[Masfi]

Hi!

Today I received a second-hand Pentax A3. But it seems that it does not end up working well.

I've put new batteries, then I look through the viewfinder appears the "1000" lights up in the top left corner of the viewfinder. It stays on when the shutter button is released. The only way to turn the "1000" light off is to switch the camera to "Lock" mode. But if I press the shutter in Program, it does nothing, no sound. The "Frame Advance" light turns on timidly but if I hit the button again it no longer appears.

The camera doesn't do anything else. The shutter does not operate, the film does not advance, nothing. Frame advance stays on "S". No other lights come on in the viewfinder. If I put camera on "BATT. C." the light turns on strongly.

Update: I read that it could be a problem of contact with the battery and a gentle hit with the palm of the hand it would help. Worked.

The problem now is that the Shutter Blades do not finish opening and the mirror does not move. And does a horrible sound when the frame advances.

I don't know what to do, if anyone knows how to fix it, I will be eternally grateful.

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Last edited by gatorguy; 01-12-2023 at 10:57 AM. Reason: Unsupported attachment

[35mmfilmfan]

When you say 'shutter blades', do you mean the diaphragm in the lens ? The shutter is an integral part of the camera, separate from the lens. Have you removed the lens and a)checked that the blades move freely when not attached to the camera, and b)checked that the shutter curtains within the camera body move freely when the shutter is pressed ? BTW, I am not at all sure that 'percussive maintenance', such as you describe, is a good idea - with battery issues, it is usually better to clean the contacts on the batteries, and also those in the battery chamber with the eraser atop a pencil, making sure to clean the chamber thoroughly afterwards, preferably by using a rocket blower - NOT COMPRESSED AIR !!

[Masfi]

When you say 'shutter blades', do you mean the diaphragm in the lens ? The shutter is an integral part of the camera, separate from the lens. Have you removed the lens and a)checked that the blades move freely when not attached to the camera, and b)checked that the shutter curtains within the camera body move freely when the shutter is pressed ? BTW, I am not at all sure that 'percussive maintenance', such as you describe, is a good idea - with battery issues, it is usually better to clean the contacts on the batteries, and also those in the battery chamber with the eraser atop a pencil, making sure to clean the chamber thoroughly afterwards, preferably by using a rocket blower - NOT COMPRESSED AIR !!

Yep sorry, I mean the shutter curtains on the camera not the diaphragm in the lens. When shooting, it sounds like repeated blows and the curtains do not open, looks like they try to open vaguely and the mirror does not seem to move. Btw thanks for the reply Gonna try the rocket blower and the eraser.