|
Forum: Pentax Medium Format
10-25-2017, 02:00 AM
|
| |
Couple of test shots on some 10+years old expired Ilford film, home scanned. Not that great but I think that is more down to my scan than to the camera.
|
|
Forum: Pentax Medium Format
10-25-2017, 01:51 AM
|
| |
Ok, thank you for your replys everyone, I hope I have cracked it and it is as simple as batteries. Who would have thought the quality of battery would have made such a vast difference, I would have thought 8 volts plenty just to turn a film 1 frame and power a meter. Seems like the old 645 just takes a lot of juice to keep it going.
I went out and bought lithium batteries as advised, they ended up costing $35 in the end which seems crazy for disposable batteries, and is why I would have never done it before. The battery pack is now kicking out 10volts and the whole camera is working like a brand new machine, I have test shot my test film through about have a dozen times in quick succession and it just fire the frames through now with no worries at all. I just loaded it up with a brand new roll of Ekta 100 for the real test and I am only a couple of shots in so we will see eh!
Worth mentioning I also did another proper amateur mistake after loading the ekta, (my excuse is that I was loading on the run, literally on the way down the street). I loaded the film switched on the camera and - nothing. dead.... the LCD showed M1000 and would not change to anything else, nothing functioned at all. Took out and reloaded the film, made sure the film back was seated properly, the lens was seated properly, still nothing..... missed a day of shooting. Left the camera a few more days out of frustration went through the same process again.
Eventually pressed the shutter button ( i have no idea why i didnt try that before). The camera wirred back to life, would the film onto the first frame, all functionality returned as normal - dohh! AFter a quick internet search it turns out that I am by no means the first to do this though.
|
|
Forum: Pentax Medium Format
10-11-2017, 02:42 AM
|
| |
Hey Alex, thanks for your time, just had to get down to the mancave to get some photos...
a) film appears loaded correctly
b) Batteries fresh out of the pack..... are they high quality - no... are they real cheapies - no.... thinking like was suggested above maybe a fresh set of high quality is the way to go.... Just would like to avoid $25 on a gamble but maybe thats the way.
c) Tried the multimeter as you suggested - 8.69 volts - not enough you think?
d) This is the 5th film I have put through this camera, different film every time.... AND the 5th set of new batteries (cant remember what batteries I have used, but I have in the past - pretty sure not always the cheapies but really can't remember).
e) Certain it is not gears as the camera is very mint condition, looks barely used, works perfectly apart from this issue, no funny/grindy noises.
I have had it about 5 years and love it, except I hardly ever use it because it costs me a set of batteries every time, it is easier to use my Mamiya C220... or RB76... or even the spotmatic as they don't require batteries. Was thinking about selling it if I dont find a fix.
Looks like I am just going to have to invest in some expensive batteries to test it, just was trying to avoid it in case it doesn't work as I have a feeling I may have done that in the past but cant remember. I always end up just putting it back on the shelf out of frustration after each use... batteries are expensive here at probably $25 for 6 good batteries.
|
|
Forum: Pentax Medium Format
10-11-2017, 02:27 AM
|
| |
Hey, thanks for the reply. Yes the simple option would be to try a different insert but I don't know anyone else who is using a 645, NZ is such a small place there is probably nobody else in my city with one.
I was so sure about the batteries because I put in brand new batteries straight out of the pack, I think in hindsight though that maybe you are right, they are not big brand batteries and therefore maybe my first stop should be to try that. I just would expect brand new out of the pack batteries (not the cheapest on the shelf) would power at least one roll. I have also run other batteries in the past and had the same issue (cant remember what brand though) Any thoughts on using Sanyo Eneloop rechargeable batteries.
|
|
Forum: Pentax Medium Format
10-09-2017, 01:00 AM
|
| |
HI guys, I am a long time reader but my first post here and I am asking for help already solving a mystery that has me stumped.... I asked this on other forums but feel this may be a better place to start
My Pentax 645 is struggling to wind the film towards the end of the roll. I have scoured the internet to find an answer and so far drawn a blank. I initially thought it was chewing through batteries but actually they are fine, and it seems to be a film issue.
---------- Post added 10-09-17 at 01:01 AM ----------
Dry firing with the back off it performs perfectly, first maybe 5 or so shots off the roll it performs perfectly.
As you go through the roll it seems to struggle progressively more and more to wind the film, until the last few shots it can't even manage to wind a single frame and you have to flick it off and on again to coax it through bit by bit.
It does the same no matter what film you use, and it is the original factory 120 back with 120 film.
I sacrificed an old film, loaded it into the camera and wound it through manually, I found there is quite a lot of resistance, and the further through the roll you get, the tighter the film and more resistance there is, until eventually it is difficult to wind the film manually towards the end of the roll.
Pretty sure it is an issue with the holder and something is not as free as it should be. The end spool (with the big metal cog) seems to spin relatively freely. The start spool is quite stiff and tight to turn and there is some resistance. I undid the 3 tiny screws to take off the plate at the side of the film holder to see if there was anything obvious under it but there isn't and everything looks like I guess it should.
Anyone else had this issue?
Could anyone check for me to see how much resistance there is turning the film on the first spool?
Could it be the way I am loading the film (pretty sure I am loading properly though)
|
