Pentax digital spotmeter - service manual

[SquintyEyes]

I hope I post in the right section, spotmeter is considered MF right?

I'm wondering if anyone knows where I can find a service manual for the Pentax digital spotmeter, I tried looking online but can't find one. The reason is that I want to see how feasible it is to open it up and re-wire a new circuit board myself. Long story short, my meter died and I sent it to Pentax Canada. The repair quote came back with at a whooping $280 CND. I don't want to spend that much on repair so I called them. Turns out they also sell parts alone. The circuit board that needs to be replaced is about $150 CND. That's why I'm wondering if it's feasible to do it myself. I do have an electronics engineering background with pretty good soldering skills. So I think once I get to the innards of the spotmeter it should be ok...the problem is getting it open and being able to close it. Calibration is also an issue...

Your thoughts on this? Any comments/pointers much appreciated

[ftpaddict]

Just here to answer your first question:

You can spot meter for 35mm, and, indeed, for any other photographic medium. So no.

[kalaci]

Hi, a couple of years ago I bought a faulty Pentax Digital Spotmeter off Ebay. I was able to repair it, the issue was simple: the bottom pole of the battery holder fell off from the tube (I believe the previous owner forced wrong battery into it). Once I was there I had a look at the electronics. What I found was a light intensity-to frequency-converter and a two-and-a-half digit counter. Unfortunately the counter ICs were unknown for me - probably some obsolete japanese parts. How do you progress?
Best regards, Laszlo

Originally Posted by SquintyEyes

I hope I post in the right section, spotmeter is considered MF right?

I'm wondering if anyone knows where I can find a service manual for the Pentax digital spotmeter, I tried looking online but can't find one. The reason is that I want to see how feasible it is to open it up and re-wire a new circuit board myself. Long story short, my meter died and I sent it to Pentax Canada. The repair quote came back with at a whooping $280 CND. I don't want to spend that much on repair so I called them. Turns out they also sell parts alone. The circuit board that needs to be replaced is about $150 CND. That's why I'm wondering if it's feasible to do it myself. I do have an electronics engineering background with pretty good soldering skills. So I think once I get to the innards of the spotmeter it should be ok...the problem is getting it open and being able to close it. Calibration is also an issue...

Your thoughts on this? Any comments/pointers much appreciated

[J.Scott]

Originally Posted by ftpaddict

Just here to answer your first question:

You can spot meter for 35mm, and, indeed, for any other photographic medium. So no.

Moved to 'Camera and Studio Accessories'.