Konica Auto S3 - no meter? Read this!

micromoogman · 03-11-2012

OK. I bought a Konica Auto S3 recently and was very disappointed when I realized that the meter was broken. Tested different batteries but nothing. I opened up the bottom cover and checked for corroded contacts or broken wiring. I removed the battery chamber and examined it...looked clean and tidy. Then I saw that the two metal pieces that are connected to the battery (+), actually shorted the contact sitting under it (-). The plastic tab that they were attached to had loosened from its fastening points. So a little black tape to isolate them from each other, putting it back together, battery in, and success!!

So if your Auto S3 are without meter, check this! Very simple fix.

Another simple fix is to get the meter needle to move more freely. The meter on this camera was acting like it was getting stuck sometimes. Open top cover and locate the needle. Bend it carefully out from the needle trap (for the exposure lock) and enjoy a free moving meter needle.

Jack Conrad · 03-11-2012

I recently found a Canon QL17 GIII with a buggered meter.
Opened the bottom and found a mess of horrible corrosion deep into a major
circuit board and beyond. I cleaned it up and soldered a bad wire. Still dead.

Oh well. It's still a nice little well made compact manual rf with a decent lens.

muf · 03-11-2012

Well done. It's nice when you do a little D.I.Y. Like Dr Frankenstein bringing life to his monster. I imagine when you saw the needle move that your eyes lit up in a "It's alive" sort of way. I've tried a little D.I.Y over the years and sometimes it's worked, but mostly hasn't. It pains me to put them in the trash as I want to 'bring them back to life', but sometimes you just have to concede defeat.

I have an S3 and it's a little beauty that has a fantastic sharp lens. Mine has a working meter, fortunately. Glad yours worked out. Enjoy!

Quote:

Originally Posted by micromoogman

OK. I bought a Konica Auto S3 recently and was very disappointed when I realized that the meter was broken. Tested different batteries but nothing. I opened up the bottom cover and checked for corroded contacts or broken wiring. I removed the battery chamber and examined it...looked clean and tidy. Then I saw that the two metal pieces that are connected to the battery (+), actually shorted the contact sitting under it (-). The plastic tab that they were attached to had loosened from its fastening points. So a little black tape to isolate them from each other, putting it back together, battery in, and success!!

So if your Auto S3 are without meter, check this! Very simple fix.

Another simple fix is to get the meter needle to move more freely. The meter on this camera was acting like it was getting stuck sometimes. Open top cover and locate the needle. Bend it carefully out from the needle trap (for the exposure lock) and enjoy a free moving meter needle.

teamsc10190 · 03-11-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by micromoogman

Another simple fix is to get the meter needle to move more freely. The meter on this camera was acting like it was getting stuck sometimes. Open top cover and locate the needle. Bend it carefully out from the needle trap (for the exposure lock) and enjoy a free moving meter needle.

Great tip! I discovered this "carefully bend the needle" solution myself after having my Auto S3 in for a full CLA and returned twice to the technician for rework as he was unable to resolve the 'sticking needle' problem. It's so simple and it works!

truefriendship · 03-12-2012

You inspired me to have a 2nd look at my almost mint condition Auto S3 with a supposed dead meter... took off the bottom plate, check everything under the battery cover, reassembled... meter works again!

Thanks!
~

lam · 06-13-2012

I used this thread to help diagnose my non-working S3, it's working now, and shooting fine.

I also notice, if you remove bottom plate, the spring to engage the film advance lock will move out of place.. so beware.
and taking the top plate off to mess with the meter wiring is a good idea.

Bill58 · 06-14-2012

Over the years in the USA, I was a pretty good DIYer w/ cars and the house, but never could do the same on electronic stuff. Now in Korea I've got a self-taught, "genius" repair tech who can fix any camera.

My Oly XA just died again and he'll cannibalize another one to make mine come alive one more time.

genez · 06-25-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill58

Now in Korea I've got a self-taught, "genius" repair tech who can fix any camera.

My Oly XA just died again and he'll cannibalize another one to make mine come alive one more time.

Oh wow, that sounds like an awesome camera tech to have around for eh?

J-P · 07-05-2012

I just got my S3 which looks like its in great condition - it was loaded with an LR44 battery which was working fine last week.

However, yesterday - suddenly the meter stopped working. I thought '...oh well, the battery died, better get a new one'. So I went out and bought a V76PX (Edit: These are SR44's) and guess what - meter still isn't responsive

I noticed that the central battery contact seems a bit loose. I'll unscrew it later though and investigate. Not fun being stuck on f1.8... any advice?

Bill58 · 07-05-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by J-P

I just got my S3 which looks like its in great condition - it was loaded with an LR44 battery which was working fine last week.

However, yesterday - suddenly the meter stopped working. I thought '...oh well, the battery died, better get a new one'. So I went out and bought a V76PX and guess what - meter still isn't responsive

I noticed that the central battery contact seems a bit loose. I'll unscrew it later though and investigate. Not fun being stuck on f1.8... any advice?

Your S3 will work better w/ SR44 batteries.

J-P · 07-06-2012

Woohoo! It's fixed, thanks micromoogman, I wouldn't have thought to check. My wires were in perfect condition - no sign of black wire corrosion.

(Bill58 - they are SR44's, I was just reading the wrong number, but thanks).

What a stupid design for a battery compartment. The - and + were indeed connecting as the + connection had come loose from the bottom and was colliding/shorting with the negative. I removed both, distressed the base and applied epoxy to glue this down. I've also made a plastic 'shim' and wedged it between both terminals. Should stop that from ever happening again!

Compared the metering with my leicameter and it seems to be relatively accurate.

I'm going to load up with film and go out and shoot a few test rolls