Note: while my first camera is still very broken, I have since gotten back into photography with a fancier and (slightly) newer camera, not to mention some fancier, and in some cases, much older lenses.

I got my first DSLR in 2015: a Pentax K-50, the absolute cheapest camera with a large-ish sensor that I could get brand new. It had a lot of features that you don’t always see on a consumer-grade camera though, like a pentaprism viewfinder instead of pentamirror, dual control dials, and weather sealing. It was absolutely the best bang for the buck that I could have hoped for, and it was a stalwart companion for many a hike and concert.

Sadly, three years later, I started noticing my photos were coming out incredibly dark. No matter what settings I used, the camera couldn’t seem to get enough light. After some online searching and forum lurking, I came to the conclusion that the aperture actuator had failed. It’s a known issue with the K-30 and K-50, and the solution is very intricate surgery on small electromechanical parts inside the camera. I haven’t ruled that out, but it’s not high on my priority list considering how frustrating it’s likely to be.

For now, I’m focusing on work and my own software projects. If I really want to take photos, I have a phone with a very nice camera (for a phone). The best camera is the one you have with you, after all.