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Forum: Pentax K-30 & K-50 06-02-2022, 11:05 AM  
K30 underexposes by many stops
Posted By MEtoK110D
Replies: 5
Views: 1,096
Will do later - just off out. I believe this has been fixed once already in my camera actually - memories are stirring. Must be old age... Is it hard to fix DIY? I'm reasonably mechanically apt. Probably there are good instructions linked when I search the forum properly!

Thanks all.
Forum: Pentax K-30 & K-50 06-02-2022, 10:03 AM  
K30 underexposes by many stops
Posted By MEtoK110D
Replies: 5
Views: 1,096
My K30 is suddenly underexposing by more than 5 stops. I know this because most pictures come out nearly black; however, if I set the exposure compensation to maximum, I can get an image that is only somewhat underexposed.

The obvious thing is a repair, but any suggestions for things to check first? I've been through all the settings and found nothing unusual.
Forum: Flashes, Lighting, and Studio 06-01-2019, 06:50 AM  
AF-540FGZ head a bit loose?
Posted By MEtoK110D
Replies: 4
Views: 634
Silly question maybe, but I've never been any good with flash, so I thought I'd play with some Rogue FlashBenders as a simple step. However, even though they don't weigh much, all but the smallest just tips the head of my flash down :o

Taking flashes apart isn't generally a good idea, but can I just tighten up the ratchet somehow? Any ideas? Or obvious ways round it that just haven't occurred to me?
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion 06-01-2019, 01:44 AM  
What's your favorite 2008-2013 APS-C Pentax DSLR and do you still use it?
Posted By MEtoK110D
Replies: 71
Views: 7,301
I got a K30 as an upgrade from the K110D that was my first foray into DSLRs (after using an ME Super and a Super A). I was very happy with that, and still sometimes carried the K110D as a second body. I only bought a K70 because I lost the K30 in Germany. Then, after several months, and to my surprise, the K30 (and lenses) came back in the post after being found by a cafe owner.

So now I use either, and still like the K30. But I think I'm a bit of an occasional user compared to some of you!
Forum: Film SLRs and Compact Film Cameras 12-15-2016, 04:01 PM  
Super A anniversary edition
Posted By MEtoK110D
Replies: 4
Views: 1,505
I'm pretty sure that's the one. Sorry for any confusion. I think the "anniversary" description was from Oxfam, though it's possible I misremembered it.

It was complete as shown in the photo (even the special strap and box), but with the note I mentioned about the light seals.
Forum: Film SLRs and Compact Film Cameras 12-15-2016, 10:49 AM  
Super A anniversary edition
Posted By MEtoK110D
Replies: 4
Views: 1,505
Is it allowed to mention here that I've seen the above on offer in a London Oxfam shop? Boxed with flash, but light seals around door need work. I've no interest in the sale (my own Super A and ME Supers don't get used now I have a K30), but I'd hate it to go to waste. Happy to PM details, or mods can delete if this should be in Marketplace (where I don't have posting rights).

Edit: as below, my memory was slightly duff and it's a "European Camera of the Year" edition, not an anniversary one. Thread corrected.
Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help 09-26-2014, 04:14 PM  
K30 metering problem?
Posted By MEtoK110D
Replies: 23
Views: 2,936
Depends what you mean by a solution. I'm due to collect the camera from the shop on Monday, after repair by Pentax. £245 for a replacement diaphragm and checking and cleaning. After only 2800 exposures, I'm not exactly happy, and I've been using Pentax equipment for 30 years (even though, as that number of exposures suggests, I'm not the heaviest user).
Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help 09-04-2014, 02:23 AM  
K30 metering problem?
Posted By MEtoK110D
Replies: 23
Views: 2,936
Now that I think about it, I did actually get the warranty out of the box before sending the camera for service. Have done so again. The warranty is one year, and branded Ricoh-Pentax :( Maybe on merger they brought Pentax in line with Ricoh? It was about that time that I bought the camera.

Going to bite the bullet, I think, but will ask about warranty on the repair...

My wife is rather reasonably suggesting that my cameras, costing so much compared to compacts, should do better than 20 months and 2800 shots.

