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vielverfilmt · 10-14-2018, 05:15 AM

Hey, guys! I've searched the forum in hopes of finding someone that has the same problem with the Spotmatic as I do, but to no avail.

I purchased an Asahi Pentax Spotmatic SP about a month ago. The first film I used got stuck around the 25th shot, but I didn't think much of it. I didn't try to solve the issue and I just took the film out. Now, using the second film, exactly the same thing happened. I advanced the film, shot, and then the viewfinder got dark. And again, around the 25th shot mark (just a coincidence? no idea). So now the shutter button isn't blocked, but pressing it doesn't do anything. The advance lever is obviously stuck, and also I cannot see anything through the viewfinder as the mirror is stuck up.

The thing is, I tried the quick fix, and it didn't work. I took off the base plate and found out that the lever is already in the position it should be in, as you can see in this picture.
What is there to do? Ideally I would like to fix it without having to take the film out. Thank you for taking the time to read this!

LesDMess · 10-14-2018, 07:05 AM - **1 Like**

Welcome aboard.
I am of the opinion it is just a coincidence that it failed at the same spot unless your using 24 exposure rolls?

vielverfilmt · 10-14-2018, 08:12 AM - **1 Like**

Thank you! Hahahah, oh God, I feel really dumb right now. Both films I used are Agfa Vista 400 and I didn't even think to check, I just assumed they're 36 exposure rolls. They obviously don't, it's just 24. Thanks a lot for making me check.

LesDMess · 10-14-2018, 08:41 AM

Better then sending it out to be fixed!
I learned early on that the first thing you do when you mess up was to look around to see if anyone saw it . . .

stevebrot · 10-14-2018, 09:12 AM

Originally posted by vielverfilmt

Thank you! Hahahah, oh God, I feel really dumb right now. Both films I used are Agfa Vista 400 and I didn't even think to check, I just assumed they're 36 exposure rolls. They obviously don't, it's just 24. Thanks a lot for making me check.

Welcome to the Pentax Forums!

Yes, we have all been there and done that!

Steve

**sergysergy** · 10-14-2018, 10:00 AM

I bet if you try a third time the same thing would happen

coincidence?
welcome to the forums!

vielverfilmt · 10-14-2018, 01:20 PM

thank you, guys!

hahahah, please stop bumping this thread

Wild Mark · 10-14-2018, 01:56 PM

Welcome aboard

**ChrisPlatt** · 10-14-2018, 03:33 PM

At least you didn't yank the film off the spool...

Chris

**grhazelton** · 10-14-2018, 04:17 PM

Originally posted by stevebrot

Welcome to the Pentax Forums!

Yes, we have all been there and done that!

Steve

Most of us have done that and....worse!

stevebrot · 10-14-2018, 04:36 PM

Originally posted by ChrisPlatt

At least you didn't yank the film off the spool...

Chris

...or fill the back of the camera with sprocket chards!

Steve

g026r · 10-14-2018, 09:46 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by grhazelton

Most of us have done that and....worse!

The below photo is roughly 12 frames piled on top of each other, as I had thought I had a 36 exposure roll in my camera.

(I didn't notice at first as it was a Soviet camera and the film advance had always been a bit rough.)

**grhazelton** · 10-15-2018, 01:56 AM

Originally posted by g026r

The below photo is roughly 12 frames piled on top of each other, as I had thought I had a 36 exposure roll in my camera.

(I didn't notice at first as it was a Soviet camera and the film advance had always been a bit rough.)

I dunno...I sorta like the image! Brings to mind an early 20th century artist, but I can't think who.

John Poirier · 10-15-2018, 07:11 AM

I'd never do something like that. Nope, never. On the other hand, I have been known to go out shooting with no card in my digital cameras...

dsmithhfx · 10-15-2018, 07:49 AM

Originally posted by vielverfilmt

Hey, guys! I've searched the forum in hopes of finding someone that has the same problem with the Spotmatic as I do, but to no avail.

I purchased an Asahi Pentax Spotmatic SP about a month ago. The first film I used got stuck around the 25th shot, but I didn't think much of it. I didn't try to solve the issue and I just took the film out. Now, using the second film, exactly the same thing happened. I advanced the film, shot, and then the viewfinder got dark. And again, around the 25th shot mark (just a coincidence? no idea). So now the shutter button isn't blocked, but pressing it doesn't do anything. The advance lever is obviously stuck, and also I cannot see anything through the viewfinder as the mirror is stuck up.

The thing is, I tried the quick fix, and it didn't work. I took off the base plate and found out that the lever is already in the position it should be in, as you can see in this picture.
What is there to do? Ideally I would like to fix it without having to take the film out. Thank you for taking the time to read this!

When I was re-learning to use my Mamiya C2 TLR (which I hadn't touched in ~30-years), I thought the 'locked' switch meant the light path was blocked, so I set it to 'unlocked'. Strangely, it produced two completely unexposed rolls. Then I RTFM...

