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Message |
    
John_s
Tinkerer
Username: John_s
Post Number: 98
Registered: 07-2009
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, September 18, 2012 - 01:54 pm: | 
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I've got a nice Pentax MX but twice now I've picked it up to use and found the batteries nearly dead and not lighting the display (it's a mechanical camera with LED exposure indication in the viewfinder). Does anyone know if draining the batteries is a common problem with these? And if there's a known fix, or any indication where to start looking? Thanks in advance. |
Brcamera
Tinkerer
Username: Brcamera
Post Number: 209
Registered: 08-2010
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, September 18, 2012 - 03:47 pm: |
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On a Pentax MX with battery drain complaint, the first thing I do is check the main switch as it may be grounded and this will drain batteries. Remove the bottom cover, main switch is located on the wind side of the camera. There is a small insulator on the release rod that contacts the main switch and that insulator sometimes falls off the release rod and will cause the main switch to connect directly to ground and battery drain will result. |
John_s
Tinkerer
Username: John_s
Post Number: 99
Registered: 07-2009
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 - 01:15 am: |
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Thanks Brcamera I'll have a look at this. Much appreciated. |
John_s
Tinkerer
Username: John_s
Post Number: 100
Registered: 07-2009
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 - 09:04 am: |
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Yes there's a pair of contacts held together by spring pressure, actuated by a plunger connected to the shutter button via the little insulator you mention (which is in place). This should separate the contacts and break the circuit when you take your finger off the shutter button to allow the plunger to rise back to its rest position. They weren't separating so I just bent up the lower contact a little, now they separate and the switch should operate properly. Thanks again. |
