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Forum: Pentax K-3 & K-3 II 11-07-2014, 08:38 AM  
K3 Crazy Mirror Sickness (Mirror Flapping Lockup) - Report Yours Here!
Posted By DRabbit
Replies: 928
Views: 155,794
I made an accurate statement. People have reported the problem with v. 1.11. That means it isn't fixed. I said there was progress, and that's more than fair considering how long this has dragged on for.

I'm not interested in arguing about it either, quite honestly. I hung in there with the K3 longer than anyone, dealing with this problem A LOT and other silent lock-ups for like 4 months, and even then I didn't leave the brand until geez, six months after that... so please, just back off. I've been more than fair in communicating with them, communicating with all of you, and trying beyond belief to get Pentax to take the issue seriously. They've barely even publicly acknowledged it was an actual problem, which itself doesn't inspire a whole lot of confidence, in MY opinion.

Version 1.11 was released end of August. Now here we are, a year after the K3's release, and there are STLIL people reporting the problem… "trickle" or not. Quite honestly, it's sad enough it took them ten months to even get to a point where the problem is reduced, whether it's reduced significantly or not. The life cycle of this camera will be over by the time it's fixed for good, if ever.
Forum: Pentax K-3 & K-3 II 11-07-2014, 07:37 AM  
K3 Crazy Mirror Sickness (Mirror Flapping Lockup) - Report Yours Here!
Posted By DRabbit
Replies: 928
Views: 155,794
Hi All,

Sorry to hear people are still having issues, even the latest firmware. It appears there has been progress, and that's positive, but it doesn't appear to be a full-out solution.

I'm not longer going to be updating this thread. We are likely at the point now where Pentax will service your problem in 6-8 weeks (in the U.S.) if you report it and are willing to send the camera in.
I have no faith it will ever be completely solved with the K3, and I maintain the opinion that the K5-IIs is still the much more reliable camera.

Because of their dismal service turn-around times, and because I personally need something with an electronic shutter option, Pentax just didn't make sense for me to stay with anymore. Everyone's mileage will vary. Pentax still has some amazing image quality.

For my time-lapse stuff I am using Panasonic, and so far have had zero problems -- no lockups or glitches or "mirror flapping" -- which would be impossible without a mirror. LOL!
The only issue I ran into was some banding because of fluorescent light bulbs (because I was using electronic shutter).

While the ultimate image quality on the K5-IIs was better, the Panasonic GH3 is no slouch, and overall it's just operating more smoothly, and better than I expected for my purposes. It's proven a lot more reliable than the K3, and longterm, will not suffer the shutter death of the K5-II or K5-IIs. Panasonic also did a great job figuring out features a time-lapse photographer would find useful, and that was a pleasant surprise (as it wasn't even a requirement).

And, I am also in the process of going full-frame for my still, non-timelapse photography.

Good luck to all of you. I still believe Pentax makes a camera with top-notch image quality. I'd love to afford their medium format system someday, and if they get serious about mirrorless and/or full-frame, I'll be watching closely.
Forum: Site Suggestions and Help 09-30-2014, 05:17 PM  
Suggestion Neutralize the 'why I won't buy a k-3' thread
Posted By DRabbit
Replies: 61
Views: 8,379
That thread... The "why I won't buy" one has been mostly useless for 90% of its life. Even with the problems I've had with the k3, if I were a mod I would have killed that thread a long time ago... Not for being anti- pentax, for just being pointless and having almost nothing to do with the original discussion since like page 3. LOL

And it absolutely gives new members the wrong idea. If you think anyone is going to read all those pages... Yeah right. It just looks like an anti-k3 sentiment is oober popular.
Forum: Pentax K-3 & K-3 II 09-27-2014, 09:37 AM  
K3 Crazy Mirror Sickness (Mirror Flapping Lockup) - Report Yours Here!
Posted By DRabbit
Replies: 928
Views: 155,794
I hope you're right Nicole, but my experience with Pentax service was dismal to say the least (not with K3). It always takes forever. It's actually one of the reasons I'm now moving away from Pentax.
Forum: Pentax K-3 & K-3 II 09-27-2014, 09:34 AM  
Mirror lockup holds me back from purchasing a K-3
Posted By DRabbit
Replies: 54
Views: 5,931
I'm biased, so take my opinion for what it's worth. Please. LOL...

