Problem....need urgent help....
Posted 02/03/2006 - 20:15
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Could you tell us what type of camera it is?
Camera:K20D|Ist*DS|Spotmatic II|MZ-10
Pentax Lenses: DA16-45|DA50-200|50A 1.7
Tamron Lenses: 28-200
Takumar Lenses: SMC 55 1.8
Sigma Lenses: EX DG 50-500 'Bigma'|EX 50mm Macro
Flashes: Metz 58 AF-1|Samsung SEF-36PZF|Pentax AF-220T
Pentax Lenses: DA16-45|DA50-200|50A 1.7
Tamron Lenses: 28-200
Takumar Lenses: SMC 55 1.8
Sigma Lenses: EX DG 50-500 'Bigma'|EX 50mm Macro
Flashes: Metz 58 AF-1|Samsung SEF-36PZF|Pentax AF-220T
Posted 03/03/2006 - 02:54
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its a Pentax SFX 1987 model
Posted 03/03/2006 - 09:24
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The light beside the viewfinder is the flash charging/charged warning light. It is normal to hear a humming whining sound as the flash is charging. Could that be what he is hearing?
Ken
Ken
Ken
“We must avoid however, snapping away, shooting quickly and without thought, overloading ourselves with unnecessary images that clutter our memory and diminish the clarity of the whole.” - Henri Cartier-Bresson -
“We must avoid however, snapping away, shooting quickly and without thought, overloading ourselves with unnecessary images that clutter our memory and diminish the clarity of the whole.” - Henri Cartier-Bresson -
Posted 03/03/2006 - 10:39
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yeah that sounds like what he is seeing and hearing. im half deaf so i would never have heard the camera humming ....so is there anything that he needs to do?
Posted 03/03/2006 - 10:41
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If the batteries are allmost empty then the charging will get slow and the noise will continue longer. Let him change the batteries first.
Camera:K20D|Ist*DS|Spotmatic II|MZ-10
Pentax Lenses: DA16-45|DA50-200|50A 1.7
Tamron Lenses: 28-200
Takumar Lenses: SMC 55 1.8
Sigma Lenses: EX DG 50-500 'Bigma'|EX 50mm Macro
Flashes: Metz 58 AF-1|Samsung SEF-36PZF|Pentax AF-220T
Pentax Lenses: DA16-45|DA50-200|50A 1.7
Tamron Lenses: 28-200
Takumar Lenses: SMC 55 1.8
Sigma Lenses: EX DG 50-500 'Bigma'|EX 50mm Macro
Flashes: Metz 58 AF-1|Samsung SEF-36PZF|Pentax AF-220T
Posted 03/03/2006 - 10:47
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he said his wife just bought a new battery for it....it didnt come with one so they bought one.... : and that happening.
Posted 03/03/2006 - 11:55
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I'm supposing this only happens when the flash is popped up, it shouldn't be happening when it is down.
Ken
Ken
Ken
“We must avoid however, snapping away, shooting quickly and without thought, overloading ourselves with unnecessary images that clutter our memory and diminish the clarity of the whole.” - Henri Cartier-Bresson -
“We must avoid however, snapping away, shooting quickly and without thought, overloading ourselves with unnecessary images that clutter our memory and diminish the clarity of the whole.” - Henri Cartier-Bresson -
Posted 03/03/2006 - 17:43
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Has he managed to successfully load a film?
I agree with Ken, the flash only charges when popped up - don't know why the light would be flashing though, if I can find my SFXn manual, I'll have a look.
I agree with Ken, the flash only charges when popped up - don't know why the light would be flashing though, if I can find my SFXn manual, I'll have a look.
Die my dear doctor, that's the last thing I shall do!
Posted 03/03/2006 - 20:03
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Well I can't find any mention of the light flashing in the manual and I've not been able to get mine to do it. The whining noise of the flash charging is pretty quiet and only lasts a few seconds.
Are you sure that he's talking about the flash-ready light?
If the camera is unable to focus correctly, the red out-of-focus warning lights flash in the viewfinder and the focus motor whines as it attempts to focus the lens beyond it's limits - perhaps that is what he's experiencing!
Again, this only lasts for a second or two before the camera gives up and pointing at a more distant subject with give the AF system something to get it's teeth into.
Unless the camera has somehow developed a fault, I'm at a bit of a loss to explain what is going on.
Are you sure that he's talking about the flash-ready light?
If the camera is unable to focus correctly, the red out-of-focus warning lights flash in the viewfinder and the focus motor whines as it attempts to focus the lens beyond it's limits - perhaps that is what he's experiencing!
Again, this only lasts for a second or two before the camera gives up and pointing at a more distant subject with give the AF system something to get it's teeth into.
Unless the camera has somehow developed a fault, I'm at a bit of a loss to explain what is going on.
Die my dear doctor, that's the last thing I shall do!
