Spotmatic F meter repair

abruzzi · 02-14-2019, 04:42 PM

Are completely non-responsive meters in these cameras generally repairable? I picked up a very nice condition Honeywell Pentax Spotmatic F for next to nothing. Everything seems to work fine except the meter is dead. the needle just sits in the middle no matter where I set shutter speed or aperture. Even on B and 100 iso (the manual's instruction for testing the battery) the needle doesn't budge.

I searched and couldn't find a service manual online. Has anyone had luck with meter repair with Pentaxs? I was going to send in my MX next, but if Eric can fix the meter, I might bump it to the head of the line.

**17dew** · 02-14-2019, 05:21 PM

Have you had the bottom plate off? There's a contact point at the bottom of the battery chamber,that sometimes gets corroded.I'd look there first.

**TomB_tx** · 02-14-2019, 05:23 PM

Eric has repaired Spotmatic meters for me, replacing dead CdS cells, etc.
If he’s too busy, as I posted today, Don Goldberg (great Leica specialist) is now also repairing Pentax SLRs up through K1000, and he specifically mentioned the Spotmatic F. He’s fixed a Leicaflex meter for me, and has also rebuilt external Leica meters. DAG Camera.

abruzzi · 02-14-2019, 05:42 PM

Thanks for the info. I haven't looked taken anything apart, but but battery compartment looks very clean, so I don't know what to expect. The whole camera is in pretty good condition, so I'd like to make it a shooter, especially since it can do open aperture metering, which is useful.

02-14-2019, 04:42 PM	#1
abruzzi Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: New Mexico Posts: 788	Spotmatic F meter repair Are completely non-responsive meters in these cameras generally repairable? I picked up a very nice condition Honeywell Pentax Spotmatic F for next to nothing. Everything seems to work fine except the meter is dead. the needle just sits in the middle no matter where I set shutter speed or aperture. Even on B and 100 iso (the manual's instruction for testing the battery) the needle doesn't budge. I searched and couldn't find a service manual online. Has anyone had luck with meter repair with Pentaxs? I was going to send in my MX next, but if Eric can fix the meter, I might bump it to the head of the line.

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02-14-2019, 05:21 PM	#2
17dew Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Ohio Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,822	Have you had the bottom plate off? There's a contact point at the bottom of the battery chamber,that sometimes gets corroded.I'd look there first.

02-14-2019, 05:23 PM	#3
TomB_tx Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Texas Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,446	Eric has repaired Spotmatic meters for me, replacing dead CdS cells, etc. If he’s too busy, as I posted today, Don Goldberg (great Leica specialist) is now also repairing Pentax SLRs up through K1000, and he specifically mentioned the Spotmatic F. He’s fixed a Leicaflex meter for me, and has also rebuilt external Leica meters. DAG Camera.

02-14-2019, 05:42 PM	#4
abruzzi Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: New Mexico Posts: 788 Original Poster	Thanks for the info. I haven't looked taken anything apart, but but battery compartment looks very clean, so I don't know what to expect. The whole camera is in pretty good condition, so I'd like to make it a shooter, especially since it can do open aperture metering, which is useful.