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01-14-2020, 03:37 PM   #1
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Another quick LX question...

I have found a gorgeous LX on ebay. I saw a YT video earlier today that mentioned if the LED lights stay on after the shutter is pressed all the way, then the electronics are going out on it. This seller says that "the LEDs stay on when the shutter is fired. A half-press gets the LED going and it switches to the different shutter speeds as I point the lens towards different light. If I don't press the shutter all the way, it turns off after roughly 25 seconds. If I fire the shutter, the LED stays lit."

Anyone with this camer that has had the electronics go out, or know the signs to watch out for. Is this one of the signs? he said he just finished shooting a roll in this camera a couple of days ago.

01-14-2020, 03:57 PM   #2
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Well, looks like YT video and seller's description are about different scenarios. LED (only one) in my LX stays on when the shutter is fired, just like during half-press. However, the seller wrote that 'LEDs stay on' (all of them?), and I have not observed anything like this. You may want to ask the seller for clarification, and whether the camera is affected by 'sticky mirror' syndrome.
01-14-2020, 04:00 PM   #3
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according to the YouTube video if the LED light stays on for longer than 30 seconds after you have fired the shutter. Then that is a sign that the electronics are going out.
01-14-2020, 04:04 PM - 1 Like   #4
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QuoteOriginally posted by craveone Quote
according to the YouTube video if the LED light stays on for longer than 30 seconds after you have fired the shutter. Then that is a sign that the electronics are going out.
A link to the video would be helpful.


Steve

01-14-2020, 04:14 PM   #5
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Very interesting. I had never heard of that. I timed it using the stopwatch on my phone. The first time, the LED stayed on for 26.2 seconds after firing the shutter. The second time, it stayed lit for 25.2 seconds. The third time, 24.8 seconds. Whether those variances are due to my coordination, or lack thereof, it seems that it's going off in under 30 seconds. (Learn something new every day.)

---------- Post added 01-14-20 at 05:15 PM ----------

QuoteOriginally posted by stevebrot Quote
A link to the video would be helpful.


Steve




---------- Post added 01-14-20 at 05:17 PM ----------

His response to the timing of the LED light.

"Very interesting. I had never heard of that. I timed it using the stopwatch on my phone. The first time, the LED stayed on for 26.2 seconds after firing the shutter. The second time, it stayed lit for 25.2 seconds. The third time, 24.8 seconds. Whether those variances are due to my coordination, or lack thereof, it seems that it's going off in under 30 seconds. (Learn something new every day.)"

---------- Post added 01-14-20 at 05:18 PM ----------

It sounds as if it's in working order.
01-14-2020, 04:22 PM   #6
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QuoteOriginally posted by craveone Quote
Very interesting. I had never heard of that. I timed it using the stopwatch on my phone. The first time, the LED stayed on for 26.2 seconds after firing the shutter. The second time, it stayed lit for 25.2 seconds. The third time, 24.8 seconds. Whether those variances are due to my coordination, or lack thereof, it seems that it's going off in under 30 seconds. (Learn something new every day.)
Meter/LED on with half-press or full press are treated the same and the manual says 25 seconds. This behavior is similar to other Pentax cameras with similar displays. Do you have a copy of the manual?

Pentax Manuals | Manual Focus K-mount Bodies


Steve
01-14-2020, 04:35 PM   #7
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QuoteOriginally posted by stevebrot Quote
Meter/LED on with half-press or full press are treated the same and the manual says 25 seconds. This behavior is similar to other Pentax cameras with similar displays. Do you have a copy of the manual?

Pentax Manuals | Manual Focus K-mount Bodies



Steve


The electronics issue has to do with the LED staying on for longer than 30 seconds after the shutter has been fully fired and released. At least that is the information this YT video is claiming

01-14-2020, 04:56 PM   #8
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QuoteOriginally posted by craveone Quote
The electronics issue has to do with the LED staying on for longer than 30 seconds after the shutter has been fully fired and released. At least that is the information this YT video is claiming
I skimmed through all three videos and did not find the statement, even in the section on using the meter (towards the end of third video). I then turned to Google and found a table of common faults on the Harrow Tech (repair shop in Britain) Web site (Pentax Camera Repair Specialists - Typical Faults - Harrow Technical). From that table, I extracted the section for the LX, copied below...