I wouldn't buy a K3 if reliability is a MUST. I would, however, without a thought, buy a K5-IIs or II. Super rock solid. Not a second of trouble with three of them, right up to and over 100,000 shutter actuations. I cannot say the same for two different K3 bodies I had, which had problems with heavy usage, right out of the box. Mirror-flapping was one problem. Random lockups were another.

My opinion: Save the money and buy a K5-IIs or II instead. And you'll be getting a more reliable camera overall.
Forum: Pentax K-3 & K-3 II 09-25-2014, 10:53 AM  
K3 Crazy Mirror Sickness (Mirror Flapping Lockup) - Report Yours Here!
Posted By DRabbit
Replies: 928
Views: 155,794
I assume if this happened while shooting time-lapse, the time-lapse would just stop under this new "reboot" behavior.
Forum: Pentax K-3 & K-3 II 09-24-2014, 03:56 AM  
K3 Crazy Mirror Sickness (Mirror Flapping Lockup) - Report Yours Here!
Posted By DRabbit
Replies: 928
Views: 155,794
With the latest firmware (1.11) and this "reboot" or "reset"... what happens if you're shooting time-lapse? Does the camera just stop and lose all settings? Anyone know?
Forum: Sold Items 09-22-2014, 03:06 PM  
For Sale - Sold: LOTS and LOTS of Pentax Stuff - K-01 still available - MUST GO!
Posted By DRabbit
Replies: 11
Views: 3,143
All items sold (bought and paid for) as of 5:00pm today, September 22nd, 2014 have now been shipped. To those of you who bought the items, thank you... and check your inbox for the tracking number.
Forum: Sold Items 09-22-2014, 10:34 AM  
For Sale - Sold: LOTS and LOTS of Pentax Stuff - K-01 still available - MUST GO!
Posted By DRabbit
Replies: 11
Views: 3,143
Sent you a private message Kevin...
Forum: Sold Items 09-22-2014, 09:04 AM  
For Sale - Sold: LOTS and LOTS of Pentax Stuff - K-01 still available - MUST GO!
Posted By DRabbit
Replies: 11
Views: 3,143
I'm sorry to leave actually. I think Pentax makes great cameras (mostly - LOL). With all the time-lapse though, I just can't keep servicing bodies every six months :D
Forum: Sold Items 09-22-2014, 08:28 AM  
For Sale - Sold: LOTS and LOTS of Pentax Stuff - K-01 still available - MUST GO!
Posted By DRabbit
Replies: 11
Views: 3,143
Right now, going to try out the Panasonic GH3 and GX7.
Forum: Pentax K-3 & K-3 II 09-22-2014, 07:36 AM  
K3 Crazy Mirror Sickness (Mirror Flapping Lockup) - Report Yours Here!
Posted By DRabbit
Replies: 928
Views: 155,794
Hello all.

I'm sorry I haven't been around. I just updated the list for the first time in over a month. I'm sorry to hear there are still new reports rolling in.

I've now given up on Pentax. At this point, it has less to do with this issue (though that is part of it) and more to do with the fact that a camera that offers an electronic shutter option just makes more sense for me at this point. I'll be giving Panasonic a good go with a couple of GH3s and a GX7. I was already somewhat in the micro 4/3 camp, so I already have a few lenses, which makes the switch a bit painless. For my fun "artsy" photography, I'll be sticking with Fuji for now.

