Advice on Vivitar v335 - odd shutter button issue

Hi all!

I have a strange problem with the shutter button on my Vivitar v335 and can't find any Vivitar service/troubleshooting guides online.

The black covering on the shutter button will not depress, but the shutter WILL fire if I use a shutter release cable. When I use the cable, everything works fine (film advance lever, mirror, frame counter, etc). It's almost as if whatever is between the shutter button cover and the actual button is locked or jammed. I'd like to be able to use it without a cable, so any tips on fixing this issue would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

About all I can find on this camera was that it was a Pentax K mount (K1000 clone?) camera made by Cosina.

Sounds like something is loose in the camera and physically blocking the release or something sticky is gluing the button in place, so the top will have to be removed and the shutter release button examined.

Since they sell for about $25 on Ebay, if you are unwilling to have it repaired or take the top off yourself, you could replace it fairly cheaply.

post a picture or two of the shutter button, top and side views.

From photos I've seen of that camera it appears the release is a button that sits in a shallow tube. So, I'm thinking something sticky may have been spilled on it and seeped down around the button, effectively gluing the button in place.

If so then perhaps dripping a little alcohol around the edge of the button and letting it seep down may free it up.

And/or a thin shim such as a razor blade worked down and around the button.

Welcome to Apug!

That the button does not work and the cable release well, ist not that surprising seen their design.
The classic design is that the button is a shell, with a release thread, that takes inside a knob. This knob can be pushed out of that shell by means of the cable release plunger, by this activating the shutter without pressing the button. The button just acts as counter force to the plunger. So that knob is independant of the button. If the button is pushed however it soon after contacts the knob and pushes it further to activate the shutter.

I very often come across cameras with sticky substances in recesses, slits etc. Typically that seems dried concentrate of fruit juice, cola or such from splashing a beverage on the camera. In your case it may have been someone with marmelade fingers...

Yes, using a solvent would be an idea. Seen the above I though would not use alcohol but instead a most tiny amount of window cleaner. If that does not free the shell you can try alcohol. Next step would be taking off the top cover and taking out the button from the cover. It also may be a tiny grain of sand making the button stick.

Oh, and do report back what you find!
It could help the next person who has that problem and does a search for the problem on this site.