Super Program LCD window TTL display shutter & aperture

digital029art · 12-22-2015, 02:16 PM

I've got a new to me Super Program in very clean shape. However the shutter/aperture readout through the viewfinder is so faint that I can barely read it.
The regular LCD on the top panel is fine, just the TTL one is faint.
Anybody else experience this? Thanks!

**gofour3** · 12-22-2015, 02:56 PM

Originally posted by digital029art

I've got a new to me Super Program in very clean shape. However the shutter/aperture readout through the viewfinder is so faint that I can barely read it.
The regular LCD on the top panel is fine, just the TTL one is faint.
Anybody else experience this? Thanks!

Is it hard to read outdoors in sunlight or pointing to a direct indoor light source?

Phil.

digital029art · 12-22-2015, 03:11 PM

New batteries - check! Window rectangle looks clean.

Doesn't seem to matter how bright the light is, it's the LCD characters that are really faint.

Not a Number · 12-22-2015, 07:35 PM

Clean the battery terminals?

ianu · 12-23-2015, 03:39 AM

In the past I have had various film SLRs including a Super A and found that the view finder readout was almost unreadable in bright surroundings
to the extent that I gave up on photochromic lenses in my glasses and came near to changing from Pentax. Thankfully I didn't and the DSLRs seem to be much better.
Rather than being a fault in your camera I think its the nature of the beast.

**Scorpio71GR** · 12-23-2015, 05:36 AM

I used my Super Program for 20 years and I can tell you I never really relied on the viewfinder display. Indoors it worked fine but outside it was difficult to read. I just confirmed my settings using the top LCD panel. Since I started with a K1000 all of this was still leaps and bounds ahead of what I was used to. I still have both of those cameras. When you think about how old these cameras are it is amazing that they still work at all. My K1000 is over 35 years old and still works. How many DSLR's will make it that long?

stevebrot · 12-24-2015, 11:20 PM

Originally posted by digital029art

Anybody else experience this? Thanks!

Mine is fine. Note that its contrast is only as good as the available light through the translucent window on the pentaprism housing.

Steve

Cuthbert · 12-25-2015, 06:16 AM

the LCD display of the Super A family is the weakest part of these cameras IMO.

**ChrisPlatt** · 12-26-2015, 05:10 PM

Originally posted by Cuthbert

the LCD display of the Super A family is the weakest part of these cameras IMO.

Even when working properly there is no exposure scale, just a bunch of numbers.
I hated my Canon A-1 for the same reason, and was never interested in a Nikon F3.

Chris

Cuthbert · 12-26-2015, 05:37 PM

Originally posted by ChrisPlatt

Even when working properly there is no exposure scale, just a bunch of numbers.
I hated my Canon A-1 for the same reason, and was never interested in a Nikon F3.

Chris

At least the Canon A-1 informs you of the aperture and shutter speed...probably the best camera of this type is the Fujica AX5, it has two columns of leds, one for the aperture and one of the shutter speeds....I find it very handy to use.

12-22-2015, 02:16 PM	#1
digital029art Inactive Account Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 440	Super Program LCD window TTL display shutter & aperture I've got a new to me Super Program in very clean shape. However the shutter/aperture readout through the viewfinder is so faint that I can barely read it. The regular LCD on the top panel is fine, just the TTL one is faint. Anybody else experience this? Thanks!

12-26-2015, 05:10 PM	#9
ChrisPlatt Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Rockaway Beach NYC Posts: 7,696	Primitive electronics Originally posted by Cuthbert the LCD display of the Super A family is the weakest part of these cameras IMO. Even when working properly there is no exposure scale, just a bunch of numbers. I hated my Canon A-1 for the same reason, and was never interested in a Nikon F3. Chris

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12-22-2015, 02:56 PM	#2
gofour3 Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 8,092	Originally posted by digital029art I've got a new to me Super Program in very clean shape. However the shutter/aperture readout through the viewfinder is so faint that I can barely read it. The regular LCD on the top panel is fine, just the TTL one is faint. Anybody else experience this? Thanks! Is it hard to read outdoors in sunlight or pointing to a direct indoor light source? Phil.

12-22-2015, 03:11 PM	#3
digital029art Inactive Account Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 440 Original Poster	New batteries - check! Window rectangle looks clean. Doesn't seem to matter how bright the light is, it's the LCD characters that are really faint.

12-22-2015, 07:35 PM	#4
Not a Number Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Venice, CA Posts: 10,526	Clean the battery terminals?

12-23-2015, 03:39 AM	#5
ianu New Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 14	In the past I have had various film SLRs including a Super A and found that the view finder readout was almost unreadable in bright surroundings to the extent that I gave up on photochromic lenses in my glasses and came near to changing from Pentax. Thankfully I didn't and the DSLRs seem to be much better. Rather than being a fault in your camera I think its the nature of the beast.

12-23-2015, 05:36 AM	#6
Scorpio71GR Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Michigan Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,014	I used my Super Program for 20 years and I can tell you I never really relied on the viewfinder display. Indoors it worked fine but outside it was difficult to read. I just confirmed my settings using the top LCD panel. Since I started with a K1000 all of this was still leaps and bounds ahead of what I was used to. I still have both of those cameras. When you think about how old these cameras are it is amazing that they still work at all. My K1000 is over 35 years old and still works. How many DSLR's will make it that long?

12-24-2015, 11:20 PM	#7
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by digital029art Anybody else experience this? Thanks! Mine is fine. Note that its contrast is only as good as the available light through the translucent window on the pentaprism housing. Steve

12-25-2015, 06:16 AM	#8
Cuthbert Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,740	the LCD display of the Super A family is the weakest part of these cameras IMO.

12-26-2015, 05:37 PM	#10
Cuthbert Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,740	Originally posted by ChrisPlatt Even when working properly there is no exposure scale, just a bunch of numbers. I hated my Canon A-1 for the same reason, and was never interested in a Nikon F3. Chris At least the Canon A-1 informs you of the aperture and shutter speed...probably the best camera of this type is the Fujica AX5, it has two columns of leds, one for the aperture and one of the shutter speeds....I find it very handy to use.