Pentax K50- Thoughts and Aperture Block Failure

This is an image from one of the darkened RAW files I developed. I had to use full exposure and other settings to get it to look fine.  It was extra work for doing on the rest of the files but at least I was able to salvage them.

GQR

grcolts wrote:

The last few weeks I have been shooting with my K50 and until today it showed no signs of the dreaded aperture block failure. Well, today, unfortunately it is showing signs. This is my 2nd K50 to fall to this problem. Right now I can still shoot with it but will have to figure out where to get it repaired. One thing I really like about the K50 (Pentax in general) is that when out shooting I can still compose images without the camera being on. I cannot do that with my mirror-less camera. Anyway my luck has run out.

If I am not wrong, the K-50 should be able to be updated (i.e. with its latest F/W) to support the KAF-4 mount. Then you can use KAF-4 compatible lenses without any limitation. I have only one, the most affordable but very useful - DA 55-300 PLM.

The Squirrel Mafia wrote:

I fixed both of my K-50 bodies on my own. It's not too difficult, but everything is rather tiny & annoying.

There is a temporary fix that might work for you.

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/4221791

^ Try that out. You might have to do it several times to get it to work. There is that option of running KAF4 lenses, but the cheapest one is the DA 55-300mm PLM. All the other ones are pricey. Manual aperture ring lenses are also another option.

Thank you for the tips. I will certainly look at all options.

flektogon wrote:

grcolts wrote:

The last few weeks I have been shooting with my K50 and until today it showed no signs of the dreaded aperture block failure. Well, today, unfortunately it is showing signs. This is my 2nd K50 to fall to this problem. Right now I can still shoot with it but will have to figure out where to get it repaired. One thing I really like about the K50 (Pentax in general) is that when out shooting I can still compose images without the camera being on. I cannot do that with my mirror-less camera. Anyway my luck has run out.

If I am not wrong, the K-50 should be able to be updated (i.e. with its latest F/W) to support the KAF-4 mount. Then you can use KAF-4 compatible lenses without any limitation. I have only one, the most affordable but very useful - DA 55-300 PLM.

Thank you for pointing that option out.  Right now my K50 is randomly causing the dark images so I can still use it.  I did check my current firmware and it says 10.1  I will have to go online and see what is the newest.

Thank you. Good to know about options.

RBIV wrote:

I dunno. I'm totally not into how to deal with a crippled Pentax. If I don't trust a camera I have, I get rid of it. There are way too many good cameras to have to deal with that.

As I recall from other posts, you have another mirrorless system.

So, maybe temporary loss of the K50 isn't such a big deal. There are links around this site and Pentax forums that offer a real, long-term solenoid fix. That may be a good option. Or if you are committed to the DSLR way, maybe spring for a new K3iii, or try to find a good used KP. The K50 is almost 10 years old, and there have been improvements... Need we tempt you?

I use the K50 for shooting some landscapes, plus as a back-up as it can use AA batteries where others cannot.  Yes, I have a mirror-less system as well which is quite fine for shooting birds, macros and general nature.  So, I won't be without a camera. I am going to study all the options given to me and will decide which or what way to go. Thanks.

So, after reading about quick fixes I tried it. So far, seems to be working but for how long is anyone's guess. I know it is not a permanent fix. My options, just keep it and hope for the best, purchase a lens that will work w/o the problem interfering or get a different Pentax camera. The K70 would be a logical step but my understanding is that it too can suffer from the aperture block failure.  It might make more sense to me to get a used Pentax K3 or K3ii.

I have a K50 with the problem. I just use one lens on it now, the Pentax-A 50mm f/1.7 with an aperture ring. It works, but I wish Pentax offered some kind of solution because it only had about 40,000 clicks on it and it would have been a very nice camera to keep using with other lenses.

JasonTheBirder wrote:

I have a K50 with the problem. I just use one lens on it now, the Pentax-A 50mm f/1.7 with an aperture ring. It works, but I wish Pentax offered some kind of solution because it only had about 40,000 clicks on it and it would have been a very nice camera to keep using with other lenses.

It is painful to say the least. Your solution will probably be what I end up doing as well. Thank you for sharing your solution.

I'm just keeping my fingers crossed on my k50, so far so good.  I've been using my s21u more and more and the k50 less and less so it will go on the shelf if it quits.