erratic control wheel on K-r

<p>After less than a year the control wheel (not the correct term) on my K-r is going wildly erratic. Using it to zoom in and out in the Playback mode gets sudden maximum magnification and will not back out of the image. I have to give up and turn Playback off and go back into Playback .For setting aperture, it is erratic in the same way, not allowing wide apertures without endless fiddling and trying it again and again.<br>

It seems Pentax service does not answer emails. If Pentax cannot/won't resolve this, I'll look at the K5. I find no fault with the DA 21 and the DA 70, and will do what I can to keep them. Pentax service been OK for you folks?</p>

<p>Had the same problem with our *ist DS2. The switches weren't working right, and the camera had no idea what way it was spinning. No idea if they replace the knob, or the entire flex circuit it's on.</p>

<p>You said "after less than a year," so I assume the camera is still under warranty. You should get Pentax to fix it, and it shouldn't cost you anything. If they aren't answering your emails, try calling them. If that doesn't work, get your state Attorney General's office to send Pentax a friendly letter. That usually does the trick pretty quickly. (I know several people who have had to do that with various computer manufacturers.)</p>

<p>Since the product is less than a year old, why don't you just follow the instructions on the <a href="http://www.pentaximaging.com/support#!product-repairs">repair</a> website, print a return shipping label along with a note that could be verbatim from your post's first paragraph, and drop the thing off at the post office? Most likely it will be fixed and in your hands within a few weeks.</p>

<p>I did the same thing several years ago for my now departed *DS and everything was good and easy.</p>

<p>ME</p>

<p>This is caused by dirt on the electrical contacts inside the wheel. I have successfully used Zippo lighter fluid to fix this.</p>

<p>Anirban,<br>

Do you have to disassemble the camera, or do you spray or drip the stuff inside? This doesn't bode well for Pentax. The same problem is unaddressed since the DS's. Seems like poor design. What might I expect from the K5?<br>

I registered it on line when I bought it, but can't find the printout. Will arrange to have it repaired.</p>

<p>I have had success with the wheel on my *ist DS2 by spraying electrical contact cleaner (probably similar in concept to Anirban's Zippo fluid) on either side of the dial, then working the dial back and forth a bit. I imagine that a little crud had gotten on the contacts.</p>

<p>Electrical contact cleaner is inexpensive and readily available at hardware/auto parts stores. I imagine the idea is that it dissolves some of the crud then evaporates relatively quickly without leaving much residue. Waiting a little while before turning camera on and trying the dial might make it a little safer -- though I probably wasn't all that patient myself.</p>

<p>My camera was of course out of warranty, whether you want to attempt this yourself is up to you. I took the risk on my own equipment but it was less valuable (replacement cost) at the time than your K-r is now.</p>

<p>I imagine the sealed cameras are a bit less susceptible to this problem -- I haven't had this happen on my K10D, K20D, or K-7. Of course none are as old as the DS2, and probably only the K10D has similar "mileage".</p>

<p>Andrew said it before I could :-) You don't have to open the camera. Just drip the fluid through the tiny gap between the wheel and the body.<br /> The important point is to exercise the wheel <em>a lot</em>. I mean <em>a lot</em>. After I attempted this the first time, the camera behaved ok for a month, and then the erratic behaviour was back. The next time I must have rotated the dial to and fro for about 5 minutes continuously and it's been ok for a year now.</p>

<p>Wow, a lot of foolhardy assumptions are being made here about everything from an undiagnosed cause to Pentax manufacturing and design practices. I certainly would not drip volatile chemicals to the interior of a camera that is still under warranty. To me at least, it would seem a lot less risky to simply follow the warranty service instructions on the Pentax website. That service is part of the purchase price that was paid.</p>

<p>ME</p>

<p>Thanks to all for your help. The K-r is being sent to Pentax service.</p>