Hi Patrick, I don't have a good answer to your problem, but I can certainly sympathize, as my black KX is doing exactly the same thing. In my case, I suspect a bad contact in the main switch around the shutter release.
When I first bought the camera, the meter reading was consistantly giving a reading for 1 and 2/3 stops over-exposure. (at ISO 100... the discrepency was not linear and was different at different ISO #'s). I simply adjusted the ISO dial accordingly and continued to use the camera (with slide film) with excellent results for about two years. Then, on a camping trip this spring, the readings became erratic. Each time I turned the main switch "on" then "off" and back "on" again, it gave a different reading. Knowing full well that KX's are infamous for light meter failures, I opted to replace it with a ZX5n. There is a good camera repairman in my town, and I will probably have him take a look at my KX when funds allow. For now my KX is still with me, but loaded with infra-red film and occasionally used for long exposure twilight photography and star trails. Incidentally, if you happen to learn anything else about this strange ailment I would like to know what you find out. If it lasted +/- 25 years the first time, I think the cost of a CLA and meter repair would be well worth the price. Otherwise you could re-foam it yourself (I think you can buy the self-adhesive foam at Peterson's photographic) and cut it to fit with an exacto knife. The meter switch may or may not be the problem, but in both of our cameras, activation and deactivation of the power supply with this switch ~does~ seem to affect the reading. HTH -Jonathan- P.S., I have used a number of different "equivalent" battery types with this camera with fine results, but I prefer silver oxide as they seem to last quite a long time. >>Patrick wrote: Hello! I recently bought a black KX. At first glance the body is in perfect optical condition - no brassing around the brackets etc. Unfortunately the foam sealing of the film compartment and the mirror shock absorbers are porous, but that's ok for an about 25 year old camera. But enough about the optical condition. The light meter has a problem and I am wondering if it's the contacts that need some cleaning or if it is a mechanical problem. First of all: I am using 2 Energizer LR44/A76 but in the manual it says to use SE76E or MS76H. Are the battery types mentioned in the manual outdated? Now the light meter problem: When I press the shutter release button halfway it gives a decent suggestion, but when I release the shutter it falls down a bit. E.g. if it indicated 1/60 before release, the needle would point at 1/8 after release. After another release it drops another bit and so on. When I the light meter off and on again it works again - always for one exposure. I think it could be the vibration caused by the mirror during exposure (the shock absorbing foam has more or less completely dissolved). Does anybody know the problem? If I need to apply contact spray, what parts would need it? What can I do about the foam. I don't really want to leave the camera at the photo store, as that is quite expensive and in my opinion the problem can't be that complicated to fix. I could be wrong, but I hope not. Thanks in advance, Patrick __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? The New Yahoo! Shopping - with improved product search http://shopping.yahoo.com
