Film = no light meter

A manual for the Vivitar V4000 is found here.

http://www.butkus.org/chinon/vivitar_cameras/vivitar_cameras.htm

try Kodak ISO, ( ASA), 400 ( DIN 27 Degree ) 35 mm film to start. if you like the results, stick with it. remember the faster the film the higher the grain. the slower the film the finer the grain, sharper enlargments with finer grain.

If there is supposed to be one in the camera, you may need to install/replace a battery.

you have to pull up on the film rewind knob(pretty hard) and the back of the camera pops open. on the left side is where the film goes attach the piece of film to the film take up spool.

I have used left/right as if you are holding the camera ready to take pictures.
I have included the instructions to rewind the finished film.

!/ Press and hold the film rewind button button on the right side of the camera base.
2/ Fold out the rewind crank top left of camera and turn it in the direction of the arrow.
3/ Once the pressure eases, the film is completely wound into the cassette.
4/ Lift up the film rewind knob top left of camera and pull it out to open the back cover. Now the film cassette can be taken out.
5/ Do this in a place away from direct sunlight.

Most probably find a Vivitar Vivicam PZ8000 manual here. Just send them a search request. Service is not free, but often worthy.

Took out the battery, then put it back in. The film then loaded properly.

jeep111

be sure batteries are good. pull up on the rewind knob to open film door. load film ,push down rewind knob. pull enough film to connect to take-up spool. close film door. advance film to counter # 1. look through finder and set meter ( push shutter button to turn on meter ) focus subject and fire shutter repeat to end of film. push rewind button ( bottom of camera ) rewind film.
remove lens by pushing button and turn lens left to remove.

Hi, check the camera set in auto /manually in auto function, check battery might drain the current , dis engage camera to lense to release the mirror by pressing button beside lense , turn lense in left or right .

Actually, you don't have to "turn on" the Vivitar V3800N. Just be sure it has working batteries in it (takes two small alkaline button cells, unscrew the cover on the bottom with a coin--put new cells into the holder with the + side up). If the batteries are working, when you press the shutter button halfway down, you should see an LED light up in the right side of the viewfinder. This is the readout for the exposure meter: a red + indicates overexposure, red - is underexposure, a green dot means you've got the exposure correctly set. You just change the shutter and aperture settings until you get the green light, then shoot. When you load film, you also need to set the ISO film speed setting. Pull up on the outside ring of the shutter speed dial and turn it until the number in the window is the same as the ISO number on the film you are using. The batteries, by the way, only power the exposure meter. The shutter is fully mechanical (just like in the good old days), so you can use the camera without batteries if you have a separate exposure meter, or if you can estimate exposure. Film loading is about like any other 35mm manual camera: pull up on the rewind knob to open the back; insert the new cassette of film on the left and pull the film leader out a couple inches and hook the film to the takeup reel on the right. Move the film advance lever a bit to be sure the film is firmly hooked onto the reel, then close the back. Wind and shoot three shots to get the exposed film leader out of the way, and then start shooting. When the film is finished, press in the rewind button on the bottom of the camera and rewind the film into the cassette before opening the back of the camera. Good luck--these are pretty good little cameras. We buy a lot of them for the photography program where I teach, and I've only ever had one with a problem (meter was bad). The lenses are quite good, and they are "K-mount," which means that any Pentax bayonet lens, and gazillions of others with this mount, will all fit. --Michael R. Sawdey