RE: Pentax KX meter problem
Based on my experience buying, using and selling these cameras, the problem is usually PIT. Photographer inducing trouble. The meter switching is weird. If you press battery button the meter always responds with a good battery but the meter does not work until you pull out the wind lever part way and then press the shutter button partially. Almost everyone gets confused by this setup. You turn meter off by pushing wind lever closed. Try it, the meter my be fully working as it is Hi, I know exactly what you're getting at here and I'd have to agree with the general comment, however I've been using an MX since 1979 and I am fully familiar with the setup. I've even tried inching the lever slightly as if to wind on etc. no response from the meter even at the moment of tripping the shutter. It got to paranoia at one point and I got the other KX out just to check my methods 8) All the best, John
Re: Pentax KX meter problem
Sadly the KX meter is a one of a kind. I think you can use Spotmatic F, K1000 and KM meters interchangeably (I may be wrong about the KM). The KX was a whole other bird. Damn! John
Re: Pentax KX meter problem
Sadly the KX meter is a one of a kind. I think you can use Spotmatic F, K1000 and KM meters interchangeably (I may be wrong about the KM). The KX was a whole other bird. You're right about all the above. The KX meter *was* unique. The K2 used the same type silicon photo diode, but different metering circuitry due to the autoexposure nature of the beast. Double damn!! John
RE: Pentax KX meter problem (resend)
Based on my experience buying, using and selling these cameras, the problem is usually PIT. Photographer inducing trouble. The meter switching is weird. If you press battery button the meter always responds with a good battery but the meter does not work until you pull out the wind lever part way and then press the shutter button partially. Almost everyone gets confused by this setup. You turn meter off by pushing wind lever closed. Try it, the meter my be fully working as it is Hi, I know exactly what you're getting at here and I'd have to agree with the general comment, however I've been using an MX since 1979 and I am fully familiar with the setup. I've even tried inching the lever slightly as if to wind on etc. no response from the meter even at the moment of tripping the shutter. It got to paranoia at one point and I got the other KX out just to check my methods 8) All the best, John --- End of Forwarded Message --- John Whittingham Technician
Re: Pentax KX meter problem (resend)
Sadly the KX meter is a one of a kind. I think you can use Spotmatic F, K1000 and KM meters interchangeably (I may be wrong about the KM). The KX was a whole other bird. Damn! John --- End of Forwarded Message --- John Whittingham Technician
Re: Pentax KX meter problem (resend)
Sadly the KX meter is a one of a kind. I think you can use Spotmatic F, K1000 and KM meters interchangeably (I may be wrong about the KM). The KX was a whole other bird. You're right about all the above. The KX meter *was* unique. The K2 used the same type silicon photo diode, but different metering circuitry due to the autoexposure nature of the beast. Double damn!! John --- End of Forwarded Message --- John Whittingham Technician
RE: Pentax KX meter problem
If that's not it then the power switch that closes when the shutter release is pressed part way may not be contacting and need a cleaning. That would be under the top plate, yes? John
RE: Pentax KX meter problem
Right! Don -Original Message- From: John Whittingham [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, April 15, 2005 7:58 AM To: pentax-discuss@pdml.net Subject: RE: Pentax KX meter problem If that's not it then the power switch that closes when the shutter release is pressed part way may not be contacting and need a cleaning. That would be under the top plate, yes? John
RE: Pentax KX meter problem + enablement!
Time to dig out the old friction screwdriver then, looking on the brighter side I think I've just enabled myself with a SMC Pentax (K) 135 f/2.5 :) All the recent comment prompted me to bid one one with a K1000 body and 3rd party 28mm 2.8. I've been looking for one for some time, but they hold their price very well, I may just be parting with my K 135mm f/3.5 in the near future. John -- Original Message --- From: Don Sanderson [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: pentax-discuss@pdml.net Sent: Fri, 15 Apr 2005 08:25:58 -0500 Subject: RE: Pentax KX meter problem Right! Don -Original Message- From: John Whittingham [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, April 15, 2005 7:58 AM To: pentax-discuss@pdml.net Subject: RE: Pentax KX meter problem If that's not it then the power switch that closes when the shutter release is pressed part way may not be contacting and need a cleaning. That would be under the top plate, yes? John --- End of Original Message ---
Re: Pentax KX meter problem
I've never opened a KX but if it's like an MX it's under the bottom plate. John Whittingham wrote: If that's not it then the power switch that closes when the shutter release is pressed part way may not be contacting and need a cleaning. That would be under the top plate, yes? John -- I can understand why mankind hasn't given up war. During a war you get to drive tanks through the sides of buildings and shoot foreigners - two things that are usually frowned on during peacetime. --P.J. O'Rourke
RE: Pentax KX meter problem (resend)
