Fixing a Konica Auto S2 light meter

haugstrup · 05-13-2008, 12:02 PM

I bought a Konica Auto S2 and it's in a very nice condition. No sticky shutter or apertures or anything like that.

The only thing is that the light meter appears to be dead. I placed a wein cell replacement battery in the camera and the "check battery" button does function (the needly at the top swings to the yellow check mark), but the meter isn't active. It is stuck at the far top (beyond the f/1.8 mark) no matter what the lighting conditions are.

Now, I didn't pay a lot for this camera ($20) so I'm happy to use it without a meter. If nothing else it'll teach me about light. However, if it's an easy fix I would of course love to have a fully working camera.

What are my chances? I realize that this could be anything from a loose wire to a completely dead light metering cell thingie. I should also point out that I have zero experience with camera repair and beyond a pair of pliers and a screwdriver set I have no tools and would have to buy everything.

I'm in the US temporarily (I'm Danish) and can take advantage of the low dollar rates, but I have no feel for how much a camera repair shop would charge for fixing something like this.

Fred Aspen · 05-13-2008, 12:08 PM

Look inside the little cell window. As you adjust the aperture a tiny 'aperture' passes the window, a different size for each aperture. If the tiny openings are not visible, it is a fairly simple matter for a repairperson to unscrew the front element group and reset the wheel. Otherwise, I would be thinking dead cell or broken wire.

Fred

haugstrup · 05-13-2008, 12:34 PM

I see a tiny "aperture" (a block dot) inside the meter cell window and I also see another dot at the far right edge of the meter cell window. However neither of these move or change size as I adjust the aperture. I'm doing all this without a battery in the camera, but I'm assuming this is a mechnical function.

It looks like I'll be on the lookout for a camera repair place in Boston to handle this for me. Thank you for the explanation, Fred.

Fred Aspen · 05-13-2008, 01:08 PM

I have forgotten whether the S2 is aperture linked or shutter linked to the meter wheel, it has been a long, long time. Try also moving the various speeds and observe the 'dots.' What you saw before was the meter cell covered while two aperture dots are 'straddling' the cell. If the shutter speed changes don't move the wheel, then most likely it is a mechanical problem.

Fred

haugstrup · 05-13-2008, 01:28 PM

Ah, too bad. Moving the shutter ring around does cause the meter cell covering to adjust properly (opening up completely for the 1 sec. and B marks, closing to tiny dots for 1/500). So I'm back to a more complicated electrical issue.

craigclu · 05-13-2008, 05:41 PM

Give Greg Weber a call.... He can quickly tell you what the likely problem is and whether there is a fix for it.

http://www.webercamera.com/