Shutter on Pentax SV not closing entirely

jdbell · 04-30-2010, 06:45 PM

I recently bought a Pentax SV and for the most part works fine. However on most shutter speeds below 250 the shutter doesn't close the entire way, this also leaves the mirror in the up position leaving me with no idea of what I'm taking a photo of in the next shot.

If anyone could help me fix this problem it would be greatly appreciated.

Swift1 · 04-30-2010, 07:48 PM

I recently bought a SV with the same proble. The fix, I sent it to Eric for a CLA. He got it working good as new.

Swift1

jdbell · 05-02-2010, 12:04 AM

Sorry, CLA?

Swift1 · 05-02-2010, 11:53 AM

CLA stands for Clean, Lubricate, and Adjust. Most older cameras require this every so often. Usually it hasn't ever been done though and in the case of your SV (mine as well) the shutter curtains are probably sticking and need some of all three of the above. It's usually a good thing to do to any older camera you buy if your not sure it has been done. In addition to repairing the shutter, your camera will lreceive new light seals and the shutter speed will be calibrated. In the US ther is a guy ( Eric Hendrickson) Home who does them for a very reasonable price and he is pretty quick. I've had 3 cameras CLA'd and repaired by him. I highly recommend him.
I wish he did other brands

I looked into getting a Nikkormat CLA'd and it was 2x-3x what Eric charges.

Swift1

**monochrome** · 05-02-2010, 01:40 PM

Originally posted by Swift1

CLA stands for Clean, Lubricate, and Adjust. Most older cameras require this every so often. Usually it hasn't ever been done though and in the case of your SV (mine as well) the shutter curtains are probably sticking and need some of all three of the above. It's usually a good thing to do to any older camera you buy if your not sure it has been done. In addition to repairing the shutter, your camera will lreceive new light seals and the shutter speed will be calibrated. In the US ther is a guy ( Eric Hendrickson) Home who does them for a very reasonable price and he is pretty quick. I've had 3 cameras CLA'd and repaired by him. I highly recommend him.
I wish he did other brands

I looked into getting a Nikkormat CLA'd and it was 2x-3x what Eric charges.

Swift1

Eric does other brands - just email. The issue is parts (which is becoming more of an issue with 70's Pentax bodies these days)..

woof · 05-02-2010, 03:48 PM

Originally posted by monochrome

Eric does other brands - just email. The issue is parts (which is becoming more of an issue with 70's Pentax bodies these days)..

For just this reason I recently donated two bodies of mine to Eric. I had sent a third that needed a shutter... but barring a missing shutter I know he has at least two bodies in the SV period from which to draw parts. Heck, one IS an SV I think

woof!

jdbell · 05-03-2010, 02:03 AM

ok then
thank you very much, I'll look into it

unixrevolution · 05-03-2010, 12:02 PM

Just chiming in and saying: Yes, Eric is the guy. He'll CLA your SV like he did mine and it'll work like brand new.

I've given him 2 K1000s and an MG, so hopefully he'll be able to use those parts, too!

Aegon · 05-03-2010, 12:26 PM

OP is in Melbourne. Surely someone CLAs a little closer to home.

EyeSpy · 05-06-2010, 08:23 PM

The only evidence I see of foam material is that which is installed to damper the mirror. There is no gooy mess or foam on the camera back. Am I missing something?

ebayaholic · 01-22-2011, 02:43 PM

I've had two, and both have had a black gooey residue in the light trap channel round the back

GeneV · 01-23-2011, 05:51 AM

Originally posted by EyeSpy

The only evidence I see of foam material is that which is installed to damper the mirror. There is no gooy mess or foam on the camera back. Am I missing something?

The most common culprit is the mirror foam. It seems that it is particularly likely to liquify, causing the mirror to stick and damage results from that (in the case of my LX). I am no repair expert, but I wonder if it was a material or cement used in the 70s and early 80s that was more susceptible. It is not limited to Pentax. My wife's Yashica/Contax RTS II did the same thing and damaged itself even worse with a frozen mirror. OTOH, I have not (yet) encountered the issue on my Pentax A and P series bodies from the late 80s.

04-30-2010, 06:45 PM	#1
jdbell New Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 3	Shutter on Pentax SV not closing entirely I recently bought a Pentax SV and for the most part works fine. However on most shutter speeds below 250 the shutter doesn't close the entire way, this also leaves the mirror in the up position leaving me with no idea of what I'm taking a photo of in the next shot. If anyone could help me fix this problem it would be greatly appreciated.

