K2 fired in auto WITHOUT battery?

hiktaka · 02-28-2013, 04:11 PM

Hello...

I have a question about K2. If you fire K2 shutter in auto-mode without battery, how should the shutter behave?
I believe it should be something very fast, likely faster than 1/1000th.
I owned an ME, and while it's mechanical speed is only X, if it is fired in auto without battery, the result was a very fast shutter speed.
A CRT shutter test proved this, as I saw very narrow slit. When fired in X, the slit was much wider than when fired in auto.
For you K2 owner out there, can you please confirm this?

Thanks

**monochrome** · 02-28-2013, 04:59 PM

Without a battery the shutter should not fire at all when the shutter speed is set to Automatic.

According to page 16 of the user manual, when the battery is dead or removed you must set the shutter speed to 1/125 to operate the camera. There is no light meter, of course, so you must adjust the aperture according to an external light meter @1/125 or your own experience.

Pentax K2 Manual The Password is Pentax

hiktaka · 02-28-2013, 09:12 PM

Isn't K2 shutter button electromechanical?
That is, unlike, say a Super-Program or P3, whose shutter button is actually an electronic switch.
K2 shutter button is electromechanical, i.e. it is physically engaged to spring, lever, cam etc within the body,
just like ME, ME Super, ES, ESII.
Those can fire with dial position in AUTO, but the actual speed is unwarranted.
The electronics is controlling the time-delay between first and second curtain, not actually move the curtains.

I think the manual said so, just to prevent the usage of unwarranted speed in automatic position.

Again, thanks

**monochrome** · 02-28-2013, 09:33 PM

Originally posted by hiktaka

Isn't K2 shutter button electromechanical?
That is, unlike, say a Super-Program or P3, whose shutter button is actually an electronic switch.
K2 shutter button is electromechanical, i.e. it is physically engaged to spring, lever, cam etc within the body,
just like ME, ME Super, ES, ESII.
Those can fire with dial position in AUTO, but the actual speed is unwarranted.
The electronics is controlling the time-delay between first and second curtain, not actually move the curtains.

I think the manual said so, just to prevent the usage of unwarranted speed in automatic position.

Again, thanks

My K2 is out for repair right now or I'd go try it out

I can't say about the shutter button, but I know the shutter is a Seiko Seikosha stepless electronic shutter. Perhaps there is a mechanical override at 1/125.

hiktaka · 02-28-2013, 11:47 PM

Originally posted by monochrome

My K2 is out for repair right now or I'd go try it out

I can't say about the shutter button, but I know the shutter is a Seiko Seikosha stepless electronic shutter. Perhaps there is a mechanical override at 1/125.

Well I hope your K2 get well soon.
Any other K2 owner out there ?

LesDMess · 03-01-2013, 08:37 PM

My K2 works at 1/125 regardless of shutter speed setting or on "A" when battery is dead. Page 4 of the manual - specifications, states 1/125 when battery is dead. Page 14 of the manual seems to impy that you have to set the shutter speed to 1/125 when battery is dead. The November 1975 Modern Photography magazine review of the K2 also does seems to imply setting the shutter speed to 1/125 when battery is dead

**arnold** · 03-01-2013, 10:16 PM

Originally posted by hiktaka

Well I hope your K2 get well soon.
Any other K2 owner out there ?

There will be if Monochrome sells me his.

builttospill · 03-03-2013, 05:52 PM

I'm curious to see others respond as well. I believe it does just fire at 1/125 with no battery, but my K2 DMD has a roll of B&W film in it now so I can't check. (It takes me much longer to get through a roll of B&W as opposed to color film).

02-28-2013, 04:11 PM	#1
hiktaka Junior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Bekasi Posts: 32	K2 fired in auto WITHOUT battery? Hello... I have a question about K2. If you fire K2 shutter in auto-mode without battery, how should the shutter behave? I believe it should be something very fast, likely faster than 1/1000th. I owned an ME, and while it's mechanical speed is only X, if it is fired in auto without battery, the result was a very fast shutter speed. A CRT shutter test proved this, as I saw very narrow slit. When fired in X, the slit was much wider than when fired in auto. For you K2 owner out there, can you please confirm this? Thanks

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02-28-2013, 04:59 PM	#2
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	Without a battery the shutter should not fire at all when the shutter speed is set to Automatic. According to page 16 of the user manual, when the battery is dead or removed you must set the shutter speed to 1/125 to operate the camera. There is no light meter, of course, so you must adjust the aperture according to an external light meter @1/125 or your own experience. Pentax K2 Manual The Password is Pentax

02-28-2013, 09:12 PM	#3
hiktaka Junior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Bekasi Posts: 32 Original Poster	Isn't K2 shutter button electromechanical? That is, unlike, say a Super-Program or P3, whose shutter button is actually an electronic switch. K2 shutter button is electromechanical, i.e. it is physically engaged to spring, lever, cam etc within the body, just like ME, ME Super, ES, ESII. Those can fire with dial position in AUTO, but the actual speed is unwarranted. The electronics is controlling the time-delay between first and second curtain, not actually move the curtains. I think the manual said so, just to prevent the usage of unwarranted speed in automatic position. Again, thanks

02-28-2013, 09:33 PM	#4
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	Originally posted by hiktaka Isn't K2 shutter button electromechanical? That is, unlike, say a Super-Program or P3, whose shutter button is actually an electronic switch. K2 shutter button is electromechanical, i.e. it is physically engaged to spring, lever, cam etc within the body, just like ME, ME Super, ES, ESII. Those can fire with dial position in AUTO, but the actual speed is unwarranted. The electronics is controlling the time-delay between first and second curtain, not actually move the curtains. I think the manual said so, just to prevent the usage of unwarranted speed in automatic position. Again, thanks My K2 is out for repair right now or I'd go try it out I can't say about the shutter button, but I know the shutter is a Seiko Seikosha stepless electronic shutter. Perhaps there is a mechanical override at 1/125.

02-28-2013, 11:47 PM	#5
hiktaka Junior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Bekasi Posts: 32 Original Poster	Originally posted by monochrome My K2 is out for repair right now or I'd go try it out I can't say about the shutter button, but I know the shutter is a Seiko Seikosha stepless electronic shutter. Perhaps there is a mechanical override at 1/125. Well I hope your K2 get well soon. Any other K2 owner out there ?

03-01-2013, 08:37 PM	#6
LesDMess Pentaxian Join Date: May 2011 Location: Santa Cruz, CA Photos: Albums Posts: 3,235	My K2 works at 1/125 regardless of shutter speed setting or on "A" when battery is dead. Page 4 of the manual - specifications, states 1/125 when battery is dead. Page 14 of the manual seems to impy that you have to set the shutter speed to 1/125 when battery is dead. The November 1975 Modern Photography magazine review of the K2 also does seems to imply setting the shutter speed to 1/125 when battery is dead

03-01-2013, 10:16 PM	#7
arnold Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,294	Originally posted by hiktaka Well I hope your K2 get well soon. Any other K2 owner out there ? There will be if Monochrome sells me his.

03-03-2013, 05:52 PM	#8
builttospill Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Utah, Idaho Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,398	I'm curious to see others respond as well. I believe it does just fire at 1/125 with no battery, but my K2 DMD has a roll of B&W film in it now so I can't check. (It takes me much longer to get through a roll of B&W as opposed to color film).