Please Help! SLR Problem

[steve050]

Hi Guys,

Just dug out my old Practika B100 electronic, fitted a new battery but the shutter locks for about 20 sec. every time I take a shot. All the settings seem fine but in the view finder the light meter indicator is not moving up when shoot. The same indicator works fine on battery test. All this is without a film loaded.(Could this be the problem?) Would really like to get this noisy old lump working again!

Steve.

[RobertP]

This page (http://www.michaelbutkus.com/chinon/praktica/praktica_b100/praktica_b100.htm) has a link to a PDF of the user manual if that is any help...

[Marcel]

Is it a separate battery for the exposure meter?

[TheLostPhotographer]

Hi Guys,

... but the shutter locks for about 20 sec. every time I take a shot...

Locks open? How exactly do you mean?

[dougdarter]

I'm wondering if the camera is locked in AE mode, and the meter is metering for an exposure of 20 seconds.

Does the light source make any difference, ie aim at a bright light source annd see if the shutter speed comes down.

Alternatively, it could be just locked into a 20 sec exposure due to the electronics failing.

It may be that a cold soak without a battery inside, followed by a battery replacement, may solve the problem.

Good luck.

[ppp]

have you got the lens cap on? i did this when testing my Dad's old D1 before i sold it, left the body cap on cos i had no lens attached and hit the shutter and it took ages to release, thought i'd broken it till i realised what i had done.

[steve050]

Thanks for all the posts,

I have tried all of the above, still no luck! I have noticed if I use the flash setting the shutter speed sounds OK. also seems fine without the battery in place, all points to the electronics I think. I have found that when the elec. function is selected the needle in the view finder just moves a little instead of moving to its selected position. I'm going to fit a film and see how things come out on the different settings, any new suggestions welcome. Found the manual d/l useful. Thanks again, Steve.

[ppp]

Sounds like its on a manual setting or wrong exposure etc cos with the flash it is thinking there is more light so working quick