MX is different setup isnt it? MX you don't need to pull out the wind lever no? jco -Original Message- From: John Whittingham [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, April 15, 2005 8:55 AM To: pentax-discuss@pdml.net Subject: RE: Pentax KX meter problem (resend) Based on my experience buying, using and selling these cameras, the problem is usually PIT. Photographer inducing trouble. The meter switching is weird. If you press battery button the meter always responds with a good battery but the meter does not work until you pull out the wind lever part way and then press the shutter button partially. Almost everyone gets confused by this setup. You turn meter off by pushing wind lever closed. Try it, the meter my be fully working as it is Hi, I know exactly what you're getting at here and I'd have to agree with the general comment, however I've been using an MX since 1979 and I am fully familiar with the setup. I've even tried inching the lever slightly as if to wind on etc. no response from the meter even at the moment of tripping the shutter. It got to paranoia at one point and I got the other KX out just to check my methods 8) All the best, John --- End of Forwarded Message --- John Whittingham Technician
Re: Pentax KX meter problem
I've never opened a KX but if it's like an MX it's under the bottom plate. Oh please let it be under the bottom plate, it would make life much simpler. John
RE: Pentax KX meter problem (resend)
MX is different setup isnt it? MX you don't need to pull out the wind lever no? IIRC you do if you want the meter to stay on, I never think when I'm using the MX it's like an extension of my mind and body, I'd have to check that. John
Re: Pentax KX meter problem
I know. John Whittingham wrote: I've never opened a KX but if it's like an MX it's under the bottom plate. Oh please let it be under the bottom plate, it would make life much simpler. John -- I can understand why mankind hasn't given up war. During a war you get to drive tanks through the sides of buildings and shoot foreigners - two things that are usually frowned on during peacetime. --P.J. O'Rourke
RE: Pentax KX meter problem
Hi Don No disrespect, are you sure it's under the top plate? John -- Original Message --- From: Don Sanderson [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: pentax-discuss@pdml.net Sent: Fri, 15 Apr 2005 08:25:58 -0500 Subject: RE: Pentax KX meter problem Right! Don -Original Message- From: John Whittingham [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, April 15, 2005 7:58 AM To: pentax-discuss@pdml.net Subject: RE: Pentax KX meter problem If that's not it then the power switch that closes when the shutter release is pressed part way may not be contacting and need a cleaning. That would be under the top plate, yes? John --- End of Original Message ---
RE: Pentax KX meter problem
No. ;-) I'm pretty sure it is but I don't have a KX to check. Sometimes I don't remember so good. :-/ Considering the bottom plate comes off in about 15 seconds that would certainly be the first place to check. You have to get under the bottom to check out the wiring anyway. Don -Original Message- From: John Whittingham [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, April 15, 2005 10:06 AM To: pentax-discuss@pdml.net Subject: RE: Pentax KX meter problem Hi Don No disrespect, are you sure it's under the top plate? John -- Original Message --- From: Don Sanderson [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: pentax-discuss@pdml.net Sent: Fri, 15 Apr 2005 08:25:58 -0500 Subject: RE: Pentax KX meter problem Right! Don -Original Message- From: John Whittingham [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, April 15, 2005 7:58 AM To: pentax-discuss@pdml.net Subject: RE: Pentax KX meter problem If that's not it then the power switch that closes when the shutter release is pressed part way may not be contacting and need a cleaning. That would be under the top plate, yes? John --- End of Original Message ---
RE: Pentax KX meter problem
No. ;-) I'm pretty sure it is but I don't have a KX to check. Sometimes I don't remember so good. :-/ Considering the bottom plate comes off in about 15 seconds that would certainly be the first place to check. You have to get under the bottom to check out the wiring anyway. Cheers Don, my memory is not what it used to either. It's worth taking the bottom plate off for a look anyway. John
Pentax KX meter problem
Hi all Is there a serious KX expert out there amongst you? The reason I ask is this. I bought a non working KX a while back as a parts body for the one I already own, the previous owner said it would only wind on one or two frames, it had been repaired twice but still had the same problem. When I got the camera I loaded an out of date film and tried it, film advance was a little stiff but not to the point of damaging the film and provided you loaded the leader well no prolems at all. Great I thought I've got a nice user! However, the meter does not appear to work. Clean battery compartment, fresh batteries, needle moves if you move the camera briskly. Could it be a bad connection or is the meter shot? John John Whittingham Technician
RE: Pentax KX meter problem
My first guess would be that at one time the battery was allowed to leak and the wire from the battery chamber to the top of the camera has corroded. The acid wicks up the wire, I've seen it go all the way to top of the camera. Usually there won't be a sign of this in the battery chamber, it doesn't corrode nearly as fast. If that's not it then the power switch that closes when the shutter release is pressed part way may not be contacting and need a cleaning. I'd bet on the first one, I've replaced that wire in K bodies many times. Don -Original Message- From: John Whittingham [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, April 14, 2005 3:04 PM To: pentax-discuss@pdml.net Subject: Pentax KX meter problem Hi all Is there a serious KX expert out there amongst you? The reason I ask is this. I bought a non working KX a while back as a parts body for the one I already own, the previous owner said it would only wind on one or two frames, it had been repaired twice but still had the same problem. When I got the camera I loaded an out of date film and tried it, film advance was a little stiff but not to the point of damaging the film and provided you loaded the leader well no prolems at all. Great I thought I've got a nice user! However, the meter does not appear to work. Clean battery compartment, fresh batteries, needle moves if you move the camera briskly. Could it be a bad connection or is the meter shot? John John Whittingham Technician
