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Forum: Film SLRs and Compact Film Cameras
05-23-2016, 11:20 AM
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I have an ES, and it works the same way. Your camera isn't broken--it's designed to work that way!
The ES, ES II, and Spotmatic F have a little lever on the inside of the lens mount for open aperture metering, and S-M-C and SMC Takumars have linkages that connect to that lever. A few very late Super Takumars have that linkage also. There's also a little button on the back of each open-aperture-metering lens that has to be pressed in for the lens to switch to manual aperture mode. It just so happens that most lens caps push that button in. On the ES, ES II, and maybe the Spotmatic F, there's a step or groove cut into the lens mount so that the button is not pressed in, locking the lens into automatic aperture. Apparently they felt that open aperture metering meant you never should have to stop the lens down if it was compatible, though there is still a stop-down switch on the left so you can use older Super-Takumars. Since the original Spotmatic and the SP II don't support open aperture metering, they don't have the little groove and the later lenses will happily switch to manual aperture on those cameras.
The little button on the back is also the reason why open-aperture-metering Takumars shouldn't be used with the Mamiya-Sekor TL/DTL cameras: the button will jam in the screw holes on those cameras' lens mounts.
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Forum: Film SLRs and Compact Film Cameras
05-22-2016, 06:12 AM
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Yup, that should be all you need to do.
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Forum: Film SLRs and Compact Film Cameras
05-21-2016, 07:46 PM
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The film speed settings on Spotmatics of all descriptions (and, actually, all film Pentaxes afaik) are in thirds of a stop, so unfortunately you can't set it exactly halfway. Fortunately for you, though, 1250 is exactly 1/3 stop slower than 1600. Try that! :)
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Forum: Film SLRs and Compact Film Cameras
09-01-2015, 10:40 AM
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It looks like your film wasn't loaded onto the reels quite correctly, so it stuck together in those undeveloped spots where chemical couldn't reach.
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Forum: Film SLRs and Compact Film Cameras
05-21-2012, 10:46 AM
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I've had the Sightseer for far too long, and it's time for it to move on. I've not been able to do nearly as much photography as I'd have liked for the past year or two, but that's how life goes at times, and it seems it'll be that way for a little while yet at least. I don't want another turn with the Sightseer, at least not yet.
Can someone please tell me where the Sightseer is off to next?
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Forum: Film SLRs and Compact Film Cameras
04-01-2012, 11:20 AM
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Sorry it's been ages since I've last checked in. There's been so much going on, I've barely had time to even touch the Sightseer this past while; I still haven't even finished my first roll yet, but I haven't forgotten the Sightseer. It was probably not the best of timing to get the Sightseer when I did, however.
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Forum: Film SLRs and Compact Film Cameras
01-31-2012, 02:08 PM
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Another update!
Unfortunately I still haven't been able to get out at all; I've had more to do than I expected I would. I figure I'll just take the time from somewhere, finish off this one roll, and send the Sightseer on its way. No sense in allowing it to languish on my desk for weeks, or more.
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Forum: Film SLRs and Compact Film Cameras
01-20-2012, 09:44 AM
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Another little update for everyone:
I haven't been able to do a whole lot with the sightseer; the combination of classes, homework, other things that need done, and lots of rain has unfortunately given me very little time to go shooting. As it stands, I'm halfway through my first roll. Hopefully I'll be able to complete a second before the time comes to pass on the Sightseer.
As for the photo meeting, nobody would have commented on the Sightseer if I hadn't brought it up in conversation. The general opinion was that the whole thing was a neat idea, but nobody seemed to have more than a passing interest.
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Forum: Film SLRs and Compact Film Cameras
01-15-2012, 03:29 PM
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Finally got out to do a little shooting today. Unfortunately it was in the early-mid afternoon, and most of the buildings on campus face east or north, so the best time to photograph them is in the morning. Still, I got a few frames that should be at least halfway decent today, and tomorrow promises good weather too, so tomorrow morning could well turn out to be Photograph Clemson University Architecture Day.
On a side note, the photography club has its first meeting of the semester on Tuesday. I'm gonna check it out; word is they've got access to a complete darkroom that's available for club members' use.
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Forum: Film SLRs and Compact Film Cameras
01-12-2012, 10:57 AM
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A little late for a reply, I know, but does the top panel give any indication of an error or something going wrong?
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Forum: Film SLRs and Compact Film Cameras
01-11-2012, 02:17 PM
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That timeframe sounds perfect, yeah. I can definitely get some color done and posted by then too, but unfortunately I haven't got the materials to do my own B&W processing and the photo department here has, as so many others have, gone all-digital, so that's sadly not an option.
As for sites around campus, I can definitely do Death Valley. And no mention of Clemson is complete, in my opinion, without a photo of Tillman Hall.
