No light meter on Vivitar V3800N

Bottom of the camera, left side. There's a circular cover with a slot in it. Use a coin to unscrew the cover.

Try changing the batteries. That camera is a battery driven model and if the batterie go dead it will not shoot or light uop the led's.

The red plus means you're overexposed. Increase the shutter speed or close the aperture until the middle light turns on.

Yes, the V3800N has an exposure meter.

If the red - lights up, you're underexposed. If the red + lights up, you're overexposed. If the green circle lights up, you're right on. If both the red and green light up, you're within one-third stop of the right exposure.

If you don't see either the green or red lights, then you need batteries. The camera uses two LR44 alkalines or two SR44 silver-oxides. But the only thing that uses the batteries is the exposure meter: everything else on the camera is stil fully functional.

Freestyle Photo $1.00 each

Hello...there is most probably a defective switch on the camera...If you are facing the front of the camera, on the camera body, to the right if the lens is the meter button.(near the flash pc socket) Also, you can check the condition of the batteries by pressing the shutter button half way down. If you see a red or green light, the batteries are good. If not, replace them *both* with silver oxide.

rcv7,

this camera has at least two different names that i know of (phoenix, vivitar ) .The battery covers are the same.
most camera repair shops have repair manuals with part numbers from the manufacturer. the only other way is to take a cover to a machine shop and have them make some from aluminum. we had this done for the pentax spotmatic when parts were no longer available.

aeloveforev9
all camera's have a switch, button or lever to turn the power on. look through the finder if any light is on or the meter needle is moving then the power is on. some turn on when the shutter button is pushed in slightly. make sure the battery is good and no corrosion is in the battery compartment.

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.

Try using an external light meter.