Posted 03/03/2006 - 23:35
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Just when I thought i had just about retired the SFXns (except to use with my 28mm Shift) to concentrate on my 645 and my *istds (please someone tell me how to say that properly) and Spotmatic Fs (for fun and pleasure)...
I'll dig one out tomorrow from storage and have a serious look at the camera and the book.
I'll dig one out tomorrow from storage and have a serious look at the camera and the book.
Ken
“We must avoid however, snapping away, shooting quickly and without thought, overloading ourselves with unnecessary images that clutter our memory and diminish the clarity of the whole.” - Henri Cartier-Bresson -
“We must avoid however, snapping away, shooting quickly and without thought, overloading ourselves with unnecessary images that clutter our memory and diminish the clarity of the whole.” - Henri Cartier-Bresson -
Posted 05/03/2006 - 08:07
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hi i have asked him about the lights. His response was this...perhaps it may give you more information....
Hi,The humming noise is the film drive motor, It seems to be stuck! I haven't been able to load film into it as the motor will not wind the film on when the back door is closed it just hums a quite loud hum tat lasts about a second, the display flashes the no film loaded sign andthe flash charginging light keeps blinking. The flash charge light is flashing with the flash down so I suspect it may be some sort of error code although it doesent seem to have any sequence to its' flashing. I am quite aware of the camera's normal functions as I already own one exactly the same.It too has a problem the mirror has locked up that is why I purchased yours I figured it might have been a cheaper alternative to fixing mine.
I am really eager to help him but i have no idea myself.
Cheers
Hi,The humming noise is the film drive motor, It seems to be stuck! I haven't been able to load film into it as the motor will not wind the film on when the back door is closed it just hums a quite loud hum tat lasts about a second, the display flashes the no film loaded sign andthe flash charginging light keeps blinking. The flash charge light is flashing with the flash down so I suspect it may be some sort of error code although it doesent seem to have any sequence to its' flashing. I am quite aware of the camera's normal functions as I already own one exactly the same.It too has a problem the mirror has locked up that is why I purchased yours I figured it might have been a cheaper alternative to fixing mine.
I am really eager to help him but i have no idea myself.
Cheers
Posted 05/03/2006 - 08:53
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Quote:
... and my *istds (please someone tell me how to say that properly)
I wonder what the person was thinking when they suggested that name to the Pentax marketing department? Even better, I wonder what the marketing department was thinking when they said it was a great idea? Maybe this meeting took place about the time when the art-IST. formerly known as Prince, changed his name to that unpronouncable symbol? Surely they didn't think it would be called the asterisk dee ess!! Who can say that fast three times. I'm going back to my old DOS days when the asterisk was (and still can be) used as a wildcard symbol to indicate any name, number, letter or combination of, when searching for a file or folder. It was that very flexible symbol that made it a very powerful tool. Could they think the * plus the IST would let the user substitute any appropriate word in front of the IST to relate to how they could use this tool in their life? From Art-ist to Zoolog-ist, the ist-list is long. Getting back to the question, I always called *.* Star dot Star so I peronally call it the Star ist Dee Ess. (or the great little camera... formerly known as Pentax)... and my *istds (please someone tell me how to say that properly)
Cheers
Drew Peabody (Photo*ist)
PS: Have you ever tried to save a Windows file or folder as *istDs?
Good planning!
Posted 06/03/2006 - 14:21
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Pity the camera in question isn't silent.
Obviously there's a film transport problem and the new owner, being experienced with the SFX, is unlikely to have loaded the film incorrectly.
I'm still unsure as to what would cause the RTF charge light to flash - I've never experienced that myself and can't find any other reference to it.
Sadly, repairs to such cameras are rarely cost effective, unless you can find a local expect to take a look at it and then negotiate a reasonable price.
I assume the camera was sent to the new owner by post, so if it was working beforehand, perhaps you could make a claim against the post office / courier.
Unless the package was received in poor condition however, the chance of them accepting responsibility is probably slim.
Obviously there's a film transport problem and the new owner, being experienced with the SFX, is unlikely to have loaded the film incorrectly.
I'm still unsure as to what would cause the RTF charge light to flash - I've never experienced that myself and can't find any other reference to it.
Sadly, repairs to such cameras are rarely cost effective, unless you can find a local expect to take a look at it and then negotiate a reasonable price.
I assume the camera was sent to the new owner by post, so if it was working beforehand, perhaps you could make a claim against the post office / courier.
Unless the package was received in poor condition however, the chance of them accepting responsibility is probably slim.
Die my dear doctor, that's the last thing I shall do!
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5 posts
20 years
Im having a problem with a camera i just sold. It was working fine when i sold it but the guy is having some problems. He says that its making a humming sound and the light next to the veiwer is flashing red. I was under the assumption he had knocked the rewind button. Does anyone have any idea what it could be so he can start using it Cheers.