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Forum: Pentax K-30 & K-50
02-10-2017, 09:48 PM
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I'm sitting here now with the problem as the filing I did just got me back to this being an intermittent problem, and the green button metering is working on both a non-aperture ring lens and an older k mount with aperture ring.
As for the mirror box replacement, could be the repair shop fixed the wrong thing? The lever in the camera that works the lens aperture lever goes up with the mirror. In fact that solenoid may actually be the thing that raises the mirror too. Just a guess at this point because the magnet in that solenoid seems like overkill just to work the aperture.
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Forum: Pentax K-30 & K-50
02-10-2017, 02:24 PM
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Just a note here, lenses with aperture rings continue to work correctly including the ones with the lever in the lens which stops down automatically. So no need to use only m42 lenses as a workaround solution.
And no, it's not too difficult a problem for an engineer to figure out.
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Forum: Pentax K-30 & K-50
02-09-2017, 03:00 AM
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Below is another thread which has the best theory of what the problem is that I've seen. Based on this other thread, creating a bigger air gap between the armature and the permanent magnet helps keep the armature from "sticking" to the permanent magnet. Filing the edges has a similar effect, because the armature seems to be a sandwich of a non-magnetic core and two thin strips of iron/steel bonded to it. Filing the edges effectively makes the distance between the iron/steel armature "skin" and magnet greater - as in the attempted fix in the thread below.
Personally, I can't give Ricoh a pass on this because it seems to be a problem that's existed for 5 years over several models and probably continues with the newest models. Having read for years about TQM in Japan, that philosophy seems distant to Ricoh. Why do they seem to be repeating the same mistake? I don't expect them to fix my camera which is 2.5 years old, but I do expect the same problem to be gone if (big if at this point) I purchase another Pentax.
K-30/K-50 Aperture Control Problem/Black Photo Repair - How I did it. - PentaxForums.com |
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Forum: Post Your Photos!
02-08-2017, 01:20 AM
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Great timing and placement. Nice photo. Lots of detail and action!
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Forum: Post Your Photos!
02-08-2017, 01:14 AM
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Very bucolic. Nice photo!
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Forum: Post Your Photos!
02-08-2017, 01:08 AM
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I'd say you "captured the moment." Nicely done!
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Forum: Post Your Photos!
02-08-2017, 01:00 AM
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Forum: Pentax K-30 & K-50
02-05-2017, 09:56 PM
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Thanks. This makes more sense than anything I've read about the problem so far. And I also agree with some comments suggesting a weakened spring may be part of the problem.
Too bad I didn't find your post two days ago when I took my K-50 apart and did the sanding fix - that freed it up for now. But if aperture sticks again, I'll remember to try this fix next. I documented what I did on a different thread and included a youtube link to a video describing how to take the K-50 apart and get to the aperture block. I also included a few pictures of the aperture block in the camera.
Before I dismounted the magnet assembly I pushed the control arm down with my finger. It took a fair amount of pressure for such a small part to get it unstuck from the top of the magnet. Once unstuck it snapped down with authority.
Nice job Clover-leaf!
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Forum: Pentax K-30 & K-50
02-05-2017, 10:08 AM
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Here's a recent youtube video which does a good job of explaining how to attempt a self-fix.
You Tube
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src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1ZZoTUQvwBI?controls=1" allowfullscreen>
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The only things I would add is there's a third screw under the bottom cover that needs to be removed, to the right and down from the two hidden screws in the hand grip. Also the rubber cover for the video out connection hooks under the rubber grip on the left side of the camera. So pry that grip rubber up a little to unhook and rehook, especially when putting back together.
I did the repair. The camera is working now - one day. I don't know how long it will stay working. Personally, I don't see how this repair did much - but it is working? It's not extremely difficult for anyone who likes to do this kind of thing. But it's not meant for a newbie either. The quarters are close and the parts are tiny. Also, for the time invested, it's probably worth the $100 to send it off to the guys who do this repair on the side (I didn't do that), if you want to keep the camera. I suspect their info is included somewhere in this thread. That also assumes their repair is actually long lived - so far I haven't come across any info on that.
In addition to sanding the prongs of the armature (covered in the video), I also sanded a little all around. I then polished the armature up with some brasso and a dremel buffing wheel. I can't see where that made much of a difference either. The last step I did was spray some silicon lube on the armature and let that dry before reassembling. I doubt that makes much difference either. There is residual magnetism in the top bar that connects the two coils and that seems to hold the armature up. But I suspect that's been there for awhile and may be by design? In conclusion I'll just have to wait and see how things go. If it goes another 2.5 years before it completely fails again, I'll be happier (still not happy, if you know what I mean). One thing I noted in looking at the pictures enlarged, is that the armature seems to be a core (probably not iron) with two thin iron faces bonded on. Well that could also be my imagination. In conclusion, in the industry where I used to work, this repair falls under the category, wave the dead chicken. But sometimes it works!
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Forum: Post Your Photos!
01-24-2017, 12:07 AM
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Forum: Post Your Photos!
01-23-2017, 01:09 PM
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Male Ruby-throated Hummingbird shot in my backyard. The 300 DA* is just a beautiful lens. Shot from close to the minimum focus distance, around 6-7 feet, on a tripod, most likely using a wired remote release, manual prefocus (auto focus is too slow to catch these guys, or I'm too slow to use it), manual exposure, natural light (no flash-I don't flash the little guys-it can't be good for them). I'm pretty sure I used Nik software selectively to "darken" the front feeder position as it was totally blown out by the sun and brighten the head, otherwise basic adjustments. The background is naturally dark because it's in shade and quite a distance away. The only trick is to make friends with the little guys. Just for comparison, his body is about the size of a thumb.
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Forum: Monthly Photo Contests
03-12-2016, 01:33 PM
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Forum: Monthly Photo Contests
03-12-2016, 01:30 PM
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Forum: Monthly Photo Contests
03-12-2016, 01:29 PM
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A nice colorful take on the theme.
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Forum: Monthly Photo Contests
03-12-2016, 01:28 PM
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Forum: Monthly Photo Contests
03-12-2016, 01:26 PM
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Forum: Monthly Photo Contests
03-12-2016, 01:25 PM
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Forum: Monthly Photo Contests
03-12-2016, 01:24 PM
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Forum: Monthly Photo Contests
03-12-2016, 01:23 PM
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That's a little different. In a good way.
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Forum: Monthly Photo Contests
03-12-2016, 01:22 PM
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A classic-like image. Nice.
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Forum: Monthly Photo Contests
03-12-2016, 01:19 PM
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Forum: Pentax Forums Giveaways
01-19-2016, 06:04 PM
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Like most animals, dragonflies will leave their perch on a leaf if someone (like a photographer) approaches them. Stay put and start composing your picture based on the spot where the dragonfly was. Most of the time, if you stay relatively still, the dragonfly will fly right back to the same spot on the leaf within about 15 seconds. As you slowly get closer, the dragonfly will usually repeat the same behavior flying back to the same spot again. With patience and practice you should be able to get within a couple feet from the dragonfly and have enough time to properly set up your camera to capture the moment.
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