Re: Pentax KX meter problem
John Whittingham [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Great I thought I've got a nice user! However, the meter does not appear to work. Clean battery compartment, fresh batteries, needle moves if you move the camera briskly. Could it be a bad connection or is the meter shot? My guess, from sad experience, is that it's a bad IC in the metering circuit. I've purchased several KX's with bad meters (two were eBay bargains sold As Is with the disclaimer I don't know if the meter works because I don't have a battery to test it - yeah, right). All three cameras had problems that were not related to the battery compartment or wiring or the meter galvanometer itself. Without an actual schematic diagram, all I could narrow it down to was the meter electronics, but there's little more to the metering circuit than one integrated circuit chip. It's probably just a comparator or op-amp, but I can't even look for a substitute without at least a pinout diagram. My experience is that the meter electronics is the weak link of the KX. It's not *much* of a weak link - they aren't exactly dropping like flies - but I've seen more KX's with dead meters than any other Pentax I've known. -- Mark Roberts Photography and writing www.robertstech.com
RE: Pentax KX meter problem
My first guess would be that at one time the battery was allowed to leak and the wire from the battery chamber to the top of the camera has corroded. The acid wicks up the wire, I've seen it go all the way to top of the camera. Usually there won't be a sign of this in the battery chamber, it doesn't corrode nearly as fast. If that's not it then the power switch that closes when the shutter release is pressed part way may not be contacting and need a cleaning. I'd bet on the first one, I've replaced that wire in K bodies many times. Thanks Don, I think some dismantling and closer inspection is due this weekend, I'd really like to get this back to full working condition. John
Re: Pentax KX meter problem
My experience is that the meter electronics is the weak link of the KX. It's not *much* of a weak link - they aren't exactly dropping like flies - but I've seen more KX's with dead meters than any other Pentax I've known. If the worst comes to the worst I'll use it with an external meter I guess, but first I think I'll take a closer look, thanks for the information though. Is there anything I could salvage the parts from, K1000?, or is it impossible to tell without a schematic? John
RE: Pentax KX meter problem
Based on my experience buying, using and selling these cameras, the problem is usually PIT. Photographer inducing trouble. The meter switching is weird. If you press battery button the meter always responds with a good battery but the meter does not work until you pull out the wind lever part way and then press the shutter button partially. Almost everyone gets confused by this setup. You turn meter off by pushing wind lever closed. Try it, the meter my be fully working as it is -Original Message- From: John Whittingham [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, April 14, 2005 7:00 PM To: pentax-discuss@pdml.net Subject: Re: Pentax KX meter problem My experience is that the meter electronics is the weak link of the KX. It's not *much* of a weak link - they aren't exactly dropping like flies - but I've seen more KX's with dead meters than any other Pentax I've known. If the worst comes to the worst I'll use it with an external meter I guess, but first I think I'll take a closer look, thanks for the information though. Is there anything I could salvage the parts from, K1000?, or is it impossible to tell without a schematic? John
Re: Pentax KX meter problem
Sadly the KX meter is a one of a kind. I think you can use Spotmatic F, K1000 and KM meters interchangeably (I may be wrong about the KM). The KX was a whole other bird. John Whittingham wrote: My experience is that the meter electronics is the weak link of the KX. It's not *much* of a weak link - they aren't exactly dropping like flies - but I've seen more KX's with dead meters than any other Pentax I've known. If the worst comes to the worst I'll use it with an external meter I guess, but first I think I'll take a closer look, thanks for the information though. Is there anything I could salvage the parts from, K1000?, or is it impossible to tell without a schematic? John -- I can understand why mankind hasn't given up war. During a war you get to drive tanks through the sides of buildings and shoot foreigners - two things that are usually frowned on during peacetime. --P.J. O'Rourke
Re: Pentax KX meter problem
Peter J. Alling [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Sadly the KX meter is a one of a kind. I think you can use Spotmatic F, K1000 and KM meters interchangeably (I may be wrong about the KM). The KX was a whole other bird. You're right about all the above. The KX meter *was* unique. The K2 used the same type silicon photo diode, but different metering circuitry due to the autoexposure nature of the beast. -- Mark Roberts Photography and writing www.robertstech.com
