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Kx problem

danofmk
Posted 04/01/2018 - 10:04 Link
I'll do my best to explain this succinctly

1 when I fire the shutter the mirror lifts (slowly) and then stays in position

2 after that any attempt to fire the shutter again gets you nowhere.....

3.... Unless you adjust the shutter speed (and sometimes if you turn the lock switch on then off again) whereupon the shutter fires and the mirror returns

Any ideas what the hell is going on here and where to start with a fix.

They are new batteries so I don't think that is the cause

Any help greatly appreciated
Posted 04/01/2018 - 10:10 Link
That's what happened to my K-x for a few days before finally dying.

The shutter just died on me and refused to fire no matter what - having said that I had taken over 150,000 actuations on it and it was used.

I think it just died in the end

Sorry if that's the case
Learn how to live and you'll know how to die; learn how to die, and you'll know how to live.

Check out ones photographs on Flickr!

https://www.flickr.com/photos/awprentice/
danofmk
Posted 04/01/2018 - 11:01 Link
Sad times

I've only just got it. Seemed alright and the shutter was firing so I stuck a film in it and then on the first shot, this happened

Nightmare
Posted 04/01/2018 - 12:00 Link
do you need a film camera?
Learn how to live and you'll know how to die; learn how to die, and you'll know how to live.

Check out ones photographs on Flickr!

https://www.flickr.com/photos/awprentice/
johnha
Posted 04/01/2018 - 12:20 Link
The KX is a fully manual camera - the batteries only power the meter, everything thing else is purely mechanical. Sounds like something is a bit sticky somewhere, possibly related to the mirror lock-up?

This link may describe a similar issue/solution: link


John.
danofmk
Posted 04/01/2018 - 14:02 Link
Thanks John - that's a great help.

Silly me not working out the mechanical point myself!
womble
Posted 04/01/2018 - 15:53 Link
It probably just needs a good CLA. The lubricants dry-up and go sticky after 40 years. Eric Hendrickson (in the US) and Robin (from Harrow Technical in the UK) do excellent CLAs.

K.
Kris Lockyear
It is an illusion that photos are made with the camera… they are made with the eye, heart and head. Henri Cartier-Bresson
Lots of film bodies, a couple of digital ones, too many lenses (mainly older glass) and a Horseman LE 5x4.
womble
Posted 04/01/2018 - 15:55 Link
QuestionableCarrot wrote:
do you need a film camera?

Need? Probably not. Like to own/use? Definitely.
Kris Lockyear
It is an illusion that photos are made with the camera… they are made with the eye, heart and head. Henri Cartier-Bresson
Lots of film bodies, a couple of digital ones, too many lenses (mainly older glass) and a Horseman LE 5x4.
pschlute
Posted 04/01/2018 - 18:00 Link
womble wrote:
QuestionableCarrot wrote:
do you need a film camera?

Need? Probably not. Like to own/use? Definitely.

me too. It is a lot of fun to get out with an old film camera loaded with film. if nothing else it makes one think. Remember there is no chimping! If you have a high contrast scene you have to think carefully how to expose, and do some (manual perhaps) bracketing. Framing becomes super important. I think it teaches (or re-teaches) you a lot to set out with a film camera.
Edited by pschlute: 04/01/2018 - 18:00
danofmk
Posted 04/01/2018 - 18:11 Link
What he said times 100

I am a huge believer that shooting with film not only helps you become a better photographer, but will also increase your enjoyment of photography

Given the cost of 2nd hand cameras there's no excuse not to give it a go, in my humblest of opinions
womble
Posted 04/01/2018 - 18:42 Link
I must admit that I am glad for the exposure latitude of modern films. Makes a pleasant change after years spent shooting Kodachrome 64!
Kris Lockyear
It is an illusion that photos are made with the camera… they are made with the eye, heart and head. Henri Cartier-Bresson
Lots of film bodies, a couple of digital ones, too many lenses (mainly older glass) and a Horseman LE 5x4.
danofmk
Posted 05/01/2018 - 10:19 Link
This fix looks to have done the job

I was probably slightly guilty of not depressing the shutter button fully too, which was having an impact with things being slightly out of position
danofmk
Posted 19/01/2018 - 07:45 Link
Grrr.
I've now got a very similar problem with my ME, super;

1 mirror is slow to lift (shutter then fires ok)
2 this happens on both mechanical and electrical shutter
3 it seems to be a lot worse when the camera has sat for a while-if you fire a lot in quick succession it seems to sort itself out

I've opened up the bottom but it's a different lay out to the kx (with it being electrical) so I'm not sure where to start.

Any guesses guys and girls?
johnha
Posted 19/01/2018 - 14:41 Link
danofmk wrote:
Grrr.
I've now got a very similar problem with my ME, super;

1 mirror is slow to lift (shutter then fires ok)
2 this happens on both mechanical and electrical shutter

Sounds like a sticky mirror (similar to the LX).

danofmk wrote:
3 it seems to be a lot worse when the camera has sat for a while-if you fire a lot in quick succession it seems to sort itself out

Particularly this bit - I don't know if it's a DIY fix - you may need to follow Womble's advice regarding repairers.

John.

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