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LosHollyBeach · 12-27-2010, 04:07 PM

I recently loaded my Spotmatic F with kodak 400 film and now no matter the conditions my light meter stays in the middle. it was working properly the last time i used it and now i dont know whats wrong. is my meter broken? & the battery is only 6 months old

dikigoros · 12-27-2010, 04:50 PM

The meter of my SPF stopped working in the same way, and I had spare batteries to test it. There is nothing left to be done for you. You will have it repaired or you have to use a handheld meter instead. The light meter is the only part that was broken in various Spotmatics and Pentax KM and K1000 I have seen - maybe the electronics of these cameras did not survive fourty years as well as the mechanics.

alistair.o · 12-28-2010, 04:13 AM

Hi LosHollyBeach,

2 things:

1: Take off your lens and then re-seat it back on; now check your meter
2: What battery are you using?

Alistair

noblepa · 12-28-2010, 10:28 AM

Originally posted by LosHollyBeach

I recently loaded my Spotmatic F with kodak 400 film and now no matter the conditions my light meter stays in the middle. it was working properly the last time i used it and now i dont know whats wrong. is my meter broken? & the battery is only 6 months old

Do you have and use a lens cap? The meter on the Spotmatic F is always on. The lens cap is essential to prevent battery drain.

Also, the Wein zinc-air batteries are known to have a relatively short life.

B Grace · 12-30-2010, 07:51 AM

Originally posted by noblepa

Do you have and use a lens cap? The meter on the Spotmatic F is always on. The lens cap is essential to prevent battery drain.

Also, the Wein zinc-air batteries are known to have a relatively short life.

You can also set the shutter speed to Bulb to turn the meter off but I still place lens caps on my lenses when not in use.

If the battery is okay and the meter has failed, and it would stay in the middle if it has failed, this is a great opportunity to get to know Sunny-16. Heck, my dad shot Kodachrome during the 1950s with nothing more than the Sunny-16 cards Kodak included with their cameras and he had excellent luck with his slides.

If you're truly dedicated there is always the Zone System.

titrisol · 12-30-2010, 08:02 AM

If it was working the last time maybe is just something simple.
- Try cleaning the contacts with the rubber eraser at the end of a pencil
- Try a new battery, does the F work fine with silver oxides?
- Are you measuring stoped down? or using a non-SMC lens fully opened?
check if any of those help

Originally posted by LosHollyBeach

I recently loaded my Spotmatic F with kodak 400 film and now no matter the conditions my light meter stays in the middle. it was working properly the last time i used it and now i dont know whats wrong. is my meter broken? & the battery is only 6 months old

Manel Brand · 12-30-2010, 08:46 AM

Originally posted by B Grace

this is a great opportunity to get to know Sunny-16

LOL! Good point.

**ChrisPlatt** · 12-30-2010, 05:57 PM

If you like your SP-F Eric Hendrickson can repair the exposure meter.

Link: Pentax camera repair by Eric Hendrickson

Chris

12-27-2010, 04:07 PM	#1
LosHollyBeach Inactive Account Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 32	Pentax Spotmatic F issue with light meter I recently loaded my Spotmatic F with kodak 400 film and now no matter the conditions my light meter stays in the middle. it was working properly the last time i used it and now i dont know whats wrong. is my meter broken? & the battery is only 6 months old

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12-27-2010, 04:50 PM	#2
dikigoros New Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Wuppertal, Germany Posts: 12	The meter of my SPF stopped working in the same way, and I had spare batteries to test it. There is nothing left to be done for you. You will have it repaired or you have to use a handheld meter instead. The light meter is the only part that was broken in various Spotmatics and Pentax KM and K1000 I have seen - maybe the electronics of these cameras did not survive fourty years as well as the mechanics.

12-28-2010, 04:13 AM	#3
alistair.o New Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Derbyshire Posts: 2	Hi LosHollyBeach, 2 things: 1: Take off your lens and then re-seat it back on; now check your meter 2: What battery are you using? Alistair

12-28-2010, 10:28 AM	#4
noblepa Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bay Village, Ohio USA Posts: 1,142	Originally posted by LosHollyBeach I recently loaded my Spotmatic F with kodak 400 film and now no matter the conditions my light meter stays in the middle. it was working properly the last time i used it and now i dont know whats wrong. is my meter broken? & the battery is only 6 months old Do you have and use a lens cap? The meter on the Spotmatic F is always on. The lens cap is essential to prevent battery drain. Also, the Wein zinc-air batteries are known to have a relatively short life.

12-30-2010, 07:51 AM	#5
B Grace Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Western Missouri Posts: 429	Originally posted by noblepa Do you have and use a lens cap? The meter on the Spotmatic F is always on. The lens cap is essential to prevent battery drain. Also, the Wein zinc-air batteries are known to have a relatively short life. You can also set the shutter speed to Bulb to turn the meter off but I still place lens caps on my lenses when not in use. If the battery is okay and the meter has failed, and it would stay in the middle if it has failed, this is a great opportunity to get to know Sunny-16. Heck, my dad shot Kodachrome during the 1950s with nothing more than the Sunny-16 cards Kodak included with their cameras and he had excellent luck with his slides. If you're truly dedicated there is always the Zone System.

12-30-2010, 08:02 AM	#6
titrisol Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: In the most populated state... state of denial Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,854	If it was working the last time maybe is just something simple. - Try cleaning the contacts with the rubber eraser at the end of a pencil - Try a new battery, does the F work fine with silver oxides? - Are you measuring stoped down? or using a non-SMC lens fully opened? check if any of those help Originally posted by LosHollyBeach I recently loaded my Spotmatic F with kodak 400 film and now no matter the conditions my light meter stays in the middle. it was working properly the last time i used it and now i dont know whats wrong. is my meter broken? & the battery is only 6 months old

12-30-2010, 08:46 AM	#7
Manel Brand Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Porto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 853	Originally posted by B Grace this is a great opportunity to get to know Sunny-16 LOL! Good point.

12-30-2010, 05:57 PM	#8
ChrisPlatt Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Rockaway Beach NYC Posts: 7,699	If you like your SP-F Eric Hendrickson can repair the exposure meter. Link: Pentax camera repair by Eric Hendrickson Chris

Pentax Spotmatic F issue with light meter

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