Help Needed: "Black Image" Failure on Power On

[t-legiaw]

Hi,

since yesterday I am facing the following issue with my Ricoh GR:

Whenever I Power On the camera it shows only some kind of a "Black Image". It looks like a lens cap doesn't let pass light to the sensor. The "normal" information is still shown, e.g. F2.8/ISO800, a Histogram with a peak on the left side, etc. I can even half-press the shutter button and the sound is like it tries to focus. I need to take a picture within this "black image mode" to come out of this situation. After that everything works completely normal. But - of course - I am getting a completely black image capture from this first shot after a power on.

I have already removed the battery, fully charged the battery, removed and re-inserted the memory card etc. Nothing helps.

Even a "Reset to Defaults" did not help.

The firmware is at version "v3.0". I also did a re-flash with the v3.0 firmware. But the "Black Image" issue is still there... :-(

Do you have some ideas what else I could do to fix this?

 

[thelps]

No idea really, the only thing I can suggest is maybe the ND filter is coming on.
Try turning the ND filter to off and see if that changes anything?

 

[t-legiaw]

Hi Tim,

thanks a lot for the ND filter suggestion.

But I can't try out because I brought the camera back to the store for repair this morning.

On the other hand: if this has to do with the ND filter then the camera wouldn't become fully functional after a "black picture" shot was made - right?

Anyway - I am going to post the findings from the service staff here when the camera is back.

- Hans

 

[quesojean]

I know it has been a while, but my Ricoh GR is currently experiencing the same issue. No ND Filter, recently updated firmware, fully charged battery, and restored factory settings. Nothing seems to have fixed the problem. Did you ever figure it out? thanks, casey

 

[noisesauce]

Hi, I am also experiencing the same problem.

On powering on, 80% of the time the shutter is stuck closed, as in you can physically see it when looking at the lens. Forcing a (black) picture will then open the shutter, upon which the camera will function as normal. However the next time I turn the camera on, it's more than likely the same issue will surface again.

I've tried multiple on/off and focusing cycles and gently(!) tapped the camera a few times in an attempt to dislodge any dust or fix it, but to no avail. Haven't tried any firmware or settings resets as I believe the problem is mechanical.

Anyone else have an idea of what could be wrong?

 

[dennisonb]

Had the same problem the other day, wasn't paying attention enough to note the circumstances though. Camera wouldn't react at all though- I need to resinsert the battery to get it to unfreeze.