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Post by zx9 on Jan 29, 2024 9:44:12 GMT
From memory.... I had a Pentax MX and that had interchangeable focus screens but I seem to recall that the ME and ME Super had fixed focusing screens. I suppose it is possible that someone worked out how they fitted and managed to remove it to clean it, then put it back the wrong way round I have a K1000 with decayed mirror buffer foam between the focusing screen and penta prism which again has a non user changeable screen which I would like to sort out before selling the camera as that is the only thing wrong with an otherwise very clean low mileage camera.
If anyone knows the secret I would be interested in how to do it.
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neilt3
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Post by neilt3 on Jan 29, 2024 10:47:58 GMT
If you haven't already , check the focus screen is the right way up . If someone's had it out for cleaning and put it up with the ground face up ,rather than down (out) , focus will be 1mm or so out . So no infinity focus in the viewfinder even though using a ground glass on the film plane would confirm infinity focus is correct . Isn't there a tab that is supposed to prevent that? I haven't had chance to look at mine ( I have an ME Super ) , I shall have a look . What I have come across over the years is people replacing screens with ones out of different bodies . To do this you just remove the tab . Providing the screen is the correct thickness , and put in the right way up , this isn't a problem. If it's a different thickness or the wrong way up , and you'll never focus correctly! I've used the focus screen out of a manual focus film camera in an APS-C DSLR after cutting it down to size. It worked fine and made MF far easier . |
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neilt3
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Post by neilt3 on Jan 29, 2024 10:50:46 GMT
From memory.... I had a Pentax MX and that had interchangeable focus screens but I seem to recall that the ME and ME Super had fixed focusing screens. I suppose it is possible that someone worked out how they fitted and managed to remove it to clean it, then put it back the wrong way round I'll have a look at mine , but where there's a will there's a way ! It had to be put in there somehow. User interchangeable ones are very simple to drop down the retainer and change . Non user interchangeable might just mean undoing a couple of screws . If someone had the camera apart at some point, it might have just been put back together wrong. |
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Post by steveandthedogs on Jan 29, 2024 18:29:05 GMT
If you haven't already , check the focus screen is the right way up . If someone's had it out for cleaning and put it up with the ground face up ,rather than down (out) , focus will be 1mm or so out . So no infinity focus in the viewfinder even though using a ground glass on the film plane would confirm infinity focus is correct . Just had a look, I can't tell which way up it is, but there do seem to be some scratches/marks on the edges.
Looks like someone did play with it, but I'm not going to send it off, too many others to play with first.
S
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Post by John Farrell on Jan 29, 2024 18:47:12 GMT
From memory.... I had a Pentax MX and that had interchangeable focus screens but I seem to recall that the ME and ME Super had fixed focusing screens. I suppose it is possible that someone worked out how they fitted and managed to remove it to clean it, then put it back the wrong way round I have a K1000 with decayed mirror buffer foam between the focusing screen and penta prism which again has a non user changeable screen which I would like to sort out before selling the camera as that is the only thing wrong with an otherwise very clean low mileage camera.
If anyone knows the secret I would be interested in how to do it.
Replacing the mirror buffer on a K1000 is quite straightforward - it isn't behind any baffles, but is on the surface below the viewfinder. Put a wad of tissue into the camera to protect the mirror and focus screen, remove the remains of the old buffer (don't use solvents - they could stain the focus screen), glue in a new piece of foam, 2 to 3mm thick, cut to fit the edge of the viewfinder. Be aware that the light seals in the back probably need replacement too, and that there is foam inside the viewfinder assembly which is probably also rotten. |
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Post by zx9 on Jan 29, 2024 21:17:32 GMT
I have a K1000 with decayed mirror buffer foam between the focusing screen and penta prism which again has a non user changeable screen which I would like to sort out before selling the camera as that is the only thing wrong with an otherwise very clean low mileage camera.
If anyone knows the secret I would be interested in how to do it.
Replacing the mirror buffer on a K1000 is quite straightforward - it isn't behind any baffles, but is on the surface below the viewfinder. Put a wad of tissue into the camera to protect the mirror and focus screen, remove the remains of the old buffer (don't use solvents - they could stain the focus screen), glue in a new piece of foam, 2 to 3mm thick, cut to fit the edge of the viewfinder. Be aware that the light seals in the back probably need replacement too, and that there is foam inside the viewfinder assembly which is probably also rotten. Hi John, thank you for the tips, I have done similar on a couple of Yashicas in the past. What is stumping me is how to remove the grot from above the focusing screen which I am assuming is from the foam in the viewfinder assembly that you mention. |
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Post by John Farrell on Jan 29, 2024 23:45:28 GMT
Replacing the mirror buffer on a K1000 is quite straightforward - it isn't behind any baffles, but is on the surface below the viewfinder. Put a wad of tissue into the camera to protect the mirror and focus screen, remove the remains of the old buffer (don't use solvents - they could stain the focus screen), glue in a new piece of foam, 2 to 3mm thick, cut to fit the edge of the viewfinder. Be aware that the light seals in the back probably need replacement too, and that there is foam inside the viewfinder assembly which is probably also rotten. Hi John, thank you for the tips, I have done similar on a couple of Yashicas in the past. What is stumping me is how to remove the grot from above the focusing screen which I am assuming is from the foam in the viewfinder assembly that you mention. Here's a video which shows how to do this. |
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neilt3
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Post by neilt3 on Jan 30, 2024 1:26:15 GMT
From memory.... I had a Pentax MX and that had interchangeable focus screens but I seem to recall that the ME and ME Super had fixed focusing screens. I suppose it is possible that someone worked out how they fitted and managed to remove it to clean it, then put it back the wrong way round I'll have a look at mine , but where there's a will there's a way ! It had to be put in there somehow. User interchangeable ones are very simple to drop down the retainer and change . Non user interchangeable might just mean undoing a couple of screws . If someone had the camera apart at some point, it might have just been put back together wrong. I had a look at mine , and the screen isn't user changeable . |
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neilt3
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Post by neilt3 on Jan 30, 2024 1:29:44 GMT
If you haven't already , check the focus screen is the right way up . If someone's had it out for cleaning and put it up with the ground face up ,rather than down (out) , focus will be 1mm or so out . So no infinity focus in the viewfinder even though using a ground glass on the film plane would confirm infinity focus is correct . Just had a look, I can't tell which way up it is, but there do seem to be some scratches/marks on the edges.
Looks like someone did play with it, but I'm not going to send it off, too many others to play with first.
S
The side you can/should see is the side that is ground , and should have a dull , matt finish to it . Looking slightly whiteish . If it was upside down , you would be looking at the polished , smooth face . If you hold it to the light right , or use a small LED torch , you should see it is reflective . |
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Post by zx9 on Jan 30, 2024 8:55:58 GMT
Hi John, thank you for the tips, I have done similar on a couple of Yashicas in the past. What is stumping me is how to remove the grot from above the focusing screen which I am assuming is from the foam in the viewfinder assembly that you mention. Here's a video which shows how to do this. Thank you John that video makes each step look quite easy and shows the suspect foam around the prism. I have book marked it and will report back if and when I pluck up the courage to dive in. |
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Post by John Farrell on Jan 30, 2024 17:36:53 GMT
That channel has another video on removing the top of the K1000, covering a different version of the camera.
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