michael_armstrong1

CE Nelson, I suggest that you go to Yahoo Camera Groups, Spotmatics, and you will find plenty about Takumar lens yellowing. Just search around. The treatment is to put the lens in the suns rays for an extended period, and that will reduce the yellowing. It is more involved, but the details are well explained over at the spotmatics site.

I did it, and it works.

Mike

Well, I also rewound all my unused film back into the canister.

No problem, took it to CVS and they corrected the problem in short order. No need to buy anything and not a big deal for them. Very quickly I had my roll back with just a leader back and ready to go.

Mike

Tom, I don't know about "most careful, most economical" but if you want it done well, at a reasonable cost, you might consider Mark Hama. For the price you might pay, I wouldn't search for anything less costly, knowing the quality and experience that will go into your repair. I am sure you can always find someone, somewhere cheaper, but why? After all, we are probably talking about a near and dear camera here, deserving of the best.

www.markhama.com

 

Mark Hama LTD.

2675 Earl Drive

Marietta, GA 30062

Tel 770-565-1498

Fax 770-977-5078

 

markhama@bellsouth.net

 

Mark did my SP II and I am extremely pleased I found him.

 

That said, I am sure there are others capable of doing the job, but I didn't want to take a chance with my equipment. I went on the recommendation of a very experienced user manual camera collector,and I am glad I did.

Mike

Jack, thank you for your understanding. I appreciate your leaving this message.

Mike

Brendon, I am just learning myself, so I am not sure I can help.

My flash is tied in to how much available power is available to flash with each flash exposure. Full power, 1/2 power etc. This in turn is tied in with the aperature size to be used at 1/60 electronic flash. The values are shown on a dial. Perhaps you have to do something about your power at flash and or the aperature size you shoot at.

Jack, I am very sorry to have confused the issue.

When I mentioned no verbal confusion, I was only relating how I placed my own orders, which were all on-line, so I never really spoke with anyone there. I found KEH to be good for me, and wanted to pass that along to members. That's all I intended to say.

I never intended any reference back to your specific situation, nor did I intend to speculate what happened, but I can see how what I said could be thought to address your specifics. Again, I apologize to you, and please rest assured that I wasn't addressing your issues at all.

Like they say, "when your in a hole stop digging", so I'll end here.

Best wishes, Jack.

Mike

I have recently purchased a considerable amount of equipment [#of items, not dollars]from KEH, and have had no problems. Most of it has been used merchandise, and I found it to be at least as good as what I expected to be sent. Not to say that a problem can't occur, but I think they are fine and will get my next orders.

All of this was through their web site and required no verbal discussions that might have been misunderstood.

Lenses have been up to spec. as has the balance of the used Pentax items.

Mike

I recently learned [courtesy of Gene Poon on the Yahoo Spotmatics board] that the flat side of the battery goes toward the camera body, not toward the battery cover. This allows the meter to show over/under exposure in the correct direction.

That's for my camera, not sure specifficaly about the SP1000, but something to think about.

Hello, David. Two sites that can give you some guidance are:

www.photoethnography.com/classiccameras/ and

homepage.mac.com/mattdenton/photo/cameras

Sorry I don't know how to do links.

My experience with Ebay is that descriptions are subjective in nature, and as such, there is a wide deviation found in the actual cameras/lenses vs. the for auction descriptions.

After you decide to do something, you might want to also check out KEH Camera. They have a lot of used equipment for sale. Their items have been graded by people who know their stuff, and you won't be disappointed. No $100. cameras for $10.00 though.

Happy hunting and good success.

Mike

There is a cure for the yellowed lenses. Not my idea, but I learned of it from the folks at the spotmatic group site. There are many contributors, but Ray Allen and Gene Poon devote a considerable amount of time helping people, including this remedy.

You can read the complete story at that site, but basically you put the lens in the sun, rear element toward sun, and let the UV do it's job. It takes time and there are many variables such as summer/winter etc. but it eventually whitenes the once brown lens.

Best regards.

Mike

To Art, John, Robert, Ron, Bruce, Douglas, and Wm., all thank you very much for your guidance and your comments. Tomorrow is now the big day. I have a new #392 battery [and a piece of foil], and the meter now seems to work. The shutter works so tomorrow I will shoot some film and see what happens.

I wouldn't have known where to start without you.

Thanks again for your interest.

Mike Armstrong

Thank you everyone. No. I haven't as yet replaced the battery. It is lost, and I really didn't know if the camera had any chance of working since it is so old. I will now take all suggestions to heart and see if I can bring the camera bsck to working order.

If possible, it would be nice to have and an interesting project.

I will let you know how it goes.

Best regards, all.

Mike

Art, thanks again. I will take your suggestions and they are very helpful. I am shocked though that a merchant might give me self- serving advice!!!! LOL

I didn't realize I could buy a hand held meter. Yes, I have the owners manual and documentation so learning to use it should work ok. I used to have a 50mm 1.4 lens also, but I believe that has been lost over time. I am anxious to take it to a shop and see what they say.

Thanks again, Art, for taking the time to advise me.

Arthur, thank you for your reply. I don't really know. It seems that the meter doesn't work, but it has been sitting in a drawer for most of 30+ years. I vaguely remember that a camera store told me 15 years ago that I should buy new. Why, I don't recall what they said or why.

I have an Asahi Pentax Spotmatic II from the late 60's. Lens is a

Takumar 1:25 135mm 1:4 200mm Zoom.

Can this camera be brought back to life? Or is it [i hate to say it]

trash? I am a point and shooter and know nothing about photography.

Thank you for any guidance.

Mike Armstrong