Forum: Repairs and Warranty Service
02-10-2018, 08:34 AM
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Update today February 10, 2018
Got up early, was so excited to see if the battery acid cleanup was successful, they say a photo is worth a bazillion words,
and here is the proof that it is true....Thank you all for your replies and support...M
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Forum: Repairs and Warranty Service
02-09-2018, 10:10 PM
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I first cleaned the posts and bottom part of the camera with plain baking soda and water and a baby soft toothbrush,
they look like new now, but I did read
that a 3rd step might help and to finalize the cleaning with white vinegar....If there was no sizzle while using the vinegar
then the battery acid was all cleaned up... There was no sizzle that I heard so I then washed the door posts and lower chamber
with cotton tips and water.
I am letting the whole camera dry tonight and will put it back together tomorrow with fresh batteries and the lens and try
a short shoot to see how the cam responds.
Regarding your reply that some might just ditch the cam and call it a lost cause, that may be true, but for me this Pentax ist saved
my life when I had a skiing accident and the doctors told me that my life as I knew it was over, that I would be bed bound and
crippled and there was nothing to be done about it.
Long story short, I bought this Pentax, it was my first Digital and I started
taking photos, walking in the woods, searching out birds, climbing cliffs to get a view of an eagle or hawk, and nearly 10 years
later, I am still up on my own 2 feet...A little slower, the cliffs are smaller hills now, but yesterday I took 1000 photos of migrating
Eagles and it was minus 20 below zero with the wind chill....To me, as emo as it sounds, giving up on my Pentax would have
been like giving up on myself....and that is not going to happen...
Fingers crossed, I will post a "Hooray" Photo from my ist as soon as I have it all back together...
Thank you so much for your reply...
M
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Forum: Repairs and Warranty Service
02-06-2018, 04:13 PM
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:) I do hope so...hate to use harsh chemicals if I don't have to...will try the gentlest method first...
thank you so much ---------- Post added 02-06-2018 at 05:15 PM ----------
Thanks so much, never thought of using a toothbrush on it....all the gunk looks like it is in the top of the cover,
may just luck out and will let you know...Appreciate your reply
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Forum: Repairs and Warranty Service
02-06-2018, 11:44 AM
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After reading all the replies to my thread, I contacted 5 repair places in the US and they all told me
that it might cost 500.00 plus to open and clean my ist...and that was no guarantee that the cam
would ever work again.
I went to an Online Store and bought an item that came with a free package of small camera and PC tools
and just got the tools today...
I bit my lip, and dug in with the tools and have included photos of what I found..
First I took out all the tiny screws on the bottom plate, still stuck like molassas,
and then took a small flashlight and could see and smell the corrosion inside the
battery pack area.
I wiggled it like a loose tooth full of plaque and off the plate popped....
Am going to try some natural acid cleaners before I go to the hard stuff to clean
the corrosion, and will keep you updated..
The positive note with taking only the bottom plate off, is that I did not have to open up
the shutter contacts at all....Fingers crossed, wish me luck in the clean up and in
being able to use this great little Pentax again....
M
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Forum: Repairs and Warranty Service
01-30-2018, 07:19 AM
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Thank you for info on this Repair Service....Right up front they warn that the repairs may cost more then
the camera is worth, along with pre estimated prices for different types of cams...
I like the fact that they are right up front with much info even before you send in the form for a
free estimate...
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Forum: Repairs and Warranty Service
01-30-2018, 06:59 AM
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I too am worried about the lens release button....Thank you so much for the tip about the small blade...I was even thinking of a old fashion razor blade to just
insert between the plate and the door release...Will try that also. ---------- Post added 01-30-2018 at 08:04 AM ----------
The batteries were just normal AA type ...I will try the DB blaster also on the door...
Thank you so much... ---------- Post added 01-30-2018 at 08:06 AM ----------
That is also an excellent idea....
