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clkeller13 · 01-15-2012, 03:56 PM

I got a used pentax A3000 35mm film camera from my uncle> I went to use it for the first time. I look thought the view finder and everything was black. I put new batteries in it and did a battery check. I notice that the mirror on the body is folded up and I can't get it to move. Does anyone have any ideas on how to fix this/

JohnBecker · 01-15-2012, 04:45 PM

Try moving the shutter speed dial to all the different speeds and see if one of the speeds isn't a manual release. (This works on some Nikon film cameras, don't know if it'll work on a Pentax.)

-Linus- · 01-15-2012, 06:04 PM

May be glued in the upper position due to smeary over aged mirror-damper.
I had this with a ME.

-Linus-

**TomB_tx** · 01-15-2012, 06:46 PM

It could be caused by a number of things, since the different functions must happen in sequence. Easier to troubleshoot in an all-manual camera, but could still be that the shutter didn't complete its travel to release the mirror, or a jam caused by something else out-of-sequence. The sticky mirror bumper is a good suggestion, but the last two used cameras I got with frozen mirrors were mechanical jams, and I've never yet found a mirror stuck to the bumper, though others have.

séamuis · 01-16-2012, 08:22 AM

its unlikely that the mirror is 'jammed' in the up position, but merely locked there likely due to a jammed shutter that didn't complete its cycle. but it could be a mechanical failure in the mirror mechanism. id put my money on a bad or jammed shutter.

clkeller13 · 01-16-2012, 08:22 AM

I can move the mirror manually.

01-15-2012, 03:56 PM	#1
clkeller13 Inactive Account Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 2	Broken Mirror I got a used pentax A3000 35mm film camera from my uncle> I went to use it for the first time. I look thought the view finder and everything was black. I put new batteries in it and did a battery check. I notice that the mirror on the body is folded up and I can't get it to move. Does anyone have any ideas on how to fix this/

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01-15-2012, 04:45 PM	#2
JohnBecker Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Knoxville, TN Posts: 46	Try moving the shutter speed dial to all the different speeds and see if one of the speeds isn't a manual release. (This works on some Nikon film cameras, don't know if it'll work on a Pentax.)

01-15-2012, 06:04 PM	#3
-Linus- Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Münsterland Posts: 139	May be glued in the upper position due to smeary over aged mirror-damper. I had this with a ME. -Linus-

01-15-2012, 06:46 PM	#4
TomB_tx Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Texas Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,446	It could be caused by a number of things, since the different functions must happen in sequence. Easier to troubleshoot in an all-manual camera, but could still be that the shutter didn't complete its travel to release the mirror, or a jam caused by something else out-of-sequence. The sticky mirror bumper is a good suggestion, but the last two used cameras I got with frozen mirrors were mechanical jams, and I've never yet found a mirror stuck to the bumper, though others have.

01-16-2012, 08:22 AM	#5
séamuis Banned Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Savannah, U.S./Baguio City, P.H. Posts: 5,979	its unlikely that the mirror is 'jammed' in the up position, but merely locked there likely due to a jammed shutter that didn't complete its cycle. but it could be a mechanical failure in the mirror mechanism. id put my money on a bad or jammed shutter.

Broken Mirror

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