Pentax Photography - Answered Questions & Fixed Issues

Question edited for clarity, add maker and correct spelling. Question moved from Computers. It is required for EPA Regulations and removing it is likely to make the bike run rough. Service Manuals in the link, plus the Ninja forums. https://www.google.com/search?q=1997+ZX600c+vapor+separator ..

Question edited for clarity. All questions need full 'make model (what it is)'. I took a wild guess from 'K1000'. :>D Question moved from Firearm Optics, to Make Model category. 1979 - 1982 https://www.google.com/search?q=pentax+k1000+serial+number+dating ..

Well, I'm not a camera repairman, but it sounds to me (and probably to you too) that the electronics are damaged or perhaps there's dust in the contacts inside. I also have an MZ-50. There's so many electronics involved and they don't age so gracefully. I would consider buying another one off eBay or you can get a ZX-30 (same as MZ-30) for $75 from Blue Moon Camera & Machine with a 1 year warranty (parts and labor). The best way would be, in my opinion, to get a manual, mechanical camera from the 1970s and put a good lens on it. Those seem to last forever. No electronics to worry about. Advance and rewind the film manually. You can use a digital camera as a light meter to set the aperture and shutter speed. I'm thinking of going this route when my MZ-50 finally conks out.

You have yourself a camera with pedigree and it would be a shame not to put a few rolls of film through it before you decide whether to continue to use it, store it as a collectible or sell it on. Using a manual film camera is interesting and rewarding and can be fun - it is an experience no one should miss. Like learning to drive, at first there seems too many things to think of but with the help of a little reading most people soon master the basics. There is plenty of information online - see link below... https://www.google.com/search?q=K1000+Pentax+camera&rlz=1C1CAFB_enGB673GB676&oq=K1000+Pentax+camera&aqs=chrome..69i57&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8 Have fun!

If u used to have a Pentax camera, i would recommend you buying a Pentax DSLR, because Pentax film lenses still works on Pentax DSLR. I still use some of my prime lenses on my K10D.

The problem with the mirror is 1 of 3 things, 1 mirror box is distorted from being dropped, 2 mirror motor striped teeth or burnt out, 3 batteries. Try fresh good quality batteries first, that fixes lots of problems in cameras. if its the mirror box or motor then its time to go camera shopping. This camera came out in 1997 so is an old model. It was brought out as a very basic model, no frills. 1 hour of a camera tech's time is worth double what the camera is worth so dont even bother getting it repaired.

On those old M series cameras its best to use a coin to unscrew battery cover. 10c piece is about right size. Right hand thread so anti clockwise. If its to stuck try a drop of anti seize or Penatrol, just a tiny amount and don't spray all over. Same if its corroded. If that is still stuck you can drill 2 small holes into the cover, insert 2 small bits of stiff wire and put a screw driver between them and unscrew that way. Replacement covers are available on ebay.

Probably means the film has not loaded correctly.

http://www.butkus.org/chinon/pentax/pentax_pz-70/pentax_pz-70.htm Excellent site, no ads, color PDF file.

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One old camera. You have an electronic shutter and mechanical (backup) so you may have a dead electronic shutter. I would check the battery and contacts. If they are good... the shutter is bad. You have a standard K-mount body, any lenes will fit any Pentax camera, film or digital. The lenses will go on more modern Pentax bodies but will not auto-focus if on an AF body. These bodies are some 25+ years old, many places are selling them for $30 or so.. there are just thousands out there. If you want to stick with film, go for a newer AF body and you can still manually focus.

Are your battery contacts clean ? ? Can you open the film area and see if the mirror is up ? If the mirror is up, then you have problems. The camera did not go throught it's shutter program and the mirror has not been released to go down. Major repair that is way more expensive then a replacement camera. Same with the battery, something inside is not turning off (completing the shutter function) You can go with film or digital as the Pentax lenses work with both. If you change to Pentax (Ricoh ownes it now) digital, the old film flashes will not work. Need a newer digital Pentax flash for a Pentax digital camera.

Parlez Anglais, s'il vous plait.

Send it in for a repair if it's worth to you. There can be quite a lot of things wrong with the electronics.

It's broken. The K1000 will automatically advance the counter to the end of your roll. Removing the film and closing the back should reset it. If it's not doing that, it's broken.

Since it's a film camera, there are a couple of things to check: 1. You have left the lens cap on. 2. If this is a single lens reflex camera, take the lens off and make sure that the mirror isn't stuck in the "up" position. If it is, GENTLY pull it down until it stays down. At this point, your shutter may be open. Try cocking the shutter again, fire off a test shot, and see if the mirror sticks in the up position. If it does, you probably need to replace the mirror bumper foam - age can make foam deteriorate into a gooey, tar-like substance that can make the mirror stick in the up position. 3. Does the camera have a T (for Time) setting on the shutter speed dial? If so, turn it off the Time setting and set it to a manual shutter speed such as 1/60 - or whatever your 'X' synch speed is. 4. Your batteries died in mid-exposure. Replace the batteries. You may have enough juice in them to show the viewfinder display, but not enough to finish the exposure and close the shutter.

Try replacing the battery, or else use a separate meter.

Clean the battery contacts with a soft rubber pencil eraser. It doesn't take much corrosion -- due to moisture, or skin oil deposited on the posts -- to create resistance enough to keep the camera from getting a full supply of power.

Are you sure the film is attached to the take-up spool ?