If someone wants to write up a summary of where we are now, I'll put it at the beginning of this thread. It's hard for me to get a sense of what has happened, but it looks like a new firmware 1.11 came out and maybe addresses the problem by shutting the whole camera down? That isn't a solution at all if that's the case.
Forum: Sold Items 09-22-2014, 07:14 AM  
For Sale - Sold: LOTS and LOTS of Pentax Stuff - K-01 still available - MUST GO!
Posted By DRabbit
Replies: 11
Views: 3,143
PentaxForums.com Marketplace Listing

Item for Sale
LOTS and LOTS of Pentax Stuff - MUST GO!

Asking Price
2,800.00 USD

Item Location
New York (United States)

Item Description
I am switching away from Pentax for no other reason than I need bodies with an electronic shutter option (I do a lot of time-lapse shooting).

All this gear has been used professionally for the last year. Please take note of condition of the items. I am selling them cheap because most items were used regularly and will not necessarily look pretty. The bodies took a LOT of wear-and-tear. I do take good care of my gear, but please note that these are used items and I am selling them as-is.

The two K5-IIs bodies I have for sale, they were used for time-lapse. Part of the reason I am selling them so cheap is because I don't want to deal with the hassle of sending them in for warranty repair when the shutters die.... WHICH WILL BE SOON. I'm passing that annoyance on to whoever buys it. Both bodies will include the extended warranty card I purchased (which is not registered to a name, you just send it in with the body when it needs repair). These will be a great deal for someone with patience.

With all these items... I want you to receive them and feel like "wow! I got a great deal!" - but keep in mind, I'm not selling perfect gear and I'm not a store. I want you to be happy, but you are also buying gear that was used professionally and that I'm selling as-is.

Prices include shipping. Sorry, but I will only sell to people in the U.S.



- - - - items below are now sold ----

Pentax K5-IIs Body #2: $275 ... SOLD
Includes original box and packing. Includes battery charger + 2 batteries. Includes extended warranty card!
Cosmetically looks good. This camera has been a rock-solid performer with no issues from the day I bought it.
Has over 100,000 Shutter actuations (120,869) ... It still functions as of today, but the shutter is close to the end of its life. I DO have the extended warranty card, which you will get if you buy this body, which should cover the shutter repair when it goes.
YOU ARE BUYING A CAMERA THAT WILL NEED SERVICE SOON! Includes extended warranty card!

Pentax K5-IIs Body #1: $320 ... SOLD
Includes original box and packing. Includes battery charger + 2 batteries. Includes extended warranty card!
Cosmetically looks good. This camera has been a rock-solid performer with no issues from the day I bought it.
Has over 100,000 Shutter actuations (104,577) ... It still functions well as of today, but the shutter is close to the end of its life. I DO have the extended warranty card, which you will get if you buy this body, which should cover the shutter repair when it goes.
YOU ARE BUYING A CAMERA THAT WILL NEED SERVICE SOON! Includes extended warranty card!

Pentax K5 (original) in Silver: $265 ... SOLD
No original box. Includes battery charger + 2 batteries.
This body was NOT used for time-lapse other than as a third camera or backup. Does not have the wear-and-tear of the above bodies at all. However, it was dropped two years ago and has since been to Pentax for repair. It functions perfectly now. Cosmetically it is okay... the silver has some scratches and rubbed spots.

Pentax DA 21mm f/3.2 SILVER: $410 ... SOLD
Includes original box. Doesn't have lens cap. Still has hood. Includes pouch.
Works excellent and in good shape. Cosmetically it's okay, but it's not perfect. Has been a favorite lens.

Pentax DA 70mm f/2.4: $360 ... SOLD
Includes original box and packing. Includes cap and hood. No pouch.
Lens is excellent and one of my newer lenses. Not used much at all honestly.

Pentax DA 35mm f/2.8 Macro: $240 ... SOLD
Includes original box. No pouch.
Lens functions great but is a little rough looking cosmetically. The lens cap with it's felt lining collects dust like there is no tomorrow.

