Question about Super Program

**G_Money** · 06-05-2010, 09:29 AM

I acquired a Super Program recently and I'm completely unfamiliar with these cameras. Is the ring around the shutter release (L, Auto, M, X, B) usually quite stiff? Apart from needing new batteries, this is a nice little camera. I don't have a need to keep it, but I don't want to sell a camera knowing it isn't working properly.

Adam · 06-05-2010, 09:45 AM

After you click in the release button, it should be snappy but quite stiff at the beginning.

**G_Money** · 06-05-2010, 10:18 AM

I'm not sure which "release button" you mean you mean, Adam. I have a pdf of the instructions I downloaded, but the images are all 1-bit and not terribly helpful. There's a grey piece of plastic next to the red indicator line, but it doesn't seem to serve any purpose. Is it perhaps broken?

Aegon · 06-05-2010, 10:25 AM

On a working Super Program, the gray button must be pressed to permit the ring to turn into and out of lock. If your ring turns freely without ever needing to press the button, then that little button is broken.

It isn't a big deal. But you could more easily accidentally switch out of lock mode and snap a blank photo. You probably won't also accidentally advance the film too, so it will only waste one frame.

Ratmagiclady · 06-05-2010, 10:27 AM

Originally posted by G_Money

I'm not sure which "release button" you mean you mean, Adam. I have a pdf of the instructions I downloaded, but the images are all 1-bit and not terribly helpful. There's a grey piece of plastic next to the red indicator line, but it doesn't seem to serve any purpose. Is it perhaps broken?

The grey piece on the mode selector around the shutter is the release for the positions where that ring locks, yes. These buttons and rings often do tend to be stiff, so chances are nothing's particularly wrong.

Basically, that should press down, and then allow you to turn the mode dial out of Auto position, which is the only position into which it will lock: otherwise it doesn't do anything.

**G_Money** · 06-05-2010, 01:42 PM

Thanks for the help. Would you say that this gray button is stuck then?

Aegon · 06-05-2010, 03:28 PM

Originally posted by G_Money

Thanks for the help. Would you say that this gray button is stuck then?

Mine looks pretty much exactly the same. And Ratmagiclady was right, pressing the button lets you rotate out of auto. But I can rotate from lock to auto without pressing the gray button.

My wheel doesn't turn easy, but it isn't sticky either. But you definitely, 100%, need to press the gray button to leave Auto mode.

The gray button doesn't press very far at all. It has about as much up-down-action as the little button you press to adjust the ISO.

**G_Money** · 06-05-2010, 03:55 PM

Well this one doesn't need to have the button pushed. In fact the button doesn't move at all, certainly not as much as the ISO lock button. I'm going to have to assume that it's non-functional. Thanks for everyone's help.

Bruiser · 06-06-2010, 07:36 AM

It's supposed to be sticky for your own good

titrisol · 06-07-2010, 12:01 AM

The grey button should lock the camera in A mode.
That button was present in the ME as well, and it took me by surprise at the beginning.

Make a habit of pressing that button when turning the dial; makes life a lot easier.
And yes, it a bit stiff/sticky specially if the camera has not been exercized in a long time; rotate the dial a few times and should be better.

06-05-2010, 09:29 AM	#1
G_Money Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: London, Ontario, Canada Posts: 598	Question about Super Program I acquired a Super Program recently and I'm completely unfamiliar with these cameras. Is the ring around the shutter release (L, Auto, M, X, B) usually quite stiff? Apart from needing new batteries, this is a nice little camera. I don't have a need to keep it, but I don't want to sell a camera knowing it isn't working properly.

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06-05-2010, 09:45 AM	#2
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 51,608	After you click in the release button, it should be snappy but quite stiff at the beginning.

06-05-2010, 10:18 AM	#3
G_Money Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: London, Ontario, Canada Posts: 598 Original Poster	I'm not sure which "release button" you mean you mean, Adam. I have a pdf of the instructions I downloaded, but the images are all 1-bit and not terribly helpful. There's a grey piece of plastic next to the red indicator line, but it doesn't seem to serve any purpose. Is it perhaps broken?

06-05-2010, 10:25 AM	#4
Aegon Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 1,416	On a working Super Program, the gray button must be pressed to permit the ring to turn into and out of lock. If your ring turns freely without ever needing to press the button, then that little button is broken. It isn't a big deal. But you could more easily accidentally switch out of lock mode and snap a blank photo. You probably won't also accidentally advance the film too, so it will only waste one frame.

06-05-2010, 10:27 AM	#5
Ratmagiclady Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: GA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,563	Originally posted by G_Money I'm not sure which "release button" you mean you mean, Adam. I have a pdf of the instructions I downloaded, but the images are all 1-bit and not terribly helpful. There's a grey piece of plastic next to the red indicator line, but it doesn't seem to serve any purpose. Is it perhaps broken? The grey piece on the mode selector around the shutter is the release for the positions where that ring locks, yes. These buttons and rings often do tend to be stiff, so chances are nothing's particularly wrong. Basically, that should press down, and then allow you to turn the mode dial out of Auto position, which is the only position into which it will lock: otherwise it doesn't do anything.

06-05-2010, 01:42 PM	#6
G_Money Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: London, Ontario, Canada Posts: 598 Original Poster	Thanks for the help. Would you say that this gray button is stuck then?

06-05-2010, 03:28 PM	#7
Aegon Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 1,416	Originally posted by G_Money Thanks for the help. Would you say that this gray button is stuck then? Mine looks pretty much exactly the same. And Ratmagiclady was right, pressing the button lets you rotate out of auto. But I can rotate from lock to auto without pressing the gray button. My wheel doesn't turn easy, but it isn't sticky either. But you definitely, 100%, need to press the gray button to leave Auto mode. The gray button doesn't press very far at all. It has about as much up-down-action as the little button you press to adjust the ISO.

06-05-2010, 03:55 PM	#8
G_Money Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: London, Ontario, Canada Posts: 598 Original Poster	Well this one doesn't need to have the button pushed. In fact the button doesn't move at all, certainly not as much as the ISO lock button. I'm going to have to assume that it's non-functional. Thanks for everyone's help.

06-06-2010, 07:36 AM	#9
Bruiser New Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Buenos Aires Posts: 22	It's supposed to be sticky for your own good

06-07-2010, 12:01 AM	#10
titrisol Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: In the most populated state... state of denial Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,854	The grey button should lock the camera in A mode. That button was present in the ME as well, and it took me by surprise at the beginning. Make a habit of pressing that button when turning the dial; makes life a lot easier. And yes, it a bit stiff/sticky specially if the camera has not been exercized in a long time; rotate the dial a few times and should be better.