05-06-2010, 08:23 PM	#10
EyeSpy Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Arizona Photos: Albums Posts: 663	Light Seals on SV ? The only evidence I see of foam material is that which is installed to damper the mirror. There is no gooy mess or foam on the camera back. Am I missing something?

01-23-2011, 05:51 AM	#12
GeneV Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Albuquerque NM Photos: Albums Posts: 9,830	Originally posted by EyeSpy The only evidence I see of foam material is that which is installed to damper the mirror. There is no gooy mess or foam on the camera back. Am I missing something? The most common culprit is the mirror foam. It seems that it is particularly likely to liquify, causing the mirror to stick and damage results from that (in the case of my LX). I am no repair expert, but I wonder if it was a material or cement used in the 70s and early 80s that was more susceptible. It is not limited to Pentax. My wife's Yashica/Contax RTS II did the same thing and damaged itself even worse with a frozen mirror. OTOH, I have not (yet) encountered the issue on my Pentax A and P series bodies from the late 80s. Last edited by GeneV; 01-23-2011 at 06:55 AM.

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04-30-2010, 07:48 PM	#2
Swift1 Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Oregon Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,079	I recently bought a SV with the same proble. The fix, I sent it to Eric for a CLA. He got it working good as new. Swift1

05-02-2010, 12:04 AM	#3
jdbell New Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 3 Original Poster	Sorry, CLA?

05-02-2010, 11:53 AM	#4
Swift1 Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Oregon Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,079	CLA stands for Clean, Lubricate, and Adjust. Most older cameras require this every so often. Usually it hasn't ever been done though and in the case of your SV (mine as well) the shutter curtains are probably sticking and need some of all three of the above. It's usually a good thing to do to any older camera you buy if your not sure it has been done. In addition to repairing the shutter, your camera will lreceive new light seals and the shutter speed will be calibrated. In the US ther is a guy ( Eric Hendrickson) Home who does them for a very reasonable price and he is pretty quick. I've had 3 cameras CLA'd and repaired by him. I highly recommend him. I wish he did other brands I looked into getting a Nikkormat CLA'd and it was 2x-3x what Eric charges. Swift1

05-02-2010, 01:40 PM	#5
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	Originally posted by Swift1 CLA stands for Clean, Lubricate, and Adjust. Most older cameras require this every so often. Usually it hasn't ever been done though and in the case of your SV (mine as well) the shutter curtains are probably sticking and need some of all three of the above. It's usually a good thing to do to any older camera you buy if your not sure it has been done. In addition to repairing the shutter, your camera will lreceive new light seals and the shutter speed will be calibrated. In the US ther is a guy ( Eric Hendrickson) Home who does them for a very reasonable price and he is pretty quick. I've had 3 cameras CLA'd and repaired by him. I highly recommend him. I wish he did other brands I looked into getting a Nikkormat CLA'd and it was 2x-3x what Eric charges. Swift1 Eric does other brands - just email. The issue is parts (which is becoming more of an issue with 70's Pentax bodies these days)..

05-02-2010, 03:48 PM	#6
woof Inactive Account Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: In the present Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,870	Originally posted by monochrome Eric does other brands - just email. The issue is parts (which is becoming more of an issue with 70's Pentax bodies these days).. For just this reason I recently donated two bodies of mine to Eric. I had sent a third that needed a shutter... but barring a missing shutter I know he has at least two bodies in the SV period from which to draw parts. Heck, one IS an SV I think woof!

05-03-2010, 02:03 AM	#7
jdbell New Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 3 Original Poster	ok then thank you very much, I'll look into it

05-03-2010, 12:02 PM	#8
unixrevolution Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Waldorf, MD Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,861	Just chiming in and saying: Yes, Eric is the guy. He'll CLA your SV like he did mine and it'll work like brand new. I've given him 2 K1000s and an MG, so hopefully he'll be able to use those parts, too!

05-03-2010, 12:26 PM	#9
Aegon Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 1,416	OP is in Melbourne. Surely someone CLAs a little closer to home.

01-22-2011, 02:43 PM	#11
ebayaholic New Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Barnet, London Posts: 3	I've had two, and both have had a black gooey residue in the light trap channel round the back