Or, after 30 years, I could go Nikon...
Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help 09-03-2014, 11:30 PM  
K30 metering problem?
Posted By MEtoK110D
Replies: 23
Views: 2,936
That's really helpful. I'll check today. The shop didn't mention it, but none of the staff who helped me were Pentax specialists.
Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help 09-03-2014, 02:58 PM  
K30 metering problem?
Posted By MEtoK110D
Replies: 23
Views: 2,936
£245 from Pentax to replace the diaphragm :(

It didn't cost much more than that, and it's only done 2800 exposures.
Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help 08-19-2014, 12:57 PM  
K30 metering problem?
Posted By MEtoK110D
Replies: 23
Views: 2,936
I don't think the lens is a factor because, as mentioned upthread, it's fine on my K110D.

The camera has now gone to Pentax for examination. I'll let you know what I hear.

Thanks all for the advice.
Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help 08-19-2014, 09:51 AM  
K30 metering problem?
Posted By MEtoK110D
Replies: 23
Views: 2,936
I've shown the camera to Park. They have pointed out that it works in live view, but not when I use the viewfinder. Any impact on diagnosis?
Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help 08-12-2014, 02:44 PM  
K30 metering problem?
Posted By MEtoK110D
Replies: 23
Views: 2,936
Thanks. Any special recommendations on repairers? My first thought is to take it back to where I bought it which, as above, is Park Cameras. I'm in North Herts, UK.
Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help 08-12-2014, 12:25 PM  
K30 metering problem?
Posted By MEtoK110D
Replies: 23
Views: 2,936
Thanks both.

stevebrot - it's correct that I have a bright viewfinder image (as normal, as far as I can tell), but the camera stops down inappropriately for exposure. Bit hard to say whether the error is in aperture, shutter speed or both.

SOldBear - I've been through that thread and tried to work out the key points. I could dig out an old film lens with an A setting, but I have not done so thus far.

Unlike the OP in that thread, I do not have a dark viewfinder (except in optical preview, when it's expected). I can see through the lens when looking through the camera in reverse, as described by JeffJS. Performing SOldBear's test on the actuator, there is (substantial) spring resistance. As noted, optical preview works as I'd expect; I set for a very small aperture on purpose, and in preview the viewfinder went quite dark.

Let me know if I've missed anything significant.
Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help 08-11-2014, 10:11 AM  
K30 metering problem?
Posted By MEtoK110D
Replies: 23
Views: 2,936
I've dropped a line to Park Cameras (where I bought the body). I'd assume it's out of warranty - I'll check, but I've had it nearly two years. Only 2800 actuations, so pretty light use. :(:(:(

Thanks for the advice, anyway.
Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help 08-11-2014, 07:05 AM  
K30 metering problem?
Posted By MEtoK110D
Replies: 23
Views: 2,936
inexorable - tried that, thanks. Even tried some gentle application of a contact-cleaning pencil (being careful about which way up I held the camera/lens and where any dust might go). No difference.

stevebrot - that seems to be it. I put the camera on manual to get an exposure of seconds, so I could see easily. With the lens set to wide open, it stops down. I compared the same lens on my K110D to be sure, and it was fine. Any suggestions what this could mean?
Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help 08-10-2014, 01:02 PM  
K30 metering problem?
Posted By MEtoK110D
Replies: 23
Views: 2,936
My K30 has suddenly started underexposing by about 4 stops. I'm not clear whether I've set something, but if so I've no idea what - it's not exposure compensation, which is too obvious.

Comparing with my K110D, the meter reading seems about right, but to get a decent picture recorded I need to set exposure compensation to +4. I was using AA batteries when this started, but I've swapped back to the Pentax battery with no difference.

I'm using the standard zoom which is, as above, working with my K110D.

