Odd K1000 shutter behavior

[BobD]

I recently acquired an early K1000. It is, I believe, the first version of the "SE" variant with diamond pattern covering.

When the shutter button is pressed half way the mirrow flips up but the shutter doesn't fire until the button is pressed all the way down. Pressing the shutter quickly and completely results in the normal mirror/shutter sequence but it seems odd that it would have this 2-stage behavior.

I removed the bottom plate and lubed the obvious moving parts there but this had no effect on the issue.

Anyone familiar with this issue on the K1000?

 

[Dan Daniel]

Nope. But there is a similar thing on the Pentax MX. If you flick the shutter button just the right amount, the mirror will lock up. You might search for that and see how people explain it? I never heard of it, nor experienced it, happening with a slow press of the release, though.

 

[BobD]

Nope. But there is a similar thing on the Pentax MX. If you flick the shutter button just the right amount, the mirror will lock up. You might search for that and see how people explain it? I never heard of it, nor experienced it, happening with a slow press of the release, though.

Thanks. This looks like what you are referring to:
Link

 

[OAPOli]

In my K1000s you could also bring the mirror up by flicking the release. But it was impossible to do it like you describe in the OP. So maybe someone made the mod as outlined in your link?

 

[BMbikerider]

I recently acquired an early K1000. It is, I believe, the first version of the "SE" variant with diamond pattern covering.

When the shutter button is pressed half way the mirrow flips up but the shutter doesn't fire until the button is pressed all the way down. Pressing the shutter quickly and completely results in the normal mirror/shutter sequence but it seems odd that it would have this 2-stage behavior.

I removed the bottom plate and lubed the obvious moving parts there but this had no effect on the issue.

Anyone familiar with this issue on the K1000?

Nope. But there is a similar thing on the Pentax MX. If you flick the shutter button just the right amount, the mirror will lock up. You might search for that and see how people explain it? I never heard of it, nor experienced it, happening with a slow press of the release, though.

I was going to mention this as well, possibly the shutters were a similar design. I know some photographers who used this to their advantage when making macro pictures and the camera was on a tripod.

 

[ic-racer]

I'm going to guess the wind mechanism is being released too late, so when the mirror goes up and releases the first curtain, the first curtain gears are still engaged to the wind mechanism. Thus not allowing the first curtain to release until you press further down and disengage the first curtain gears from the wind mechanism.