QuoteQuote:
*Mirror hesitates or does not release, normally on first one or two exposures after a period of non-use but can occur more often in severe cases.* Mirror stays in the up position in auto or manual speeds from 1/60 downwards. This fault although similar to sticking mirror fault is quite different and is known as “magnet warning” and can occur in bright lighting conditions only. * Red exposure compensation flag in viewfinder not working.*Viewfinder infinity focus inaccurate caused by worn or missing mirror rubber.* Condition of titanium foil shutter blinds. *Rapid battery drain or meter not switching off. Cause can be due to malajusted main switch or more seriously and increasingly common, defective electronic countdown circuit within main printed circuit board. *Rewind shaft not perpendicular and is angled slightly inwards. To check, pull the rewind knob upwards so that all of the rewind shaft is exposed. This fault is caused by impact and in many cases there could be no other visual evidence of impact although the rewind knob could also be distorted and ISO dial defective.* Operation of Multi function lever. *Finder not locking onto body due to defective lock lever on body.* Shutter release lock collar ineffective.* Shutter speeds from 1/60 downwards erratic or shutter stays open at slower speeds. This is normally due to a fault in the shutter speed control assembly situated immediately under the shutter speed dial. When sending in LX for repair it is vital that all faults however obscure or intermittent are clearly listed, this will assist us in identifying the issue, it is not enough just to state “carry out service”
I have bolded the section that appears pertinent to your concern.


Steve
01-14-2020, 05:20 PM   #9
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QuoteOriginally posted by stevebrot Quote
I skimmed through all three videos and did not find the statement, even in the section on using the meter (towards the end of third video). I then turned to Google and found a table of common faults on the Harrow Tech (repair shop in Britain) Web site (Pentax Camera Repair Specialists - Typical Faults - Harrow Technical). From that table, I extracted the section for the LX, copied below...



I have bolded the section that appears pertinent to your concern.


Steve


At 2:20 on the Pentax LX Review and Sample Photos is where it's mentioned. Ty for posting the common faults.
01-14-2020, 08:02 PM   #10
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Someone call David.

QuoteOriginally posted by K David Quote
(some video remarks)
He can elaborate if he sees this and wishes to, but I'd be reasonably certain that K David was directly referring to the Harrow Technical report that Steve quoted.

Last edited by Eyewanders; 01-14-2020 at 08:40 PM.
01-14-2020, 08:23 PM   #11
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I have two perfectly working LX's and when the meter is working and batteries good only one LED lights up at a time. They may move up up/down depending on the light but only one LED stays on. Just now I tested both and I don't seem to get any consistent expiration time for the LED to go off after release of the shutter switch - between 15 to 35 seconds. Maybe there is a proper sequence?
I commonly take exposures lasting many minutes to hours long and during that time, an LED is on for the duration while the shutter is open. Used to be the only way I can tell that the auto aperture has expired until I made the Shutter open indicator for long auto exposure. When the batteries are near end, the normally steady on LED will start to flicker which is an indication to change the batteries.
01-14-2020, 08:28 PM - 1 Like   #12
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QuoteOriginally posted by craveone Quote
The electronics issue has to do with the LED staying on for longer than 30 seconds after the shutter has been fully fired and released. At least that is the information this YT video is claiming
Normally I'd say that Youtube is good for some things and not necessarily for others, but then I realize that
A) that applies to the internet as a whole. And,
B) it's K David, so it'd be rather reliable if so, or at least learned from a reliable source.

My particular LX has electronics that have been "going out" for nearly 6 or 7 years now (since finally diagnosed by Eric H about 5 years ago).
Oddly it's been getting better over time, go figure. In any case my meter stays on after the shutter fires. I've never thought that to be anything but by design, and to be frank I'm not convinced now that it isn't, though I don't think I've ever noted that it stayed on longer than 30 seconds... in fact I'm nearly certain it doesn't. And again, the PCB in mine is *confirmed* to be "going out". All that said, there are quite a number of different printed circuit board types that were used in the LX and change over time without notice or regard to production run or model number etc (this is part of the problem in successfully replacing them), so I'm sure that there may well indeed be different symptoms for different vintage LX cameras with slightly troubled internals. (This adds to the mystery and the exciting mystique of owning one.)

---------- Post added 01-14-20 at 07:30 PM ----------

QuoteOriginally posted by LesDMess Quote
Just now I tested both and I don't seem to get any consistent expiration time for the LED to go off after release of the shutter switch - between 15 to 35 seconds.
I just performed the same with mine to the exact same result. Sometimes it remained longer than other times.
01-14-2020, 09:36 PM - 1 Like   #13
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QuoteOriginally posted by Eyewanders Quote
Someone call David.



He can elaborate if he sees this and wishes to, but I'd be reasonably certain that K David was directly referring to the Harrow Technical report that Steve quoted.
Dang! I thought the avatar looked familiar.


Steve
01-15-2020, 02:27 PM   #14
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QuoteOriginally posted by craveone Quote
The second time, it stayed lit for 25.2 seconds. The third time, 24.8 seconds.
You can consider yourself lucky - accordingly to LX manual 'exposure metering system and LED display are activated and remain on up to 25 seconds'.
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