Pentax DA* 55mm f/1.4: $450 ... SOLD
Includes original box, soft case, hood.
I've had a love-hate relationship with this lens. Have bought it, sold it, bought another, rinse repeat. LOL
This one is virtually brand new. I think I used it literally one time. Obviously won't make sense to keep it without any other Pentax gear. LOL

Pentax 40mm DA XS f/2.8 Lens: $100 ... SOLD


- - - - -


Are you the original owner of the item being sold?
Yes

Are you selling or trading this item?
Selling

Item Condition (Key)
Used
Good

Shipping Destinations
United States

Shipping Charge
included

Shipping Services
UPS

Accepted Payment Types
PayPal

Return Policy & Additional Details
No returns – items are used and sold as-is.

Please send me a private message if interested in the item!
Forum: Pentax K-3 & K-3 II 08-02-2014, 09:08 AM  
K3 Crazy Mirror Sickness (Mirror Flapping Lockup) - Report Yours Here!
Posted By DRabbit
Replies: 928
Views: 155,794
Of course it has no mirror ;) but it is still possible it will lock up or do some other crazy thing. I'm not sure how it will be in regards to heat either. I had my two K5-IIs bodies out in 85º(F) with very hot sun all day on Wednesday and Thursday and they did great.
Forum: Pentax K-3 & K-3 II 08-02-2014, 08:00 AM  
Realistic number of shots on a fully charged battery
Posted By DRabbit
Replies: 43
Views: 6,238
I'm aware of that.
Forum: Pentax K-3 & K-3 II 08-02-2014, 07:59 AM  
K3 Crazy Mirror Sickness (Mirror Flapping Lockup) - Report Yours Here!
Posted By DRabbit
Replies: 928
Views: 155,794
I haven't used it for time-lapse, but I do use it quite a lot for photo shoots (great tripod camera)... never a problem. When one of my K5-IIs dies it'll end up being a backups, so we'll see how it does! :D
Forum: Pentax K-3 & K-3 II 08-02-2014, 06:42 AM  
Realistic number of shots on a fully charged battery
Posted By DRabbit
Replies: 43
Views: 6,238
I think power drainage is related as much to how much time the camera is turned on and being used, as it is to how many shots a person takes.

Running time-lapse with instant preview on, the K3 would go steadily for 3-4 hours, 3,000-4,000 shots before needing a battery change. The K5-II and K5-IIs can go a little longer, another hour or so. Shooting in a more normal way, like on a weekend in the city, I'd easily only need one battery (though I do always carry a spare).

Personally, I think battery performance on the K5, K5-II/s and K3 Pentax cameras is outstanding, which is one of the reasons I like them. I wish mirrorless would catch up in this regard... it's one of my only complaints about the Fuji cameras – the comparatively poor battery performance.
Forum: Pentax K-3 & K-3 II 08-02-2014, 06:32 AM  
K3 Crazy Mirror Sickness (Mirror Flapping Lockup) - Report Yours Here!
Posted By DRabbit
Replies: 928
Views: 155,794
Interval is not the running theme. Even though that's what I was doing when I ran into it so often, many of the members were not shooting interval/timelapse at all.

There were reports of the K5 also having mirror-flapping or mirror-overrun issues. I've read reports on the with the K30, Kr, K20D (not always identical symptoms, but certainly crazy mirror flapping). However, I never had the problem with the K5-II and I ran that right to 115,000 shutter actuations. I have two K5-IIs bodies, one is at 75,000 and the other at 85,000 shutter actuations and neither had had a single problem. This is one of the reasons I started to speak out about the K3. I knew some of the older bodies had the issue, and then the K3 did, but three flagship models from last year didn't have it... so Ricoh/Pentax needs to research it and get it fixed for good. It's obvious they are capable of producing a body that doesn't have some weird mirror problems, so they should. :D
Forum: Pentax K-3 & K-3 II 07-28-2014, 08:37 AM  
K3 Crazy Mirror Sickness (Mirror Flapping Lockup) - Report Yours Here!
Posted By DRabbit
Replies: 928
Views: 155,794
Considering this problem has been going on in several of their bodies over the course of years, and based on the fact the K5-II and K5-IIs don't seem to suffer it, I just can't agree with you. Based on the fact they had a user who was very willing to communicate by phone or email and test aggressively and extensively, but they gave up on that opportunity, nor ask for those specific bodies be sent back directly to them, I really can't agree at all. I think they may have "reduced" the problem (as their own correspondence suggested), via warranty repair (not firmware) and that may be it. They may simply just choose to move on to the next body, and try to make sure it doesn't occur there. Of course, by not ever addressing it publicly, we'll never know.




