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nunzio · 08-22-2009, 03:34 AM

I have a problem with my LX.
When I shot, in Automatic position, with a time less than 1/250 (1/500-1/1000 etc), the camera shutter remains open and I must select the manual position for close it.
In manual position the camera works perfectly.
Can someone help me?

geauxpez · 08-22-2009, 04:34 AM

Does the shutter stay open or does the mirror stay up? In either case, it's time for a thorough cla.

nunzio · 08-22-2009, 05:07 AM

Originally posted by geauxpez

Does the shutter stay open or does the mirror stay up? In either case, it's time for a thorough cla.

The mirror stay up and the shutter stay open.
What's "cla".

zoltan1983snapper · 08-22-2009, 06:02 AM

Cleaning, lubrication, and adjustment. Although if you have the "sticky mirror" syndrome you may need to have parts replaced, too...

lbenac · 08-22-2009, 07:30 AM

Originally posted by nunzio

I have a problem with my LX.
When I shot, in Automatic position, with a time less than 1/250 (1/500-1/1000 etc), the camera shutter remains open and I must select the manual position for close it.
In manual position the camera works perfectly.
Can someone help me?

Have you tried changing the batteries for new ones?

Cheers,

Luc

Wheatfield · 08-22-2009, 09:04 AM

It sounds like the ISO resistor has corroded. Try spinning the ISO dial back and forth from stop to stop a few dozen times to see if you can clean it up. If that doesn't work, it's shop time.

24X36NOW · 08-22-2009, 09:07 AM

If you have one of the later LX's, press the button near the ISO dial that turns on the meter (or just lightly press the shutter release with any winder or motor drive turned off) with a battery cap on; you should get a red LED all the way at the bottom of the shutter speed range. If the LED is blinking, time for a battery change. If it doesn't come on at all, ditto, but sounds like you have a speed indication so this probably doesn't apply.

Incidentally, how do you know what shutter speed you're shooting if you set the shutter to "Automatic?" Are you just going by the indicated shutter speed? Remember, the LX uses "off-the-film" metering during the exposure with "stepless" shutter speeds when set to "Automatic," so maybe you have some sort of meter problem. If it seems to work OK on manual speeds (i.e., it meters correctly) than I would bet it's battery replacement time. So, how about it? That meter LED blinking??

nunzio · 08-22-2009, 02:11 PM

Originally posted by Wheatfield

It sounds like the ISO resistor has corroded. Try spinning the ISO dial back and forth from stop to stop a few dozen times to see if you can clean it up. If that doesn't work, it's shop time.

I've done this, but nothing changes.

nunzio · 08-22-2009, 02:30 PM

Originally posted by 24X36NOW

I........ If the LED is blinking, time for a battery change. If it doesn't come on at all, ditto, but sounds like you have a speed indication so this probably doesn't apply............

The Led doesn't blink and it's seems to me the batteries are good, however I'll try to replace them.

Thank you

Wheatfield · 08-22-2009, 08:48 PM

One last question, and this was alluded to in a previous post. You do have film in the camera when this happens don't you?

nunzio · 08-23-2009, 04:15 AM

Originally posted by Wheatfield

One last question, and this was alluded to in a previous post. You do have film in the camera when this happens don't you?

I've tried with the film and without and there's no difference.

Wheatfield · 08-23-2009, 07:42 AM

Originally posted by nunzio

I've tried with the film and without and there's no difference.

That's interesting. There should be a huge difference. In auto, the camera is metering off the film, so with no film in the camera the auto should do as you describe.
If it isn't the batteries (which it wouldn't be anyway as weak batteries will close the shutter early) and you can't get it working by exercising the ISO resistor, it might be the circuit board itself has gone flakey. I had that happen to one of my LX bodies. It took forever to get it fixed as Pentax had to fab the board for me at the factory. There were so many internal changes made to the LX over it's life that parts are a bit of a nightmare.
I'd send it to Pentax and hope they can resolve it.

nunzio · 08-24-2009, 12:27 PM

Originally posted by Wheatfield

...........I'd send it to Pentax and hope they can resolve it.

Yes I think I will send to Pentax for a check.

Thanks.

08-22-2009, 03:34 AM	#1
nunzio Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: La Spezia / Italy Photos: Albums Posts: 107	Pentax LX question I have a problem with my LX. When I shot, in Automatic position, with a time less than 1/250 (1/500-1/1000 etc), the camera shutter remains open and I must select the manual position for close it. In manual position the camera works perfectly. Can someone help me?

