IMPORTANT; First frame black issue

Welcome to Dyxum, LTKonica

It doesn't sound like the FFB problem to me. Is the black picture on your card?

Don't shake it too hard

Seriously, if you do you might inadvertently damage the SSS piezo rods and then any repair would simply be uneconomic.

Please keep us posted on progress and, good luck.

It might be an issue with the mirror release or the aperture transmission mechanisms. One way to detect the latter is if the camera still takes photos in A(perture priority) mode with the diaphragm at the widest setting possible for the lens in question. In the early stages FFB doesn't cause the camera to freeze and display ERR.

Hi Everyone,
I bought a dirt cheap KM5D off a chap on Facebook Market. He said it had been used for fire incident reporting, but hadn't used it in ages. It was in a nice case and it was in better condition than my one.

As I had a thick bandage around my hand from an operation, I didn't try it till I got home. I took a picture and got "Err" in the viewfinder, and a black picture. I tried turning it off an on numerous times but got the same result. I contacted the seller who was amazed, and immediately refunded my money for the camera.

So since then, Ive checked out the threads here and DPreview and have tried some of the numerous suggestions - leaving the camera on for many days, shooting continuously, using the 2 sec timer, vigorous up and down/side to side shaking and even freezing it. Result was always the same - perfect pictures of Black. Curiously though, I haven't had the "Err" show up since that first one.

Is there anything else you can suggest I try before I put it in the rubbish bin?

Cheers,
Renato

Edited by Renato - 04 July 2021 at 16:15

pegelli wrote: Hi, that's a bummer but I understand every 5D/7D will get the problem eventually unless they had it and were fixed when that was still possible. Mine also doesn't show Err (never did, even the first time) but delivers full or partly black frames. Also after taking a failed photo the camera becomes totally irresponsive and you have to cycle the power to take another (usually black) photo. Do you ever see partly black frames, or only 100% black? Can you take multiple black frames or do you have to cycle the power before taking the next one? I'd keep it as a doorstop or paperweight before throwing it in the rubbish bin but if you still bin it maybe take it to a place where they recycle electronics, there's still plenty useful materials in there that shouldn't end up in a landfill or furnace. Other suggestion is to offer it up for parts in the   5D/7D Parts - The Boneyard

Thanks for getting back to me.

It doesn't shoot anything but fully black frames, and I don't have to recycle the power. I can shoot as many perfectly black frames as I like - with and without Flash.

Which is the puzzling part, as most everyone else seems to have gotten something after the problem showed up.

Now that I think of it, I have an old Minolta SRT 101 performing the function of a book-end. Maybe it's time I updated the book-end with the KM5D?
Regards,
Renato

Edited by Renato - 04 July 2021 at 16:06

pegelli wrote: That indeed sounds slightly different from the "classic" FFB. Can it be a shutter or mirror failure? Have you looked in the throat of the camera without a lens and see if the mirror flips up and the shutter opens? (after setting to allow to fire without lens in the menu)

Yes, thanks - I had put it on the 2sec timer without a lens, and the mirror goes up and the shutter opens.

Cheers,
Renato