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Forum: Film SLRs and Compact Film Cameras
06-09-2023, 10:18 AM
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Hi All -
I recently picked up a KR-30sp. I didn't mean to - it was advertised as an XR-P because it's got an XR-P grip attached to it, and I didn't examine the picture of the top plate closely enough to notice it was wrong. Still, it seems pretty decent, so I'd like to keep it. I especially dig having a diagonal split-screen on a K-mount camera!
Unfortunately, while the in-finder LCD works perfectly well, it's dark enough to be basically invisible in indoor lighting. Pointing a flashlight at the illuminator window next to the VF hump works, and so does pressing the illumination button. Unfortunately, the latter also triggers AE lock, which is a bit annoying.
Has anyone ever found a solution to this that doesn't involve rigging up a little light source? Is it possible that cleaning some part of the illumination channel might brighten things up a bit?
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Forum: Film SLRs and Compact Film Cameras
08-09-2022, 10:10 AM
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Sorry I kind of disappeared there! I did manage to work the dial loose with some force and repetition. It's not totally normal yet, but it's getting there. That 40 XS is next on the list. I've got a couple of 40mm fixed lens rangefinders that definitely have more 'character' as a setup, but iffy meters 1/500 max shutter speeds are not always fun.
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Forum: Film SLRs and Compact Film Cameras
08-05-2022, 06:32 AM
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Hi all,
I recently picked up an *ist, because why not try out the smallest ever film SLR? It was extremely cheap (especially in light of the frequent Japanese eBay listings in the $300 range) because the control dial only turns one way.
This seems like a fixable issue, and it’s apparently not an uncommon one. The feeling I get is that the metal spring inside the dial has slipped, bent and is now catching on some part of the dial’s underside. I can therefore adjust settings upward, but I can go at most one click in the other direction.
I’m currently trying to make heads/tails of the repair manual, but I’ve got a couple of questions just in case anyone had experience with it before.
- Is there any way to do it without removing the top plate? One of the user reviewers on the website says that they simply worked the dial back and forth until it loosened up, but I think that’ll be a bit risky with mine since it literally won’t budge counter-clockwise. Maybe I’m being overly cautious?
- One possible interpretation of the repair manual is that in order to remove the top plate, you have to remove the bottom and side plates first. Is this the case? I’d really rather not do that!
Thanks a bunch!
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
06-17-2021, 09:11 AM
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Thanks for the responses everyone! I think one of these is definitely on the list now. That is, if I don't decide to go for a K 30/2.8...
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
06-16-2021, 08:36 PM
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Pretty much what the title says. I'm a big fan of 35/2 lenses in general, and I get the (possibly wrong) impression that the FA version is a better performer than the K or M models. Not to mention substantially cheaper. I know that the FA lenses will work fine on the manual focus bodies, but my question is: is it worth it? Am I wrong to assume that manual focus won't be particularly pleasant?
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Forum: Monthly Photo Contests
04-13-2021, 02:09 PM
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I can't find the shots that formed this panorama at the moment, but I believe it was about 8. The GR is such a great camera, and the light and clouds on this day were really lovely. Composition is whatever, but I still love the photo! Stitched in LR and edited in Silver Efex Pro 2 with a yellow filter.
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
04-03-2021, 08:11 PM
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The repair manual seems to be written for someone who already knows what they're doing. I don't see any obvious way to remove the rewind knob. Anyone have an idea?
Actually, I had noticed that before...I think I saw it at 200, but at 400 it's gone. The 'issue' is at 100.
I figured something like this might be in order! I'll give it a shot when I'm feeling a bit brave.
Again, thanks everyone!
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
04-03-2021, 06:50 AM
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This metal one here? It seems fine to me.
I should clarify that when I say "play" I mean a really small amount of play. I don't think there's anything wrong with the movement of the dial itself, and it's totally normal - definitely not anything I'd classify as loose. I apologize that I can't describe it better!
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
04-02-2021, 02:46 PM
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Thanks for the responses! The manual looks interesting, but probably beyond my ability. I'll have a ponder on a return. I'm kind of leaning toward "don't bother," since the camera is basically fully functional.
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Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help
04-02-2021, 05:47 AM
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Hi all,
I got an ME Super from a reputable eBay shop last week (I mention that not to complain but to point out that a return would be no issue). Everything's nice, even the light seals that they said were in bad shape (no light leaks on my first roll, but I bought some new seals anyway). Plus, I really dig the camera - just the right size, great VF, and as an unexpected bonus it has the most pleasant-feeling shutter advance I've ever used.
One thing I've noticed while playing around, though, is that occasionally the meter will read a huge underexposure. I realized that there's just a tiny bit of play - no more than I'd normally expect - in the EV dial, and when the dial gets bumped to one end or the other of that "play," the camera will suddenly overexpose by 4 or 5 stops. So, clearly there's a contact...contacting the wrong...contact. Obviously, I'm an expert.
My questions:
1. Is this a common issue?
2. Do you suppose I can fix it myself?
3. If you were me, would you return it? The camera was something like $40 so not a huge problem. And the fault itself is more of a mild annoyance than anything. I'm going to go through a few Pentax lenses to see if I want to stick with the system, and if I do, I might someday get the camera CLA'd. Don't feel like dropping that money now, though!
Thanks!
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
03-31-2021, 05:48 AM
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Thanks for the responses, all. I thiiiiink I'll try out an M and see how satisfied I am with it. I wish I still had a FF ILC to test lenses with!
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
03-30-2021, 06:19 AM
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Hi all,
I've been looking for a good 28mm lens for film shooting, since it's my favorite walkaround FL (apart from a fast 35). I won't bore you with the details of that search, but at this point I've landed on the two Pentax 28/3.5 primes, the M and K versions. I know that the K version is meant to be substantially better, but my question is: how much? I'd strongly prefer the M version, not because it's cheaper (though that's not a bad thing) but due to its size. 1.5cm shorter, 80g lighter, 49mm vs 52mm filter; all of these are much more appealing to me. Unfortunately, I know myself, and I know that the constant awareness that there's a better option optically is going to result in lots of anguish. Such is the plight of the pixel-peeper (or grain-peeper at this point, I guess). Woe is me.
Sadly, pickings are pretty slim on the hi-res film/FF sample front, both on Flickr and elsewhere, so I'm hoping someone has some lying around! BKsPicture does have a review, but it seems like either their copy is decentered or field curvature is a lot higher than I'd like.
Or...should I just be done with it and get the K?
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Forum: Welcomes and Introductions
03-30-2021, 05:47 AM
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I like this "introduce yourself" bit! I'm not sure how much I'll be contributing here beyond a few specific questions, but it's nice to see people being welcomed.
Background: I was never really a film shooter, but when I was (before I got my first junky digital P&S in high school) it was with my Mom's K2. I recently got back into film and have been using that K2, but have found it too heavy for my purposes. So, I bought an ME Super, and love it! Oh, and one of my two main user digital cameras has been a Ricoh GR since pretty much the month it was introduced. So I guess that counts!
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