10-14-2018, 05:15 AM	#1
vielverfilmt New Member Join Date: Oct 2018 Posts: 3	Strange Spotmatic problem Hey, guys! I've searched the forum in hopes of finding someone that has the same problem with the Spotmatic as I do, but to no avail. I purchased an Asahi Pentax Spotmatic SP about a month ago. The first film I used got stuck around the 25th shot, but I didn't think much of it. I didn't try to solve the issue and I just took the film out. Now, using the second film, exactly the same thing happened. I advanced the film, shot, and then the viewfinder got dark. And again, around the 25th shot mark (just a coincidence? no idea). So now the shutter button isn't blocked, but pressing it doesn't do anything. The advance lever is obviously stuck, and also I cannot see anything through the viewfinder as the mirror is stuck up. The thing is, I tried the quick fix, and it didn't work. I took off the base plate and found out that the lever is already in the position it should be in, as you can see in this picture. What is there to do? Ideally I would like to fix it without having to take the film out. Thank you for taking the time to read this!

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10-14-2018, 07:05 AM - 1 Like	#2
LesDMess Pentaxian Join Date: May 2011 Location: Santa Cruz, CA Photos: Albums Posts: 3,235	Welcome aboard. I am of the opinion it is just a coincidence that it failed at the same spot unless your using 24 exposure rolls?

10-14-2018, 08:12 AM - 1 Like	#3
vielverfilmt New Member Join Date: Oct 2018 Posts: 3 Original Poster	Thank you! Hahahah, oh God, I feel really dumb right now. Both films I used are Agfa Vista 400 and I didn't even think to check, I just assumed they're 36 exposure rolls. They obviously don't, it's just 24. Thanks a lot for making me check.

10-14-2018, 08:41 AM	#4
LesDMess Pentaxian Join Date: May 2011 Location: Santa Cruz, CA Photos: Albums Posts: 3,235	Better then sending it out to be fixed! I learned early on that the first thing you do when you mess up was to look around to see if anyone saw it . . .

10-14-2018, 09:12 AM	#5
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by vielverfilmt Thank you! Hahahah, oh God, I feel really dumb right now. Both films I used are Agfa Vista 400 and I didn't even think to check, I just assumed they're 36 exposure rolls. They obviously don't, it's just 24. Thanks a lot for making me check. Welcome to the Pentax Forums! Yes, we have all been there and done that! Steve

10-14-2018, 10:00 AM	#6
sergysergy Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2011 Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,176	I bet if you try a third time the same thing would happen coincidence? welcome to the forums!

10-14-2018, 01:20 PM	#7
vielverfilmt New Member Join Date: Oct 2018 Posts: 3 Original Poster	thank you, guys! hahahah, please stop bumping this thread

10-14-2018, 01:56 PM	#8
Wild Mark Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Newcastle Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,954	Welcome aboard

10-14-2018, 03:33 PM	#9
ChrisPlatt Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Rockaway Beach NYC Posts: 7,702	At least you didn't yank the film off the spool... Chris

10-14-2018, 04:17 PM	#10
grhazelton Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Jonesboro, GA Photos: Albums Posts: 1,972	Originally posted by stevebrot Welcome to the Pentax Forums! Yes, we have all been there and done that! Steve Most of us have done that and....worse!

10-14-2018, 04:36 PM	#11
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by ChrisPlatt At least you didn't yank the film off the spool... Chris ...or fill the back of the camera with sprocket chards! Steve

10-14-2018, 09:46 PM - 1 Like	#12
g026r Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,074	Originally posted by grhazelton Most of us have done that and....worse! The below photo is roughly 12 frames piled on top of each other, as I had thought I had a 36 exposure roll in my camera. (I didn't notice at first as it was a Soviet camera and the film advance had always been a bit rough.)

10-15-2018, 01:56 AM	#13
grhazelton Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Jonesboro, GA Photos: Albums Posts: 1,972	Originally posted by g026r The below photo is roughly 12 frames piled on top of each other, as I had thought I had a 36 exposure roll in my camera. (I didn't notice at first as it was a Soviet camera and the film advance had always been a bit rough.) I dunno...I sorta like the image! Brings to mind an early 20th century artist, but I can't think who.

10-15-2018, 07:11 AM	#14
John Poirier Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Gabriola Island Posts: 619	I'd never do something like that. Nope, never. On the other hand, I have been known to go out shooting with no card in my digital cameras...

10-15-2018, 07:49 AM	#15
dsmithhfx Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Toronto Posts: 5,155	Originally posted by vielverfilmt Hey, guys! I've searched the forum in hopes of finding someone that has the same problem with the Spotmatic as I do, but to no avail. I purchased an Asahi Pentax Spotmatic SP about a month ago. The first film I used got stuck around the 25th shot, but I didn't think much of it. I didn't try to solve the issue and I just took the film out. Now, using the second film, exactly the same thing happened. I advanced the film, shot, and then the viewfinder got dark. And again, around the 25th shot mark (just a coincidence? no idea). So now the shutter button isn't blocked, but pressing it doesn't do anything. The advance lever is obviously stuck, and also I cannot see anything through the viewfinder as the mirror is stuck up. The thing is, I tried the quick fix, and it didn't work. I took off the base plate and found out that the lever is already in the position it should be in, as you can see in this picture. What is there to do? Ideally I would like to fix it without having to take the film out. Thank you for taking the time to read this! When I was re-learning to use my Mamiya C2 TLR (which I hadn't touched in ~30-years), I thought the 'locked' switch meant the light path was blocked, so I set it to 'unlocked'. Strangely, it produced two completely unexposed rolls. Then I RTFM...

Strange Spotmatic problem

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