Possible metering problem with Spotmatic

[Malkav41]

 Hey all, I recently picked-up a Asahi Pentax Spotmatic SP w/ a Super-Takumar 1:2/55mm lens, and a Sears 1:4/70-210mm macro/zoom at a thrift shop for 15 bucks, and after cleaning it up, and finally finding a battery to power the meter, I've loaded it with a 12 shot roll of 400 iso for testing.



 Well, there seems (to me) to be a problem with the meter. I put a #392 silver-oxide battery in to power the meter, it is in the correct way (negative side toward the cover), and the meter dives down as it is suppose to when checking it at B and 100 iso as per the manual.



 Here's where the possible problem comes in. With the Sup-Tak 55mm on the camera I only get meter needle response at speeds between 1/125 to 1/1000 outdoors through the F-stop range on the lens (F/2-F/16), at 1/60 and below the needle pegs itself in the upper part of the meter scale (overexposure zone), and no matter what F stop I set the lens at, it stays there. With the Zoom it's the same.



So I was wondering if this is normal with the Spotmatic, or a sign that the meter is toast.



If this is the wrong place to ask this please feel free to move it to the correct place.

Thanks in advance for any answers I receive.

Ed
 :confused:

[Captain Slack]

Sounds like your meter cells are on the way out.  My suggestion is to send it to Eric Hendrickson, who's the repair wiz for all things Pentax:

http://www.pentaxs.com/

He's fast, cheap, & does great work.  I've sent both my Spottys & several lenses to him.

[titrisol]

So, do you have any reading INDOORS at speeds below 60?
If the needle shoot to the 1000 number then something is amiss there