to take at this coming weekend's graduation but now my primary camera is down with no emergency back-up either. Bummer. Maybe I will locate the Kd20. JimC
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Forum: Pentax K-30 & K-50
05-09-2023, 08:16 AM
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Barso--thank you. I am still "pondering" which direction to go in....Depending on if can get my wife to agree to increase my allowance, I may buy a k70 but I really WANT to ENSURE the solenoid issue is RESOLVED, otherwise I may have another sad day in the future when it has the same problem. JimC
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Forum: Pentax K-30 & K-50
05-09-2023, 07:56 AM
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If I opt not to repair my K50 for fear of the flash capacitor, is there universal consensus that the solenoid issue is fully resolved in the K70's? B&H has the black/silver K70 on sale for $477 but the all black one is $527. Are these K70's camera identical except for the exterior difference of all black versus black/silver? The price difference seems to great to me for merely a cosmetic exterior appearance. Maybe I am just old to care. :-) B&H has significant selections of the k70's but only one for the Pentax KF ($847). Does anyone prefer the KF over the K70? I am reading reviews and the KF is newer but is it "better" ---built in Japan, other valued features that you experts like, etc.? All advice is welcome.
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Forum: Pentax K-30 & K-50
05-09-2023, 07:31 AM
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MarcusBMG, thanks for the advice. The only trepidation I have with the repair is discharging the flash capacitor as I don't have any tools to do that. This is my biggest reservation about even trying--particularly if $45 could make the K50 operational again. Any advice on making a novice like me feel more comfortable dealing with the flash capacitor? Thx. JimC
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Forum: Pentax K-30 & K-50
05-09-2023, 05:01 AM
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BACKGROUND
I am a 40 year Pentax camera user back to the days of Kodax film with Pentax K1000, ME and ME Super cameras. About 10 years ago, I purchased the K20 to use my "old, vintage" SMC glass lens (50mm 1.4; 28mm, 135mm and a 80-200 zoom). Five years ago I added the K50. Sadly in the past year my K50 was not used given various personal issues. I pulled it out to take pictures at a graduation this coming weekend and my K50 has the dreaded green solenoid aperture issue where all pictures are totally black or grossly under exposed. I have read through the voluminous posts on this topic. I did get the camera to work for a short period by time bursting photos but as soon as it was powered off, the camera returned to the totally black exposures.
Question 1
The self-repair route of purchasing a Chinese "green" solenoid on ebay seems to be dicey at best. I don't want to harvest the "white" solenoid from my k20 as it still operates or did the last time I used it. Anyone think I should try the self-repair route?
Question 2
The K50 is currently on sale at B&H Photo for $240. I have to buy the same camera twice with this alternative but this seems to be the "lowest cost option" . However, does anyone know if Pentax eventually replaced the "green" Chinese solenoid with the better Japanese "white one"? Otherwise, it seems I am buying the same problem again. All thoughts and advice welcome on this question.
Question 3
If the purchasing a second K50 is not a good idea given the continued use of the "green" solenoid, then what Pentax camera would you recommend? Does the newer Pentax cameras still operate well after setting idle for months on end? I am not rich but I also do not want to waste money purchasing a second K50 with the same potential problem.
Question 4
I did see a post from Adam in the K50 green solenoid threads about purchasing a DA 55-300mm PLM lens that would "make" my K50 work again. I do take some pictures that need a wider lens, but this is not a show stopper and I could use the PLM lens exclusively. The cost of this lens is currently $377--so its a higher cost than purchasing a replacement k50 camera but likely less expensive than recommended replacement cameras in question 3. I did purchase with my K50 with the self-focusing "regular/kit lens" a DA 55-300mm so this replacement PLM lens would duplicate what I have but my kit lens is not the PLM version. Thoughts and advice on this option?
Thank you to all who take the time to reply. Sorry for so many questions. Your insight and advice to help me are both GREATLY appreciated.
JimC
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Forum: Pentax K-30 & K-50
07-28-2015, 04:42 AM
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Yes, the camera arrived very late in the day last Friday. My son had a soccer tournament during the weekend---so I was very happy to have the camera back to take pictures. Thanks again for all of the advice.
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Forum: Pentax K-30 & K-50
07-27-2015, 05:02 AM
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Just to close this thread, I did send the camera for warranty repair using Precision Camera. From my door and return the process was 17 total days; I was able to check the repair status via Precision's webpage--which I found very useful. The repair note in the box with the returned camera noted that the aperture assembly was replaced. Again, thank you to all who replied.
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Forum: Pentax K-30 & K-50
07-08-2015, 05:23 AM
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My k-50 has around 2,200 pictures taken in a year...which is probably considered very light volume but I have used it regularly though out the year. I am usually the guy that is 5 days past a deadline,etc. and usually not "lucky" enough to be 5 days prior to an expiration. Glad my k-50 was still under warranty.
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Forum: Pentax K-30 & K-50
07-07-2015, 08:47 AM
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Precision camera. They are the authorized warranty repair center for Pentax. I learned this during the call to Ricoh.
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Forum: Pentax K-30 & K-50
07-07-2015, 06:48 AM
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
04-19-2009, 06:20 PM
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After 15 minutes of looking through all the menus at least 3 times...I was so afraid that I had missed the obvious. I hadn't seen this "tip" to display the firmware version in the manual. I do notice that the "tip" to display the firmware version number is on Pentax's firmware download page. You were right, mine is version 1.01.
Now I have gone to the Pentax website...thinking that I was 2 versions removed from the current Firmware version...but I notice that its version 1.03 and version 1.01 listed on the download page. What happened to version 1.02 or does Pentax only use odd numbers as the last digit for its Firmware version numbers?
Thanks.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
04-19-2009, 05:47 PM
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I just rec'd my new k20D 4 days ago...I have looked diligently through the menus, but can't seem to locate the firmware version. How does one go about determining the firmware version on the k20D? Thanks.
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