Any thoughts?
Forum: Pentax K-30 & K-50 11-17-2012, 07:48 AM  
K-30 cash back in Europe November 2012 January 2013
Posted By MEtoK110D
Replies: 14
Views: 2,752
I managed to book us into an hotel 100 metres from Park Cameras in Sussex. Complete accident. Didn't know they were there till we drove past. Looked at their site that night and the cash back deal had just been announced. And it was my birthday. :)

I liked my K110D but the K-30 is quite a step forward.
Forum: Video Recording and Processing 02-13-2011, 09:11 AM  
Video camera pictures to PC via wi-fi?
Posted By MEtoK110D
Replies: 0
Views: 2,310
Not Pentax-specific, but I thought someone here might have the answer to this. I'd like to send live video across a room, and give the camera operator freedom of movement with no trailing cables. An obvious idea seems to be to connect a hand-held camera to a belt-mounted wi-fi sender or something (although I'm open to any alternative with reasonable cost). I've thought of cameras with built-in wi-fi, but I can't find any (except security cameras), although I did find statements that they would be widely available by 2009...

The situation is that the church uses a computer projector for songs, pictures and videos. When we are full (i.e. most morning services), and there is something very visual happening at the front (drama, kids' presentation, whatever), we could use the screen to help those at the back to see. When, as today, we spill over into the hall, we occasionally use a second screen for those seated there. You can just about see through the partition doors, but again it would be better if we could put the drama up on-screen.

What I don't want to do is to turn the church into a TV studio, and we have no immediate intention of televising sermons :D Trailing cables could be an issue; we have a modern building, but with lots of people milling around we wouldn't want them falling over leads, even if we used tripods to get a stable image.

There's wi-fi already, so it seems an obvious solution. Cameras might well be provided by anyone enthusiastic enough to operate them. But I can't find any wi-fi products...
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion 10-25-2009, 11:05 AM  
K110D + AF540FGZ, limited auto flash?
Posted By MEtoK110D
Replies: 4
Views: 2,444
Thanks - so the product genuinely does not work as described in the manual?
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion 10-19-2009, 03:53 PM  
K110D + AF540FGZ, limited auto flash?
Posted By MEtoK110D
Replies: 4
Views: 2,444
I really like my K110D, but latterly I've got an AF540 and struggled to get them to work together. According to the flash manual, the flash ought to switch to P-TTL even when the camera is set to manual flash in shutter and aperture priority modes.

In reality, I have struggled to get an auto flash mode at all (auto flash options greyed out on the camera Fn menu, flash claims to be in P-TTL but then exposure is wrong on the picture). I have loads of underexposed shots where the camera was set wrongly to manual flash. I have found that I can get auto flash in AUTO PICT mode, but I normally use aperture priority so typically I don't get an auto flash option.

This seems like a wetware problem rather than a fault. Can anyone give me an English explanation of what options I should get, and how to get the camera into an auto flash mode more often?
Forum: Flashes, Lighting, and Studio 08-24-2008, 12:55 PM  
Insulating shoe for AF540FGZ?
Posted By MEtoK110D
Replies: 3
Views: 2,284
This is a really basic question, but I am lucky enough to have been given an AF540FGZ to go with my K110D. In the past, on ME Supers/Super A, I have preferred to use the flash off-camera on a bracket, so I was thinking of doing the same now.

I have a hotshoe FG and cord. However it has just dawned on me that the bracket has a metal shoe which will short the contacts. It didn't matter on my old Centon flash because the off-camera shoe had a tripod socket but no contacts.

Does this matter (i.e. are the contacts live when off-camera?) and are there small shoes available to insulate the contacts, or do I have to buy an official Pentax grip?
Forum: Pentax DSLR and Camera Articles 05-24-2007, 03:18 PM  
Which Pentax DSLRs Support TTL Flash?
Posted By MEtoK110D
Replies: 27
Views: 29,929
That's really quite annoying, but I think it answers my question. I have a Centon FH85 flash with which I am very happy. It's quite a good one with swivel head, fill-in flash, off-camera cable and so on. I have a Centon "Pentax PX" module designed for my Super A and ME Supers and have managed to get hold of an AF module designed for MZ series cameras and the like. I did that because I have finally updated to a K110D.

I have neither the budget nor the desire to replace the flash. Amongst other things, I believe that I should get from the AF module an IR pre-flash to assist focussing?

However, it now seems that I can have either the built-in sensor on the non-AF module or the IR on the AF one, but in neither case is TTL going to work.

Is P-TTL, which I think I now understand having read this page, really an advantage? Does anyone have any useful suggestions or comments, apart from "Buy a new flash?" Have Pentax done the dirty on us by removing TTL or is there a good reason?
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