Movement of shutter speed indicator

[jonathan__]

I have just bought a Minox 35 GT-E and have noticed that the needle which shows the shutter speed in the view finder moves slower than I would have expected. It might take 5+ seconds to finally settle in on a reading. Is this normal? When I push the battery check button it is a little faster, but not much.

 

<p>

 

Also when I put a flash onto the hot shoe the needle doesn't show 1/125 sec, it stays down at the bottom (or actually, where ever it would be for the ambient light). Should I expect it to actually show 1/125 or just to go ahead and set the shutter speed to 1/125s?

[MTC Photography]

Hi Jonathan.

 

The movement of exposure needle in your camera seems a bit odd.

On my GT-E, I test the reaction of exposure needle by pointing the

lens to a lamp, then use on hand to cover then quickly remove it

from the lens, the needel reacts almost instantly.

 

<p> The problem may be in your battery

<ul> <li> Have you use a new battery?

<li> Have you use a propoer battery, ie, PX27 5.6 v mercury battery

or two CR 1/3n lithium batteries ?

 

</ul>

Now for the question of needle movement when a flash unit is

attached--- the needle does not switch to 1/125 position, instead

it still points to where it was before the flash was attached.

<p> What happens is: When you attach a flash unit, the center

contact point on the hotshoe is actually a micro switch, it is

depressed slightly by the flash unit-- when this switch is depressed

the shutter always stays at 1/125 sec, regardless of where the needle

of the meter is.

<p> Another thing you may do is use a piece of Kodak cleaning tissue

to wipe clean the hot shoe micro switch, as dust on the rim of

microswitch may affect the meter-- not 100% sure, but just to be safe

<p> Don't forget, the meter works only when you push the film advance

lever at least once everytime after the shutter fires. Otherwise the

meter master switch is turned off. <p> If all these fails, your camera

may need to be tuned up or back for warranty service, which ever

applies.