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08-22-2009, 04:34 AM	#2
geauxpez Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Atlanta Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,196	Does the shutter stay open or does the mirror stay up? In either case, it's time for a thorough cla.

08-22-2009, 05:07 AM	#3
nunzio Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: La Spezia / Italy Photos: Albums Posts: 107 Original Poster	Originally posted by geauxpez Does the shutter stay open or does the mirror stay up? In either case, it's time for a thorough cla. The mirror stay up and the shutter stay open. What's "cla".

08-22-2009, 06:02 AM	#4
zoltan1983snapper Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 240	Cleaning, lubrication, and adjustment. Although if you have the "sticky mirror" syndrome you may need to have parts replaced, too...

08-22-2009, 07:30 AM	#5
lbenac Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Burnaby, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,313	Originally posted by nunzio I have a problem with my LX. When I shot, in Automatic position, with a time less than 1/250 (1/500-1/1000 etc), the camera shutter remains open and I must select the manual position for close it. In manual position the camera works perfectly. Can someone help me? Have you tried changing the batteries for new ones? Cheers, Luc

08-22-2009, 09:04 AM	#6
Wheatfield Moderator Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: The wheatfields of Canada Posts: 15,991	It sounds like the ISO resistor has corroded. Try spinning the ISO dial back and forth from stop to stop a few dozen times to see if you can clean it up. If that doesn't work, it's shop time.

08-22-2009, 09:07 AM	#7
24X36NOW Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: CT, USA Posts: 498	If you have one of the later LX's, press the button near the ISO dial that turns on the meter (or just lightly press the shutter release with any winder or motor drive turned off) with a battery cap on; you should get a red LED all the way at the bottom of the shutter speed range. If the LED is blinking, time for a battery change. If it doesn't come on at all, ditto, but sounds like you have a speed indication so this probably doesn't apply. Incidentally, how do you know what shutter speed you're shooting if you set the shutter to "Automatic?" Are you just going by the indicated shutter speed? Remember, the LX uses "off-the-film" metering during the exposure with "stepless" shutter speeds when set to "Automatic," so maybe you have some sort of meter problem. If it seems to work OK on manual speeds (i.e., it meters correctly) than I would bet it's battery replacement time. So, how about it? That meter LED blinking??

08-22-2009, 02:11 PM	#8
nunzio Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: La Spezia / Italy Photos: Albums Posts: 107 Original Poster	Originally posted by Wheatfield It sounds like the ISO resistor has corroded. Try spinning the ISO dial back and forth from stop to stop a few dozen times to see if you can clean it up. If that doesn't work, it's shop time. I've done this, but nothing changes.

08-22-2009, 02:30 PM	#9
nunzio Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: La Spezia / Italy Photos: Albums Posts: 107 Original Poster	Originally posted by 24X36NOW I........ If the LED is blinking, time for a battery change. If it doesn't come on at all, ditto, but sounds like you have a speed indication so this probably doesn't apply............ The Led doesn't blink and it's seems to me the batteries are good, however I'll try to replace them. Thank you

08-22-2009, 08:48 PM	#10
Wheatfield Moderator Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: The wheatfields of Canada Posts: 15,991	One last question, and this was alluded to in a previous post. You do have film in the camera when this happens don't you?

08-23-2009, 04:15 AM	#11
nunzio Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: La Spezia / Italy Photos: Albums Posts: 107 Original Poster	Originally posted by Wheatfield One last question, and this was alluded to in a previous post. You do have film in the camera when this happens don't you? I've tried with the film and without and there's no difference.

08-23-2009, 07:42 AM	#12
Wheatfield Moderator Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: The wheatfields of Canada Posts: 15,991	Originally posted by nunzio I've tried with the film and without and there's no difference. That's interesting. There should be a huge difference. In auto, the camera is metering off the film, so with no film in the camera the auto should do as you describe. If it isn't the batteries (which it wouldn't be anyway as weak batteries will close the shutter early) and you can't get it working by exercising the ISO resistor, it might be the circuit board itself has gone flakey. I had that happen to one of my LX bodies. It took forever to get it fixed as Pentax had to fab the board for me at the factory. There were so many internal changes made to the LX over it's life that parts are a bit of a nightmare. I'd send it to Pentax and hope they can resolve it.

08-24-2009, 12:27 PM	#13
nunzio Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: La Spezia / Italy Photos: Albums Posts: 107 Original Poster	Originally posted by Wheatfield ...........I'd send it to Pentax and hope they can resolve it. Yes I think I will send to Pentax for a check. Thanks.

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