Ricoh Sells Faulty Pentax Cameras, Costs Customers Hundreds of Dollars, Class Action Alleges

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Pentax K-70 model cameras have a faulty part that affects the exposure of photographs, and parent company Ricoh Imaging Americas Corporation is well aware of the issue, a new class action lawsuit alleges.

The Ricoh Pentax camera class action lawsuit was filed in Colorado on July 17 by lead Plaintiff Danny Gene Mitchell Jr. who alleges that Ricoh violates state consumer and breach of warranty laws.

Mitchell Jr. alleges that Ricoh, which manufactures and sells the Pentax K-70 models, has cost consumers thousands by selling the camera with a faulty part — called the armature — that affects the camera’s aperture.

“The extent of this issue goes beyond a few isolated instances, as more and more affected users of the Product are calling attention to it through the internet,” the Ricoh Pentax camera claim reads.

In fact, several authorized repair centers who serviced K-70 cameras under warranty informed consumers that no evidence of failure was required to be presented because the issue is well known, the claim adds.

“However, customers not within the warranty period are left to pay hundreds of dollars on repair and shipping costs or be left with a camera that is non-functional,” the Ricoh Pentax camera class action lawsuit reads.

The cause of the exposure issues is due to the armature’s failure, and that is caused by the parts residual magnetism, according to the claim.

“Eventually, the magnetic field produced by the coil is not strong enough to overcome the combined force of the fixed magnet and the magnetized plunger, to cause release of the plunger,” the Ricoh Pentax camera claim reads.

Mitchell Jr. alleges that the reason for that is because of the higher coercivity of the armature material than what is used in older models of different Pentax cameras, which retained their magnetism after the field strength was removed.

“Had the Product used low coercivity material such as soft iron (low carbon) for the plunger, this issue could have been averted.”

The claim says that consumers have devised clever ways to quickly “fix” the exposure issues caused by these parts, which include activating the coil to produce a reverse magnetic field, canceling the fixed field, and demagnetizing the armature.

“One option is taking multiple, rapid pictures, to demagnetize the armature. Another is filing the armature to reduce the coupling to the fixed magnet and slow the buildup of residual magnetism.”

However, the Ricoh claim adds, the magnetic structure of the coil assembly is unchanged, and the armature will gradually become re-magnetized, presenting the same issues.

These issues are prevalent enough to have spawned a cottage industry dedicated solely to the repair of faulty aperture control systems on the Pentax K-series, including the K-70, the Ricoh Pentax camera claim reads.

The cameras are sold for a price premium compared to other similar products, from $750 to $1200 purchased new and between $540 to $650 when purchased used, a higher price than it would otherwise be sold for, absent the misleading representations and omissions, the claim says.

“Defendant sold more of the Product and at higher prices than it would have in the absence of this misconduct, resulting in additional profits at the expense of consumers. Had Plaintiff and proposed class members known the truth, they would not have bought the Product or would have paid less for it.”

Mitchell Jr. wants to represent anyone in Colorado who purchased one of the Pentax K-70 cameras. He is suing for breach of warranty, negligent misrepresentation, unjust enrichment, fraud, and violations of the Colorado Consumer Protection Act. He seeks certification of the Class, damages, injunctive relief, restitution, legal fees, and a jury trial.

Do you own a Pentax K-70? Let us know if you’ve had any issues with the camera’s aperture in the comments section!

Mitchell Jr. is represented by Spencer Sheehan of Sheehan & Associates, P.C.

The Pentax K-70 Aperture Class Action Lawsuit is Mitchell Jr. v. Ricoh Imaging Americas Corporation, Case No. 1:21-cv-01949 in the U.S. District Court District Of Colorado.

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