RiceHigh's Pentax Blog: K-5 Lens Release Button Comes Off

Tuesday, December 06, 2011

K-5 Lens Release Button Comes Off

http://bbs.kakaku.com/bbs/K0000152653/SortID=13802697/
(in Japanese, Google English Translation Here)

Seems not an isolated case for what are reported for the same by different users in the same thread. Btw, at the end of the day, I just wonder, why Pentax DSLR flagships should have particular different weak points to break more easily from model to model?! :-o

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Vulnerability of the DAL Plastic Mount

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K10D Dust Proof?

Comments (12)

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velijura · 693 weeks ago

My went off after 3 months of use, but local service fixed it for free. I must admit, that I change lenses quite often. The button pawl is made of some kind of plastic and after heavy use it just broke.

1 reply · active 667 weeks ago

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Josh · 667 weeks ago

Which 'local service' did you go to to fix your lens release button? are you in the UK?

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daedbird · 693 weeks ago

Hey Rice, I don't know if you noticed, but half the posts on that thread are from the same person - the one who originated the thread in the first place.

For crying out loud, not every product produced in great numbers will be perfect each time an example comes off the line. A couple of people have the button break off. It stinks, especially when the camera is in the shop for the free repair, but you trying to make more out of this than it is nuts.

I see that you have links to past flagship "issues" two of which are from the K10. Well, listen here sir, I know you never owned the flagship K10, but I have. It has been extremely reliable, and never had dust problems, or AF pieces break off, not after 44,150 actuations.

I will admit, I had a mirror lockup issue in its first year. It was gone for a couple weeks, then back, all fixed for free. It has been perfect for me ever since.

1 reply · active 693 weeks ago

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Jas Daliwal · 693 weeks ago

My friend had 3 Sony Cameras with dust working its way onto sensors despite being a sealed unit, god only knows what would have happened had it been a Pentax horrific.
I have owed an K2DMD,MX,LX,Z1p,MZ-5,ist*d,K10,K20,K-7 and K-5 I wonder why I shoot Pentax when I shoot Nikon for work, D100's,D!x,D2,D70,D200's, D300s.. And I am a shooter.
Who do I send back for repairs despite same actuations? Nikon. Who out performs Nikons in the world of real actual shooting. Pentax.
Which rarely includes shooting back light trees looking for purple frindging. I shoot real world.
Also Have never repaired a Pentax digi body.

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justmy2cents · 693 weeks ago

Sorry to sound like my owna grandfather, but had they all left the old screw mount in place it could not happen at all (I know, I know, the electronics...) - that said, my button is alive and well after 300+ lens changes (different suppliers of parts?)

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Barbarosa · 693 weeks ago

press lens relase buton with right hand pinkie and you got quickshift with old FA lens, try that with other manufacturers

1 reply · active 693 weeks ago

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RiceHigh 110p · 693 weeks ago

Simply because it retracts the AF screwdriver at the same time. However, this is not recommended for long run as it will cause more wears to the driver head.

+2 Vote up Vote down

Jas Daliwal · 693 weeks ago

Clearly this is a systemic quality control issue as it has been wildly reported on various forums. Pentax should own up to this issue and repair for free. This surely would never happen with other brands, clearly Pentax users are getting duped.

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velijura · 687 weeks ago

Today it comes off again, 4 months after it was repaired...what a shame... :-|

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Martin · 564 weeks ago

My k5 had the same issue out of warranty cost me $100 get fixed plus the down side of missing some shots as well as not having a camera for a week.

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Derek Madge · 524 weeks ago

I am sitting with a broken button too. When I went digital I followed Pentax from the film age (the rugged Spotmatic F) . My lens change button broke about half a year out of warranty. Since, for the first seven months or so I did not have a second lens to change to, and I estimated roughly two dozen lens changes when it disappeared into the grass, plus, I baby all my camera gear, I figured Pentax should step up and admit their QC or their design was lacking. I was able to track down and get the parts from a US repair shop, sent to Canada since Ricoh Canada refused to sell them to me. (I repaired delicate mechanisms in projectors for 35 years). WHen I looked at the parts, I could see that they are still flimsy and there is no guarantee they will not break again though an email from Ricoh US states:"RICOH uses updated parts to replace the lens release button on the K-5 if you send the camera in to an authorized service center. " The parts I got had been bought from Ricoh US, a month earlier. The plunger that press inward is held in place by a tiny plastic clip which could easily dislodge again.

So, as soon as I find the time I will attempt to replace the parts. I have my eye on a K3 but will be checking on this issue before I fork over money. I love the K-5 in every other regrad but it does not feel like Ricoh believes in this camera s much as I do.

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Guest · 524 weeks ago

The quality of Pentax gear is somewhat awful.

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Tuesday, December 06, 2011

K-5 Lens Release Button Comes Off

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