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Pentax K1000 Blank Viewfinder

  • 12-07-2012 01:47PM
    #1
    nmjw
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10 ✭


    Hi, I picked up a second hand Pentax K1000 film camera. When I look through the viewfinder it's just black. The lens is working fine so I'm not sure what's wrong.

    I rang up John Gunns, they said they don't do repairs but they'd take a look. I also rang Conns Cameras but they said they'd probably have to ship it to England just to get it looked at.

    Does anybody know where I can get this fixed?


Comments

  • #2
    PopeBuckfastXVI
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,155 ✭✭✭PopeBuckfastXVI


    Is the mirror stuck in the flipped up position maybe?


  • #3
    nmjw
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10 ✭nmjw


    PopeBuckfastXVI wrote: »
    Is the mirror stuck in the flipped up position maybe?

    I think it could be! do you know how to flip it down? Sorry I am a total noob.


  • #4
    nmjw
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10 ✭nmjw


    I flipped it down but it just keeps springing back up....


  • #5
    DaireQuinlan
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,755 ✭✭✭DaireQuinlan


    nmjw wrote: »
    I flipped it down but it just keeps springing back up....

    firstly, stop doing that, you'll likely damage it. Try winding on and firing the shutter a few times and see if it comes down. I have a spotmatic that rather annoyingly locks up the mirror every now and again after taking a shot, it's a known failing. The K1000 doesn't have mirror lockup, but people used to be able to do it by very lightly tapping the shutter button sometimes, maybe that's happened to yours. If not then it's probably a bit bust.

    You can disassemble it and root around to see why, there are repair manuals online I'd say. I've just fixed the meter and metering switch on another spotmatic which required extensive disassembly, they're made to be repaired after all, unlike modern cameras.


  • #6
    nmjw
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10 ✭nmjw


    DaireQuinlan wrote: »
    firstly, stop doing that, you'll likely damage it. Try winding on and firing the shutter a few times and see if it comes down. I have a spotmatic that rather annoyingly locks up the mirror every now and again after taking a shot, it's a known failing. The K1000 doesn't have mirror lockup, but people used to be able to do it by very lightly tapping the shutter button sometimes, maybe that's happened to yours. If not then it's probably a bit bust.

    You can disassemble it and root around to see why, there are repair manuals online I'd say. I've just fixed the meter and metering switch on another spotmatic which required extensive disassembly, they're made to be repaired after all, unlike modern cameras.

    Thanks for your reply. I went to John Gunns they said it was a problem with the shutter so I sent into camera repairs on Dame Street, should be ok now.


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