Good camera until his black pictures problem

After a year or two, my camera started to give me black pictures randomly.

And now, it's impossible to get any picture via the viewfinder, they are all black.

The only solution is to take them in LV mode.

Pentax refuse to recognize the problem and leave the users on themselves.

It was a very great camera while it was working.

Sadly, I would not recommand any Pentax/Ricoh products.

My detailled scoring will reflect this disapointing situation.

Or

BobORama wrote:

Or

That was fun to watch! I did turn the music off after about 30 seconds though... since there was no narrative anyway. The video seemed sped up a hair, so it's prolly more like 18 minutes, not 12, but still, even if  it takes 1/2 hr a person with decent manual dexterity should be able to have their K50 back up and going simply enough for the cost of a JIS screwdriver set, a file and sandpaper. The JIS screwdriver is probably the only real minor expense, since most will have everything else laying around. That is nice to know.

tbla wrote:

I have the exact same problem. Hasn't been using the camera for a year, an started using it again for a week ago, and experienced the dark pictures in viewfinder mode.

Sadly, that Pentax doesn't recognize the problem.

If it works in LV mode it must be a software problem...or !!??

Is there any possibility that dpreview, can take up the problem with Pentax?

I'm afraid your camera has the infamous aperture-control solenoid problem, which afflicts many Pentax entry-level dSLRs from the K-r onward - but particularly the K-50, K30 and K-500.  Pentax refuse to acknowledge the problem.

You'll find loads of information by searching for "Pentax K-50 aperture block failure".  The problem is with is a solenoid.  The original white Japan-sourced ones used in earlier models are reliable, but Pentax switched to green China-sourced ones for the K-30s etc.

You can fix the problem by getting hold of an earlier white solenoid and replacing it yourself - but be careful, there are high voltages around.  Merely sanding down the solenoid pole pieces is NOT a permanent solution.

Top line Pentax models don't use solenoids at all in this area, so never have this problem (so K-5, K-3, KP, K-1 are all OK).

You don't have to fix the problem - the camera will still work if you mount a K-mount lens which has an aperture ring.  You then set the Allow Aperture Ring flag to ON (i.e. 2), set Manual Exposure mode, and use the green button for stop-down metering.  Or you may find that you can use Av mode and EV compensation.  As I say, do a search and you'll find loads of info.

Good luck!