Top 20 Pentax *ist DL Digital Camera Questions & Answers

Try a different battery. It's not unheard of for a rechargeable battery -- even a new one -- to fail. All it takes is one defective cell (there are many in each battery) and you're dead in the water. Read the manual to find out what the battery symbol actually means.

Read your manual, then call the maker

There is a button on the side of the mirror box with the flash symbol. Pushing that should cause the flash to go up except if it is set on the 'green rectangle' on the mode dial, in which case the camera will cause the flash to go up in low light situations automatically

Measure batteries to make sure they are 'fresh' I have run into many bad 'new' batteries. And if they are the same brand people sometimes put the old ones back in by mistake.Other than that without a lot more information there are just far too many things that could cause this problem - from impact to water damage to circuit failure.

I just tried something that I read a few days back tried it then but just tried it again. I held my Canon Power Shot S3 SI Camera Lens up to a Very Bright Light and started Taking Pictures started in TV mode then kept switching modes but taking lots of pictures in the different modes kept checking after taking a few I could start noticing that the screen was getting lighter and lighter with each picture that I took ... and Finely it started looking more and more like a picture.. and now my baby is back working...... thanks to who every the person was that posted about using a light to get her the Death of the Black Screen working... Just a little hint make sure that the light is really bright a flashlight did not work the yesterday for me so today a used a lamp and now me and mt Camera are both doing the Happy Dance .... Hope This May Help Others Who's Cameras Have Been Hit With The BLACK SCREEN OF DEATH....hope this works for you like it did me.:)

Have you tried batteries in something else to check they're ok, and inserted correctly if still no good perhaps return as it will still be under warranty?

Well, you can put your camera in mirror lock up mode, do this with your lens off, this will lift the mirror up and then you'll need to put it on bulb setting so you can keep the shutter open, this will allow you to see what is blocking the sensor. If it's floating around, go ahead and remove it, but if it's stuck, i do not recommend messing with it. In that case you might have to take it to a camera tech guy. If you need further help, I’m available over the phone at https://www.6ya.com/expert/erik_3934b541f17c4e99

Yes. The CCD chip has died and they don't tend to be cheap, but I would call around to other service centers before giving up hope. $400 seems a little steep to me, but I don't often work with Pentax units, and haven't priced their CCDs recently.

Hi Noodle
One of Pentax's strengths is that that you can use lenses from the late 1960s on them (via an adaptor). However, I'm assuming that you have a bayonet fitting lens - but as you say 'my manual pentax' could it be that they are not autofocus lenses?
If autofocus is switched on and you have a manual focus lens, you have to have something in focus in order for the shutter to fire. (with no lens fitted it doesn't seem to matter). Switch the camera to manual focus (where you can shoot out-of-focus stuff) and see if the problem is still there.
If it is then it spounds as though there is something amiss with the camera to lens coupling.

Hi Shipley I get exactly the same with my *ist DL2 periodically. It doesn't happen every time but often enough to be irritating. Sometimes taking the batteries out and putting them back in a different order fixes it - sometimes it doesn't. Often If I put them in and then leave the camera for a few minutes before switching it on - that generally works. (but then again.......
I wish I knew the definitive answer.

Take off the lens and fire off a few shots. Does the mirror flip up? Or is it permanently up? Does the shutter open? Can you see through the lens? This "lovely, recommended seller" may have unloaded his problems on you.

Hi,The lens pins either broke or maybe out of position and not moving the lens..

Here is a tip that I wrote about How to get a Digital Camera Lens to work againSteps to Repair a Digital Camera Lens

heatman101

Sorry, that is not possible with this camera as it sies nit have "live view"

Have you tried cleaning the battery contacts in the camera with a cotton swab lightly dampened with rubbing alcohol?

Remove the lens and clean the contacts on the camera body and the lens where they meet with a cotton swab lightly dampened with rubbing alcohol. Re-attach the lens and make sure the ring (if you have one) is set to "A".

The battery indicator is on the top LCD panel
Here is a link to a PDF manual if you don't have a hard copy

http://www.google.ca/webhp?hl=en#hl=en&source=hp&biw=1294&bih=827&q=Pentax+*ist+DL+PDF+manual&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&fp=cc0ca0f632636127

Here is a diagram of the battery icons

Diagram

PLease reinstall the software and drivers for your camera, and try to transfer pictures again.