Serious question, has anyone else had a Pentax ME Super mirror lock up after a battery change?

I swapped the old 357 for a new one in a customer's camera from 1985, and the mirror just stuck open, no shutter action. Figured it was a capacitor issue from sitting too long, but a gentle nudge on the advance lever got it going again. Do you think a full capacitor replacement is needed for these now, or just a wake-up call?

3 comments

3 Comments

kimblack12d ago

Sometimes a little exercise is all those old parts need.

ben_fisher12d ago

Wait, a customer's camera from 1985 and it just needed a nudge? That's wild, lmao. Those old capacitors must have been taking a serious nap. I've seen them go bad and just die for good, not wake up with a little poke. Makes you wonder how many of these are out there just one gentle lever push away from working.

craig.piper12d ago

Ever try just cycling the power switch a bunch of times on those old cameras? @ben_fisher is right, a lot of times a capacitor is just weak and needs a little kick from the circuit to reform. I've had a few where I literally just turned the camera on and off like twenty times and it came back to life. The real trick is to do it before you open it up, because that "nudge" might save you a full repair. Of course, if it's totally dead that's another story, but it's always worth a shot first.