I recently purchased an Autoreflex T over the internet and while the meter works, I does not seem to accurate with the batteries in it, I believe they are 675 1.4 volt hearing aid batteries. In order for the meter to give a correct reading for 200 speed film I have to set the ASA setting at 50. Is this normal for this camera?? Will obtaining 1.35 volt mercury batteries solve this problem? thanx in advance for any respnse.

John E Durant n01jd1@a

-- Anonymous, November 05, 2000

Answers

Meter readings

You indicate that the meter is reading within 2 stops of what it should - this is a little much but it depends on how you measured what the correct reading should be. I have 6 onica SLR's and though one has a bad meter the others read about 2 stops different. When I sent them to be set and cleaned I was informed by Konica that within one stop was in spec. so I have some one high and some one low - I just set the film to reflect this. I use a roll of slide film to determine the correct setting for each camera by taking several pictures set at the correct ISO and then bracketing the next pictures one or to stops in half stop steps.

-- Anonymous, November 05, 2000

I have the same batteries. + $20 meter calibration "rip off"

I have the same problem with my light meter (though it is only 1 stop off) with those batters. So I set my film 1 lower. I had my meter "calibrated" at the photo store. Vintage Cameras here in Calgary, and I don't feel they did anything for the $20 I spend on it. All they did was put it up to a light box and take readings off the shutter and say... "well, that is satisfactory".. then when I inquired what "satisfactory" meant, they asked if I was using print film. (I knew they were upto something because I know print film has more latitude) so I said I was to shoot slide film with the camera. So they re-adjusted it... (told me to shoot it 1 stop lower), and gave me back the camera and took the $20 bucks. What a rip. I knew all that from reading this message board.

Mike.

-- Anonymous, November 06, 2000

Vintage Visuals

I am living in Calgary too and have been to Vintage Visuals for a couple of times, did not buy anything. They only have fewer than 20 Konica mount lenses and they charge a high premium for them. Seems to me that they want to collect the lenses instead of selling them...

Also saw an OmegaReflex with 3 set of lenses, it has a different feel then 35mm cameras, very cool, but was priced out of my budget...

-- Anonymous, November 10, 2000

Hey, this is great, you are from Calgary too!

I sent you an email as well, but incase you didn't receive it, I'll leave something here as well. Vintage visuals sure don't have very good prices on their Konica lenses and cameras. What I really hate most is that you cannot see what the price of any of them are. You have to ask to have each lens flipped over so you can see the price hidden in the cap. Though, I don't know of anyother place (store or pawn shop) that has any Konica items for sale.. do you?

So, what do you have in your Konica collection?

Mike

-- Anonymous, November 10, 2000

Meter Readings And Battery Use

John, As you have probably gathered from Lee's post, getting *exact* exposure is trickier than most folks think. Konica is not being smart-assed about the spec of one stop off. This spec depends a lot on how well the galvanometer needle in the finder is responding as well as the actual meter reading itself. Remember, the Konica T's and A's are mechanical and built to the best standards of their day. As such, they will never be totally exact in respect to meter readings in the finder. Generally, this has no effect on auto exposures, however. I have a T3 that reads one stop faster than nominal, but exposes slide film flawlessly in auto. My TC is a half-stop slow, but also exposes just fine. As to the use of hearing-aid batteries, I have found that they function fine for a while, but, become starved of the air they need to function while in the battery compartment, despite the small holes in the cover. This makes them something of a pain to use, especially if you use an everyready case with your camera. This may be what is happening to your readings, but, as I said before, it may be your needle is malfunctioning. Shoot some slide film, first with the camera on auto, then, using the meter-recommended setting, on manual. Bracket a few of the manual shots to see how far off the reading is. You may find a discrepancy between what the camera exposes on auto and what you get on manual. This would indicate your meter needle is the culprit, not the actual meter. Please let us know what you find.

Jon from Deepinaharta, Georgia

-- Anonymous, November 09, 2000