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Forum: Film SLRs and Compact Film Cameras
01-10-2012, 03:37 PM
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The Sightseer has made its way to me safe and sound, complete with both lenses and the light meter. I'm impressed with how well it was packed. The next day or two are going to be gray and rainy, but after then should be a great time for a first photo walk around Clemson.
Just so's I know, how long should a round with the sightseer typically last?
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Forum: Film SLRs and Compact Film Cameras
01-06-2012, 10:55 AM
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Guess that makes me next in line :)
It's gonna be nice to have the Sightseer again... hard to believe it was so long ago that I last had it. Now I'm a junior in electrical engineering at Clemson University, but I should have plenty of time to... well, see the sights around campus and the general area with the Sightseer.
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Forum: Film SLRs and Compact Film Cameras
12-12-2011, 04:37 PM
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It's been a long, long time since I've posted here, but I'm still around. My main hobby shifted away from photography for a number of reasons, but I'm still interested in it and the Sightseer. Good to see it's still around and getting some TLC from Eric, and it's great to see that people are still doing good work with it!
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Forum: Film SLRs and Compact Film Cameras
03-30-2011, 10:40 AM
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For a little perspective, here's link to a handy chart of radiation doses and their sources and effects:
http://xkcd.com/radiation/
I'd be shocked if the amount of radiation put out by a thoriated lens was more than about 1 µSv per year, even if you were about 3 inches from the front or rear element for the whole time.
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Forum: Film Processing, Scanning, and Darkroom
03-23-2011, 09:20 AM
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Since when did Kodak discontinue Plus-X? Last I heard it was discontinued as a motion picture film, but not as a still film, at least in 135. B&H still has it in stock.... but it's not on Kodak's website. Huh, I guess it is gone. I'm glad I managed to shoot some before it was gone.
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Forum: Film SLRs and Compact Film Cameras
03-16-2011, 08:14 AM
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To clarify, the S1a is pre-Spotmatic, with no internal meter. It is, however, a VERY well-built and finished camera. It also has an unmarked 1/1000 shutter speed and no self timer, being the less-expensive brother to the SV. More info can be found here. The S1a could definitely be a great option for a screwmount Pentax, particularly if you've got a handheld lightmeter.
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Forum: Film SLRs and Compact Film Cameras
03-16-2011, 08:07 AM
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Hey everyone,
Just a quick question about the Spotmatic's meter. After the meter has been turned on, is it damaging to the camera or meter mechanism/stop-down linkage if you turn it off again by pushing down on the switch? I've done it a few times and the camera doesn't seem to like it too much... figured I'd ask those in the know before I broke something.
Thanks,
Stephen
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Forum: Film SLRs and Compact Film Cameras
03-13-2011, 10:26 AM
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I've heard that Fomapan/Arista .edu Ultra 400 (they're the same film) is another good choice for that vintage look. I actually just got a 100 ft roll of it yesterday, but haven't gotten any developed yet, so I can't speak personally to it.
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Forum: Film SLRs and Compact Film Cameras
03-07-2011, 01:04 PM
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Yes, all of those lenses will be fine on the K1000. As long as it has an aperture ring, it will work.
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Forum: Film SLRs and Compact Film Cameras
11-16-2010, 05:33 PM
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I see another difference that no one else may have noticed: the collar around the rewind crank.
If you look at the pictures posted by notsowise above, you'll notice that the part of the top plate around the rewind crank is chrome and stepped and apparently an integral part of the body, where the part I'm accustomed to seeing (and depicted here on Bojidar Dimitrov's excellent website) are painted black the same as the cap of the film counter and shutter speed dial and one smooth, relatively shallow slope. It's an extra piece that fits onto the top plate. My guess is that the type shown in notsowise's picture is a later modification to reduce cost, whereas the version in the second picture is the earlier version.
edit: Looking at it again, it seems that the difference I noticed seems to be a consequence of having a plastic top plate, as the K1000 posted by notsowise has a plastic top plate.
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Forum: Film SLRs and Compact Film Cameras
10-20-2010, 04:32 PM
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In particular, check if you've got the batteries in upside down--very easy to do, and when the batteries are upside down in a camera it may as well not have batteries in; the effect is the same.
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Forum: Film SLRs and Compact Film Cameras
09-26-2010, 11:00 AM
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Hello everyone,
I was just wondering: how safe is it for the camera if I were to use my Spotmatic or KX (or ME Super, or any other film SLR) in the rain? I know the LX is weather-sealed, but how would the others fare? I've looked around some, but haven't really found any solid information on this.
- Stephen
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Forum: Site Suggestions and Help
09-20-2010, 08:39 AM
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The new design looks great! Very clean and pleasing to the eye. Well done.
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Forum: Film SLRs and Compact Film Cameras
08-07-2010, 09:11 AM
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Out of curiosity I took a gander at Welcome to Bojidar Dimitrov's Pentax K-Mount Page and looked at the Motors section, as afaik the K series bodies and the SPII share a motor drive.
If I'm reading that page right, you've got the wrong battery/power pack, it would seem.
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