Newbie seems to have wrong battery pack for SPII MD

snapwell · 08-06-2010, 08:21 PM

Folks -

I'm as new as they come to this group. I've been shooting for many years, almost entirely with Leica & Nikon film cameras (and Canon Digital gear for birding & clients.) However, I've recently procured a coupla M42 bodies & lenses that look like they'll have a bright future in the mix.

Regarding these pieces, I seem to have a Spotmatic II Motor Drive camera with a Motor Drive I but a Battery Pack II (the grip with the batteries has 3 contacts, but the motor drive has 2 on the bottom.)

So, what the heck should I do to get all three components to get along? Rewire the grip? Trade it to someone for a Version I??

Sorry if these are silly questions to those of you with more experience in this Pentax world...

Bob Palmieri

**monochrome** · 08-07-2010, 08:07 AM

Not at all silly, and if anywhere is the place this is it.

As an aside, member smc is looking for a photo of the SPII MD for the camera database. Can you post up a photo of your camera?

snapwell · 08-07-2010, 08:25 AM

I'm heading to California for a week (and the camera isn't here) but I'll shoot it soon after I get back.

Bob Palmieri

Stevopedia · 08-07-2010, 09:11 AM

Out of curiosity I took a gander at Welcome to Bojidar Dimitrov's Pentax K-Mount Page and looked at the Motors section, as afaik the K series bodies and the SPII share a motor drive.

If I'm reading that page right, you've got the wrong battery/power pack, it would seem.

**monochrome** · 08-07-2010, 09:48 AM

Originally posted by monochrome

As an aside, member smc is looking for a photo of the SPII MD for the camera database. Can you post up a photo of your camera?

Originally posted by snapwell

I'm heading to California for a week (and the camera isn't here) but I'll shoot it soon after I get back.

Bob Palmieri

Thanks - when the database is published (very soon) the membership will appreciate your generosity!

snapwell · 08-07-2010, 09:52 AM

Yup, that's the way it looks to me, too.

The motor & body seem to be 2 of a kind, but the three-prong battery grip seems to be of a later stripe.

Amusingly, I bought the battery grip attached to the motor (very tightly at that...) as a unit from a seller on ebay...

Bob Palmieri

Ratmagiclady · 08-08-2010, 09:42 AM

Out of curiosity, did you see if the combination works, anyway? It's possible that the third contact is simply redundant with the earlier drive, but still works, unless you know otherwise?

snapwell · 08-15-2010, 09:52 AM

Not quite working, even after a thorough contact cleaning...

08-06-2010, 08:21 PM	#1
snapwell New Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: chicago, illinois, USA Posts: 23	Newbie seems to have wrong battery pack for SPII MD Folks - I'm as new as they come to this group. I've been shooting for many years, almost entirely with Leica & Nikon film cameras (and Canon Digital gear for birding & clients.) However, I've recently procured a coupla M42 bodies & lenses that look like they'll have a bright future in the mix. Regarding these pieces, I seem to have a Spotmatic II Motor Drive camera with a Motor Drive I but a Battery Pack II (the grip with the batteries has 3 contacts, but the motor drive has 2 on the bottom.) So, what the heck should I do to get all three components to get along? Rewire the grip? Trade it to someone for a Version I?? Sorry if these are silly questions to those of you with more experience in this Pentax world... Bob Palmieri

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08-07-2010, 08:07 AM	#2
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	Not at all silly, and if anywhere is the place this is it. As an aside, member smc is looking for a photo of the SPII MD for the camera database. Can you post up a photo of your camera?

08-07-2010, 08:25 AM	#3
snapwell New Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: chicago, illinois, USA Posts: 23 Original Poster	I'm heading to California for a week (and the camera isn't here) but I'll shoot it soon after I get back. Bob Palmieri

08-07-2010, 09:11 AM	#4
Stevopedia Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: South Carolina, USA Posts: 273	Out of curiosity I took a gander at Welcome to Bojidar Dimitrov's Pentax K-Mount Page and looked at the Motors section, as afaik the K series bodies and the SPII share a motor drive. If I'm reading that page right, you've got the wrong battery/power pack, it would seem.

08-07-2010, 09:48 AM	#5
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	Originally posted by monochrome As an aside, member smc is looking for a photo of the SPII MD for the camera database. Can you post up a photo of your camera? Originally posted by snapwell I'm heading to California for a week (and the camera isn't here) but I'll shoot it soon after I get back. Bob Palmieri Thanks - when the database is published (very soon) the membership will appreciate your generosity!

08-07-2010, 09:52 AM	#6
snapwell New Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: chicago, illinois, USA Posts: 23 Original Poster	Yup, that's the way it looks to me, too. The motor & body seem to be 2 of a kind, but the three-prong battery grip seems to be of a later stripe. Amusingly, I bought the battery grip attached to the motor (very tightly at that...) as a unit from a seller on ebay... Bob Palmieri

08-08-2010, 09:42 AM	#7
Ratmagiclady Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: GA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,563	Out of curiosity, did you see if the combination works, anyway? It's possible that the third contact is simply redundant with the earlier drive, but still works, unless you know otherwise?

08-15-2010, 09:52 AM	#8
snapwell New Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: chicago, illinois, USA Posts: 23 Original Poster	Not quite working, even after a thorough contact cleaning...

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