Visit MPB Visit MPB Visit MPB

Pentax MX Issue - winder.

Benz3ne
Posted 13/06/2022 - 08:26 Link
Howdy all,
I've been rolling a reel of film off* on my MX, and thought I'd reached the end of said 'film'. It stopped allowing me to wind forwards, but would not fire the shutter either. I attempted to rewind the film, but this didn't give enough feedback (see comment below, it'll make sense) from the rewind.
In short, I now cannot wind the lever forwards, nor take a shot. I cannot see anything that is obviously incorrect with the mechanism when the bottom plate is removed, but can't be certain.

Edit: I had actually had the camera serviced in November 2020, with infrequent use thereafter.

Has anyone else seen anything like this before?

Diolch! - B



*In actuality, there was no film loaded...
Edited by Benz3ne: 13/06/2022 - 08:35
pschlute
Posted 13/06/2022 - 11:09 - Helpful Comment Link
OK so with no film in the camera you cannot move the advance lever or fire the shutter.

Is the little square to the left of the shutter button showing red ?

Is the shutter lock in the unlock position ?

I suggest you try and release the shutter using the self timer and see if that frees things up.
Edited by pschlute: 13/06/2022 - 11:10
Jonathan-Mac
Posted 13/06/2022 - 12:39 - Helpful Comment Link
I have an MX which occasionally locks up and won't allow me to wind or fire the shutter. I can usually get it working by some jiggling of the shutter button and winding lever but I don't use that camera to shoot any more. I have a few other MXs that work fine.
Pentax hybrid user - Digital K3, film 645 and 35mm SLR and Pentax (&other) lenses adapted to Fuji X and Panasonic L digital
Fan of DA limited and old manual lenses
Benz3ne
Posted 13/06/2022 - 13:11 Link
pschlute wrote:
OK so with no film in the camera you cannot move the advance lever or fire the shutter.

Is the little square to the left of the shutter button showing red ?

Is the shutter lock in the unlock position ?

I suggest you try and release the shutter using the self timer and see if that frees things up.

I've tried the shutter and self timer and that hasn't worked. The shutter depresses, so is not locked. I've tried the lock-switch too just in case, but that's had no effect. I'll have a look for the little square to the left of the button when I get home later.
Thanks for prompting me to provide more information.
Benz3ne
Posted 13/06/2022 - 13:13 Link
Jonathan-Mac wrote:
I have an MX which occasionally locks up and won't allow me to wind or fire the shutter. I can usually get it working by some jiggling of the shutter button and winding lever but I don't use that camera to shoot any more. I have a few other MXs that work fine.

I'll give this a little go later. It was fortunate/unfortunate really, I was selling my other MX, was "finishing the roll" to prepare it for the buyer and then it stopped working.
Unfortunately, I sent off my other one, which was a lovely little example.
Fortunately, the buyer had a great camera as a result.

I've got back to Asahiphoto whom carried out the service, and they're willing to repair at a reduced cost... What that reduced cost is I'm not sure...
Benz3ne
Posted 14/06/2022 - 21:48 Link
pschlute wrote:
OK so with no film in the camera you cannot move the advance lever or fire the shutter.

Is the little square to the left of the shutter button showing red ?

Is the shutter lock in the unlock position ?

I suggest you try and release the shutter using the self timer and see if that frees things up.

Square to the left is showing red, fyi.
Jonathan's suggestion of 'jiggling' hasn't helped either, unfortunately.
Jonathan-Mac
Posted 15/06/2022 - 10:32 Link
Benz3ne wrote:
pschlute wrote:
OK so with no film in the camera you cannot move the advance lever or fire the shutter.

Is the little square to the left of the shutter button showing red ?

Is the shutter lock in the unlock position ?

I suggest you try and release the shutter using the self timer and see if that frees things up.

Square to the left is showing red, fyi.
Jonathan's suggestion of 'jiggling' hasn't helped either, unfortunately.

Yeah, that's on a shot by shot basis and isn't any kind of permanent fix anyway. I used it when the problem first appeared so I could at least finish the roll.
Pentax hybrid user - Digital K3, film 645 and 35mm SLR and Pentax (&other) lenses adapted to Fuji X and Panasonic L digital
Fan of DA limited and old manual lenses
Benz3ne
Posted 16/06/2022 - 09:50 Link
Jonathan-Mac wrote:
Benz3ne wrote:
Quote:
OK so with no film in the camera you cannot move the advance lever or fire the shutter.

Is the little square to the left of the shutter button showing red ?

Is the shutter lock in the unlock position ?

I suggest you try and release the shutter using the self timer and see if that frees things up.

Square to the left is showing red, fyi.
Jonathan's suggestion of 'jiggling' hasn't helped either, unfortunately.

Yeah, that's on a shot by shot basis and isn't any kind of permanent fix anyway. I used it when the problem first appeared so I could at least finish the roll.

That's fair. What it seems to be, to my untrained eye, is the winder being 'cocked' and the shutter mechanism not actually triggering anything. I've had a look around and can't see what should be moving versus the 'orientation' the winder/mirror mechanisms are, so it'll probably be sent off...
Benz3ne
Posted 16/06/2022 - 21:07 Link
Right, so I've had a look around. There's a little 'shutter latch' which is tensioned by quite a strong spring under the body of the camera (underneath the slow shutter mechanism).
When the camera is latching, it's almost as if it's 'overwinding', so is returning to it's position of rest. Ergo, it's not latching the shutter, while the winder has completed a full actuation.
It'll be sent off, but it's quite interesting. If I manually manipulate the little shaft of the 'shutter latch' mechanism, I can fire the camera. However, when winding on again, the same issue presents.

Add Comment

To leave a comment - Log in to Pentax User or create a new account.