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Forum: Film SLRs and Compact Film Cameras
09-08-2010, 07:51 AM
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True, but using an external meter would sometimes be very inconvenient... especially with distant subjects/longer lenses.
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Forum: Film SLRs and Compact Film Cameras
09-08-2010, 06:23 AM
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Thanks. I have rotated all of the wheels a number of times. And I had a brand new battery (have tested with two different ones). I honestly feel that the CLA would be worth it if it were an F or an ES II... but I would rather have a known working example of one of those than to have a refurbished SP II I think. I dunno - I'm still thinking about it.
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Forum: Film SLRs and Compact Film Cameras
09-07-2010, 03:15 PM
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If I may impose one last time...
I have replaced my battery with a brand new wein cell 1.35 mercury (MRB400). Didn't seem to help.
First, I put my tak 50mm 1.4 on my canon 40d
Lens on manual
Aperture 5.6
ISO 100
Aperture Priority mode.
Point at window - got a shutter speed between 1/30 and 1/40
Put my tak 50mm 1.4 on my SP II
Lens on auto (or manual, doesn't matter)
Aperture 5.6
ISO 100
Point at window and engage meter
Shutter at 30 - way over exposed
Shutter at 60 - way over exposed
Change aperture to f16
Shutter at 500 - over exposed but not fully over exposed
Shutter at 1000 - just a bit over exposed
So I am to assume that:
1. The metering system and the lens are talking to each other, but the meter is grossly miscalculating.
2. Sending this camera for a CLA and meter fix will cost more than $70
3. Buying a known working spotmatic F or ES II would only run about $100
Does that all sound correct to you guys?
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Forum: Film SLRs and Compact Film Cameras
09-04-2010, 03:27 AM
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Steve:
Thanks for that thorough troubleshooting!
Your last comment is puzzling. Let me see if I understand you properly:- Meter on with your 135mm, changing the aperture does not result in any change to viewfinder illumination
- Wide open (f/3.5) the camera meter always indicates overexposure
3.5/135 on camera. set to auto. Film speed set to 100. Shutter speed 30. Point at dim light bulb. Turn meter on. Changing the aperture DOES effect the viewfinder illumination but does NOT effect the needle position which continually shows over-exposure. If I change the shutter speed to 1000 - the needle is now responding to my changing the aperture. So it DOES seem to be working... but is perhaps so miscalibrated that it was hard to judge it as functional at all. So with a shutter speed of 1000 and aperture f22 and film speed ASA 100... pointing my camera at a dim light shows about one stop over-exposed.
But let me answer your other questions as well...
Evaluate the camera function:- Remove lens from camera
- Turn meter switch on
- Does the "flipper" at the bottom of the mirror box flip up and back down? YES
- Look through viewfinder and point the camera at a light source (no lens attached)
- Alternately move your hand across and away from the camera opening
- Does the needle move in response to light? YES
- Put the shutter speed on a slowish speed (e.g. 1/15s) and press the shutter release
- Does the "flipper" at the bottom of the mirror box flip up? NO Flipper didn't turn off at shutter press.
Evaluate the lens auto-aperture function:- With the lens off from the camera, put the aperture ring on the narrowest setting (largest f-number)
- Put the (M)anual/(A)uto switch in the (A)uto position
- While looking into the rear of the lens, depress the small silver pin on the inside margin of the lens mount
- Does the lens stop down when the pin is pressed and open up when it is released? YES
- If so, is the action smooth and the opening symmetrical? YES
- Put the (M)anual/(A)uto switch in the (M)anual position
- While looking through the rear of the lens, move the aperture ring from full closed to full open and back again
- Does the aperture open and close? YES
- If so, is the action smooth and the opening symmetrical? YES
So it sounds to me like the lens and camera are on speaking terms... but the meter readings are so far off that you can only see needle movement when the lens is all the way stopped down, film speed is least sensitive and shutter is fastest speed available.
Thanks for helping solve this problem. I have a new replacement batter already on the way - and I will see what that does.
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Forum: Film SLRs and Compact Film Cameras
09-03-2010, 04:41 PM
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Woof - Yea, with the meter on, changing the aperture does effect the darkness of the viewfinder. I have the 135mm on. If I set ASA 100 and set the lens to manual, and the aperture to 3.5... when I meter I am showing over-exposed even at 1000 (and all the way up at 500.
~ Michael
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Forum: Film SLRs and Compact Film Cameras
09-03-2010, 04:36 PM
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Thanks again Titrisol, Steve, and Séamuis. I guess the meter isn't functioning properly. That's a shame - I was really looking forward to shooting with it this weekend. I'm not sure a SP II is worth a repair... a known working copy could likely be had for less. But thank you for your input and knowledge.
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Forum: Film SLRs and Compact Film Cameras
09-03-2010, 02:30 PM
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Also note that I can set the film speed dial to ASA 100, turn on the meter, move the shutter speed from 500 to 1000 and the meter needle drops from over-exposed to properly exposed. But aperture still not making a difference.
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Forum: Film SLRs and Compact Film Cameras
09-03-2010, 02:16 PM
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Shutter Speed. Inside. IF I set the film speed to 100 (rather than 400 which is the type of film loaded) I can set the shutter speed to 1000 and the needle is in the middle (changing the aperture while the meter is on or off does not change the position of the metering needle).
Outside. IF I set the film speed to 100 (rather than 400 which is the type of film loaded) and set the shutter to 250... changing the diaphragm ring has no effect - meter shows way overexposed.
Thanks for the help so far... does any one have a link for cleaning the camera's contacts?
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Forum: Film SLRs and Compact Film Cameras
09-03-2010, 01:27 PM
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Hello all,
I have just received a used Spotmatic SP II. I don[t understand what the meter is doing.
I attached a Tack 3.5/135 (I have also tried my 1.4/50)
I tested the battery (set the speed dial to ASA 100, set the shutter to bulb, turned on the meter and watched it drop).
I loaded it with BW ASA 400. I set the speed dial to 400. I set the shutter to 30 and set the lens aperture to 3.5. I set the lens dof preview switch to Auto (the word auto is showing). I switched the meter on. The needle rose all the way to the top! So, with the meter on, I changed the diaphragm - moving all the way to f22 - the needle didn't move - it stayed all the way up top the whole time. Now, if I set the film speed dial to ASA 100 and turn the meter on, the needle is sitting in the middle (it doesn't matter what I change the aperture to).
I also tried my 1.4/50 which was behaving similarly.
Is this a user error, or is my camera meter not adjusting for aperture?
Any help much appreciated.
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