What's my Problem?

m steinhoff · Mar 25, 2017

Hi folks, wondering if anyone has ideas on the cause of the problem in these shots. I can't figure it out. Some things on the roll came out just fine, but over half were only exposed along the edge. Even pictures that were shot in quick succession with no real difference in conditions. Bad, Bad, GOOD!, Bad...

it was fairly cold on these days, film is Agfa Vista 200, shooting with a Pentax SV

https://goo.gl/photos/4iwrjHCTTBjuLjdc7

Many thanks

Prof_Pixel · Mar 25, 2017

Looks like camera focal plane shutter drag - often worse with a cold camera.

pdeeh · Mar 25, 2017

m steinhoff said:
shooting with a Pentax SV

that's a relatively old camera (for an slr anyway)
i'd be rather inclined to think it's the shutter.
Whether it's worth your while trying to get it repaired is another matter

mshchem · Mar 25, 2017

Uhh, Your camera was made during the Eisenhower administration. Maybe it's time for a CLA

Theo Sulphate · Mar 25, 2017

mshchem said:
Uhh, Your camera was made during the Eisenhower administration. Maybe it's time for a CLA

Quote of the day!

Ian Grant · Mar 25, 2017

I've bought two SIa's for parts ( the shutters had similar issues, both now function as they should. Your camera needs a CLA but that's likely to cost more than another good working Pentax body.

You can't expect things to work in the Trump era.

Ian

m steinhoff · Mar 25, 2017

thanks all! my hope was that the all-mechanical SV would be immune to the chintziness of the current era and I am going to withhold judgement for a bit longer. I assume CLA is something like "Cleaning, Loving, Attention"?? I did have the whole thing serviced when i first got it and I'm only about 6 rolls in since then. A few decent shots have come from it. (https://www.flickr.com/photos/-aismist/albums/72157672630520510) Fingers crossed that things will warm up soon.

tedr1 · Mar 25, 2017

CLA = Clean Lubricate Adjust

Sirius Glass · Mar 25, 2017

Shutter drag. Time for a CLA before the shutter tears or jams.

Welcome to APUG

Ricardo Miranda · Mar 25, 2017

mshchem said:
Uhh, Your camera was made during the Eisenhower administration. Maybe it's time for a CLA

The Asahi Pentax SV also known as the Honeywell Pentax H3v was introduced in 1963.
Wasn't John Kennedy your President there until November of that year?

MartinCrabtree · Mar 25, 2017

Ian Grant said:
You can't expect things to work in the Trump era.

Ian

winger · Mar 25, 2017

Ricardo Miranda said:
The Asahi Pentax SV also known as the Honeywell Pentax H3v was introduced in 1963.
Wasn't John Kennedy your President there until November of that year?

I still have and use mine, so I wouldn't say yours is automatically terminal just because of age. You say you had it serviced when you got it, but by whom? I would suggest www.pentaxs.com if that isn't who checked yours out. It's also possible yours was not treated well in the years before you got it.

Sirius Glass · Mar 25, 2017

Ian Grant said:
You can't expect things to work in the Trump era.

Ian

Preaching to the choir. Amen.

Theo Sulphate · Mar 25, 2017

Ricardo Miranda said:
The Asahi Pentax SV also known as the Honeywell Pentax H3v was introduced in 1963.
...

So close to the Spotmatic introduction in 1964 - interesting.

MattKing · Mar 26, 2017

mshchem said:
Uhh, Your camera was made during the Eisenhower administration. Maybe it's time for a CLA

Maybe the problem is due to the influence of the Military-industrial complex?
First, welcome to APUG.
Second, cameras of similar vintage to yours were often built to last, in an environment where appropriate amounts of regular maintenance were supplied.
Sort of like cars where it was easy to change your own oil and do your own tune-up.
So the possibility is very real that with a little of that expected care, your camera will perform beautifully again.

jvo · Mar 26, 2017

"it's gonna explode."

we'll not really... welcome to apug

greg zinselmeier · Mar 26, 2017

Theo Sulphate said:
Quote of the day!

I laughed and I laughed and then if that wasn't enough, I laughed some more. . . . . two thumbs up !!!

Bill Burk · Mar 26, 2017

Of course, there is a very simple solution to the issue... open the back when the camera doesn't have film in it... and fire it off at the higher shutter speeds looking for the same issue... Make a mental note to avoid using the shutter speeds which have the problem...

Most of the time, that means the highest speeds have the problem so don't use 500 and 1000: make 250 the highest shutter speed you ever use with the camera.

Halford · Mar 29, 2017

I have a very similar problem (only rotated 90 degrees) with my Nikon F4. It's going in for a shutter service as soon as I know I can pay for it...

What's my Problem?

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