Thank you so much
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
01-29-2018, 01:45 PM
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Excellent article...thank you so much
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Forum: Repairs and Warranty Service
01-29-2018, 12:42 PM
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My Pentax ist was stolen and has now been found after 2 years...In trying to open the
battery compartment door to clean the cam up, I find it horribly stuck...When the cam
was stolen, I was actively using it and I bet the batteries have corroded inside the compartment..
I am now trying WD40 , a few drops, but no budge yet...
Anyone have a tut on how to open up the whole bottom of the ist just to see whats hanging
up the door...???
Any help would be appreciated...It is an excellent cam and would like to continue using it
Thank you
Bird Lady
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
09-27-2013, 01:24 PM
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Thank you all so much for your input....It did seem to me that for some reason my cam is acting like
in AV that it is shooting RAW. I did a factory reset, and will slowly add new User Settings and
go slow in spicing the K5 up... Everything works after the reset and I have my fingers crossed...
Again, thank you
M:)
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
09-27-2013, 05:59 AM
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After reading the advice in this thread, I took out the cam this morning and turned off everything, even instant review. With the Cam
set in AV, or TV , or TAV, it takes 30 seconds between shots while the cam is writing the photo. Also in AV, there are only 392 photos available to shoot on the card while during Full Auto 1056 photos are available to take. I formatted my San Disk 16 G card and the only thing else I can think of is a Hard Reset to Factory Settings ...I am packing up to do a shoot this afternoon and will let you all know if the Factory Reset makes any difference.
Thank you so much
M
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
09-26-2013, 01:03 PM
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I love shooting AV mode, but with the K5 and not with any of my other Pentax cams, the process time from shot to shot is so slow, I actually have
to wait 15 or 30 seconds before I can shoot again. The little timer shows up and I wait and wait and wait. I took the K5 out this afternoon and set all my processing like Noise Reduction to off and the problem still persists. I even set up AV in my USER Mode, and the problem is the same.
Also in Full Auto Mode, the count on the SD card is 1056 photos available to take, but on AV mode the available count is only 352.
I am not shooting RAW, in the Menu I have the cam set at JPEG.
Just a bit frustrating because I like shooting Low ISO in some circumstances and Full Auto will not allow me to change the ISO per use.
Thanks for any help you can give me...
M
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
06-12-2010, 05:45 AM
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I was just scared to take pictures of flowers and posted to the forum about my settings because my images just glowed when shooting red, purple and white. Yes I cleaned the camera and reconfigured all the settings and this was a purple flower that I shot in the afternoon yesterday.
M
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
06-08-2010, 10:33 PM
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Thank you so much. I went out this morning and shot RAW which I have
never done before and loved fiddling with the RAW photo, and will remember to underexpose tomorrow and see what it brings...So many people have
had this problem in my group, I will seem like a guru to them with your answer. Thank you again very much
M
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
06-08-2010, 04:19 AM
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I usually shoot birds which are variations of darks and lights, but this summer I am trying to shoot some beautiful red roses and purple peonys that just will not cooperate...The reds just glow and there is no distinct sharpness of the flower...I have almost become afraid to fool around with the settings as the other colors of the spectrum seem okay, but I have all but given up on the reds...
My saturation is 3 below normal to try to correct the problem
Sharpness is max
and contrast is max.
I only shoot manual as I like to focus on different parts of the flowers
and water drops after a rain.
Thank you
M
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
03-20-2010, 09:44 AM
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I have been watching the prices for the past year and barely see them nudge down at all, so this is wonderful news for me.
My istD will only use 1GB cards, not sure if that is the norm or if
something is hinky with my cam, but I sure would love to just carry one or
2 cards with me on a shoot instead of 10...
I have been checking ebay for prices but have not gone to an online
camera store. Is the customer service better with the store or does the
warranty cover no matter where the cam or lens is purchased...
Thank you for the great info
M
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Forum: Welcomes and Introductions
03-20-2010, 09:38 AM
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I love my Pentax and came to the forums when I heard there was a new 400 lens available for my istD....This is an awesome forum and just got started
and love the photos...I am just a beginner but hope to learn alot of tips and sugggestions
M
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