I think it would be fair to compare them to Fuji more accurately, since they are no where near the size of Canon or Nikon. Fuji addresses problems, publicly and individually. With their sticky aperture problem and with their light leak problem, both issues seemed to be research and fixed in a short period of time, and then were addressed with users quickly via warranty repairs. They seem to repair issues quickly, and my experience with they warranty department was excellent. Turn-around time was like two weeks. I can't say the same for Pentax. Even a flat out replacement, when they knew they'd be replacing a lens ahead of time, took MONTHS.. .which lets face it, is quite ridiculous. Warranty repair, at least in the USA, is not a place where Pentax shines.
Forum: Pentax K-3 & K-3 II 07-27-2014, 09:32 AM  
K3 Crazy Mirror Sickness (Mirror Flapping Lockup) - Report Yours Here!
Posted By DRabbit
Replies: 928
Views: 155,794
Hey, not to be argumentative, but this is part of where my problem lies with Pentax/Ricoh. For me, with two bodies, the problem was not rare or intermittent. It was actually rare for me NOT to run into the problem. As long as I activated the shutter at least 4000-5000 times in a day (doing time-lapse), I would almost certainly have the mirror-flapping occur... like nearly 95% of the time. This was true through two K3 bodies.

AND, much more frustratingly, I was in touch with Pentax directly through this time. At nearly every time-lapse shoot I went (at least one per week), I would report to them that I had the problem occur AGAIN. So they easily had access to my cameras and information. I wanted them to fix this problem. They never requested I send my K3 in to them when they approved the first exchange (through a local retailer). When the second body had the identical problem, they never requested that one back either. When I finally got approval to return the second one, I offered to keep testing as long as they would let me hold onto the K3 body to do so even after giving me the monetary credit, but they didn't want to do that. I would have easily let them hold onto a credit card number if they wanted insurance.

So, my point is, if you run the K3 heavily, I think it's rather simple to reproduce the problem. When the company has access to someone willing to do heavy testing in the real world and report back, they should take them up on it as much as possible.

People who don't use their K3 heavily, obviously, don't want to push their camera to reproduce the problem, and I don't blame them. But people who do, heavy users in the pro and amateur arena alike, could easily run into the mirror-flapping... and not intermittently at all. The heavier the use, the more likely to run into the issue.

I realize my shooting situation is unique, and I ran into the problem a whole lot more than most people ever will... but that doesn't make it an insignificant issue. It will keep me from buying a K3 again until I know it's fixed for sure... not through rumors and misinformation. At this point I'm exploring other brands because I think it's sad that the Q10 was able to run for 12000 shutter actuations in one day without a glitch... and that the multiple K5-II and IIs bodies I've shot thousands and thousands of shots with could be so rock solid, but I couldn't expect the same from two most current, expensive, "flagship" K3s.

Pentax/Ricoh and many of you at this point want me to go away, and likely that will happen eventually (yes, I heard some of you cheering LOL). But when it does it will be because I finally gave up on Pentax completely and switched to another brand. It won't come down to who produces the better camera because I'm not stupid... I realize that cameras aren't perfect... it will come down to their inability or lack of desire to be transparent about the issue. I can't have faith in a company that won't address its most avid of fans, (except behind the scenes in dark corners). And believe it or not, I'm one of the biggest Pentax fans you could meet.
Forum: Pentax K-3 & K-3 II 07-22-2014, 06:55 AM  
K3 Crazy Mirror Sickness (Mirror Flapping Lockup) - Report Yours Here!
Posted By DRabbit
Replies: 928
Views: 155,794
Good question... I don't have an answer since I never used to grip.



