[frank]

After searching around, found this thread:
https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-film-slr-discussion/40105-pz-1-mirror-locked-up.html

But I can't reply under the above thread 'cause it's over a year old. Have to start a new thread and see if there is anyone who has found a cure for this.

My Z1 camera has exactly the same problem as the one in above thread. Mirror stuck at UP position after the first shot, now the shutter is stuck because of this. Played it for a while, seems the flash and AF are still working fine. But I can't get the mirror down

I know that many MZ series cameras have this stuck mirror problem, but didn't know Z1 would have the same problem. Anyone here got any idea how to get the mirror down w/o going to a repair shop?

Thanks and Cheers!

[GerryL]

I have read somewhere that it does this because of low battery charge (?), I'm not really sure. Try to Google and not only on this forums. I think that is where I read something about it on the net.
I guess, I think you have to remove the battery and install a fresh one (?)..just trying to recall what I have read.

[frank]

I have read somewhere that it does this because of low battery charge (?), I'm not really sure. Try to Google and not only on this forums. I think that is where I read something about it on the net.
I guess, I think you have to remove the battery and install a fresh one (?)..just trying to recall what I have read.

Thanks for the suggestion. Hope it's the case. I'd get a new battery and give it a try

Cheers!

[pixelsaurus]

Olympus OM-10's were prone to this as well due to failing batteries. In my case, new batteries fixed it. I checked the batteries afterwards (2x Eveready A76's if my memory serves me correct). Unusually, at the time of manufacture, the polarity of one battery was reversed. I guess the other had enough juice for limited operation tho the bulb exposure on Comet Halley finished it off. Not sure if this is relevant to your problem. Hope you get it solved.

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Last edited by pixelsaurus; 05-30-2011 at 04:12 PM. Reason: clarification of statement

[frank]

Thanks for the suggestion. I bought a new battery yesterday for the camera, but still the same The mirror stuck at the up position, and I can't even pull it down now. But with the old battery, I can still pull the mirror down (it'd bounce back right after I let it go).

I guess I'll have to pay our Pentax Service Center a visit...

[SOldBear]

Try this: make sure the battery is good and the camera is turned on. While gently lifting the mirror up, push the shutter release button.

I "fixed" a Super A that way.

[frank]

Try this: make sure the battery is good and the camera is turned on. While gently lifting the mirror up, push the shutter release button.

I "fixed" a Super A that way.

You mean pull down the mirror? The mirror is already up (blocking the viewfinder) ...

Super A is easier, I've fixed a few of them (stuck mirror) already. But this Z1 is an auto camera, don't know if it's an easy fix ...

[BillM]

ME supers behave in same manner after awhile and they've accumulated some
gunk in linkage on shutter that release's mirror from up position at end of shutter
stroke.Not sure about PZ's,but a little pressure on bell crank that (ME's)shutter leaves
are attached to,using something like the edge of a plastic ID card as a tool to
gently press down on that linkage will complete cycle and release mirror.
Odds are that it will hang up again on next cycling Frank,could be some mechanical
repairs required, in addition to a (C)lean,(L)ube,(A)djustment

[SOldBear]

You mean pull down the mirror? The mirror is already up (blocking the viewfinder) ...

No, I really meant "up," just a little bit.

It's a shot in the dark and may not do anything.

[frank]

ME supers behave in same manner after awhile and they've accumulated some
gunk in linkage on shutter that release's mirror from up position at end of shutter
stroke.Not sure about PZ's,but a little pressure on bell crank that (ME's)shutter leaves
are attached to,using something like the edge of a plastic ID card as a tool to
gently press down on that linkage will complete cycle and release mirror.
Odds are that it will hang up again on next cycling Frank,could be some mechanical
repairs required, in addition to a (C)lean,(L)ube,(A)djustment

The lens looks very clean inside out, mirror bumper foam looks very new too. Don't know if it's something sticky inside.

No, I really meant "up," just a little bit.

It's a shot in the dark and may not do anything.

Tried but didn't work. When I press the shutter button, the motor is making some funny noise (like trying to wind the film or something), but mirror still stuck in up position


Now this beauty can only serve as a display set:

[GerryL]

Don't give up on it.
..but if you do decide to give up, just get another working Z1 and maybe you can just swap the external body to get a working unit that will still look like that.
I haven't actually had too much experience with the PZ-1p and don't know whether turning the film spool would do something if something is just jammed.
Open the film door then slip something (metal) thin onto where the film door lock goes into the body slot. It is the lock that you push down to open film door.
If you do it right, the lock tab will go up and the camera would work with the film door open..so you can see if you can actually move anything that will unjam it (in terms of film spool or the like).
Good luck

[violini]

Z-1 was introduced 5 years earlier than MZ/ZX series. I wouldn't be surprised that drive trains in Z-1 were also made of plastics. The mirror motor runs at high RPM (>10k rpm) and therefore exerts high stress on the first gear. The plastic gear is glued on the motor shaft without any pin or key. The replacement motor for MZ series has a brass gear, but also is glued (or friction fit) on the motor shaft. I tried to drill a hole for installing a pin, but found the motor shaft was hardened steel. So all that I could do was to add a little epoxy at the end of the shaft to enforce it.

[frank]

Don't give up on it.
..but if you do decide to give up, just get another working Z1 and maybe you can just swap the external body to get a working unit that will still look like that.
I haven't actually had too much experience with the PZ-1p and don't know whether turning the film spool would do something if something is just jammed.
Open the film door then slip something (metal) thin onto where the film door lock goes into the body slot. It is the lock that you push down to open film door.
If you do it right, the lock tab will go up and the camera would work with the film door open..so you can see if you can actually move anything that will unjam it (in terms of film spool or the like).
Good luck

Thanks. Actually I thought about doing that also, but I was trying to push around the shutter from the front when playing the camera, but I don't want to damage that thing, so I didn't put too much force on that. Will try from the back and see how

Z-1 was introduced 5 years earlier than MZ/ZX series. I wouldn't be surprised that drive trains in Z-1 were also made of plastics. The mirror motor runs at high RPM (>10k rpm) and therefore exerts high stress on the first gear. The plastic gear is glued on the motor shaft without any pin or key. The replacement motor for MZ series has a brass gear, but also is glued (or friction fit) on the motor shaft. I tried to drill a hole for installing a pin, but found the motor shaft was hardened steel. So all that I could do was to add a little epoxy at the end of the shaft to enforce it.

Hope that's the case, then it'd be an easier fix (just glue back the cracked gear, that's a lot repair shops do when they can't find spare parts ... Thanks btw for the tips.