Sorry to hear you ran into the issue.



Sorry you also ran into the issue Rutster... could you by chance share the serial numbers for both cameras?
Forum: Pentax K-3 & K-3 II 07-18-2014, 06:54 PM  
K3 Crazy Mirror Sickness (Mirror Flapping Lockup) - Report Yours Here!
Posted By DRabbit
Replies: 928
Views: 155,794
It counts in the sense that it goes towards the unreliability of the camera… but it doesn't count in the total numbers here in this thread. We're only counting mirror-flapping updates.



Thanks John… As a native, I should know more details about their history, but I don't. There are three of them along Ocean Parkway (which is on Fire Island), marking the junctions of other highways -- Robert Moses Causeway, Wantagh Parkway and Meadowbrook Parkway. They are monuments, but they are also water towers. At the Wantagh Parkway junction, there is a falcon's nest that locals often talk about. I read somewhere a while back that if you are at the top of one tower on a clear day, you can see all the way down to another. Ocean Parkway is one of my favorite roads to drive because, as the name suggestions, it runs all along the Ocean on one side, and the bay on the other.
Forum: Pentax Q 07-18-2014, 02:26 PM  
Q10 Arrived: First Impressions
Posted By DRabbit
Replies: 16
Views: 3,153
Testing Q10 and Voigtlander 50mm f/1.5 Nokton…

These are all straight out of the camera.

The quality was fine, and as a pseudo telephoto lens, it's fine. But I wouldn't be reaching for this combo anytime soon. It's just silly. The lens is too big and heavy, and manual focusing isn't exactly an enjoyable task.
Forum: Pentax K-3 & K-3 II 07-18-2014, 01:13 PM  
K3 Crazy Mirror Sickness (Mirror Flapping Lockup) - Report Yours Here!
Posted By DRabbit
Replies: 928
Views: 155,794
What Doundounba said would make it longer laster... Also, I use the camera for other photography other than just time-lapse, so it's always beneficial to have a little extra resolution. I also liked how the K3 was set up with time-lapse as part of the drive mode...easier to get into and start than buried in a menu. Of course, I'm also happy to continue shooting with the K5-IIs as well, or to pick up a K3 in a year when the price plummets (assuming the mirror-flapping gets fixed).

In fairness, I'm also exploring other options as well. I can tell you right now, if Fuji updates it's firmware on lower camera bodies like the XA1 to include interval shooting, I'd probably already be testing it out. I love my XT1, but since it's my artsy-fartsy for-fun camera, I don't want to start putting a bunch of shutter actuations on it.

I did buy a Pentax Q10 to try out. The dynamic range and low-noise performance just aren't there... though it is a fun little camera. There'd be potential if it had a better sensor, especially since it can run in electronic shutter mode, which would mean no shutter actuations to worry about at all. When I tested it out doing a time-lapse (














Youtu.be



), I ran it for over 12,000 shots and didn't have a single problem. Isn't that sad that the K3 can't do the same thing? LOL
Forum: Pentax K-3 & K-3 II 07-17-2014, 07:22 PM  
K3 Crazy Mirror Sickness (Mirror Flapping Lockup) on firmware 1.10
Posted By DRabbit
Replies: 13
Views: 3,470
Sorry to hear it's happening with the latest firmware :(

Please, if you can, add your reports to the original reporting thread just so we can keep all the reports in one place. I did link to this thread in the updates, and I added your names to the list there, but it would be good for you to add your info to that thread, if you could.

I was considering buying a K3 again just to test, but now I may just hold off some more.
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