PMA 880 little fault

Post by **pecker** » Fri Nov 11, 2005 5:16 pm

Hello,
seems like my good old PMA 880 has little fault now:
When switching into automatic aperture the servo winds the aperture straight from 1,8 to 22 and then stays there. Doesnt`t matter how much light there is, or which fps is set. In other words it suddenly (yesterday) stopped setting automatic aperture. When switching in manual I can set the aperture as I like it, switching back in auto, same procedure as described. Anyway it isn`t that big deal for me Ã‚Â´cause I`m working the most time in manual mode, and take messurements with a lightmeter.
But still,...any ideas???
Thanks,
pat

Post by **biko** » Fri Nov 11, 2005 6:08 pm

maybe the camera is set in longtime mode.

i think the switch looks like this: VT <- NORM -> LT
should be in the middle position..

biko

Post by **Rollef** » Fri Nov 11, 2005 6:59 pm

It can be the fade button. make shure it is "off"

Post by **pecker** » Fri Nov 11, 2005 7:19 pm

Thank you, but both switches are in correct position, I don`t know if it`s maybe possible that there is corrosion on a switch or whatever. As I said before it started suddenly, there was no malfunction before....

Alex · Post by **Alex** » Fri Nov 11, 2005 7:43 pm

It sure sounds like the fade button.

Maybe toggle the fade switch back and forth a couple of times to see if that helps.

Post by **pecker** » Fri Nov 11, 2005 11:46 pm

Thanks. So I toggled the fade switch (and also theVT/ LT button) a couple times back and forward, but that doesn`t help either.
The servo always winds up aperture from 1,8 up to 22, then I switch to manual, set it back to 1,8 switch back to auto and again it winds up to 22.
I guess the lightmeter cell (TTL)has failed, think it`s kind of lightcell resistor which has now a steady value. The little extern cell for longtime exposer still works fine (but this is coupled with the shutter).
So now I`m in need for my handheld lightmeter more than before, like everytime, otherwise my Seconic is 100% correct.
Thanks for all your replys.

Post by **vidwerk** » Sat Nov 12, 2005 8:40 am

I find these cameras to be a problem. I have both the 860 and 880. Both are fucked in some way. Actually not true. the 880 which I got first had a broken lens to begin with. Everything else worked fine. I needed a replacement so I got an 860 from ebay. All worked good for 2 weeks or so , then it stopped working???. I also find the Bauer Royal models to be problematic. Of my 4 Bauer's, the Royal C 10E makro and the A512 are screwed. I even paid $275. Cdn to have the A512 fixed twice and still no go. In my opinion the Nizo's seem to be the most reliable. I've got my 5th Nizo on it's way.

vidwerk.

Alex · Post by **Alex** » Sat Nov 12, 2005 8:52 am

I purchased the repair manual for the Eumig 800 series cameras and they really have a lot of things that can go wrong and without the manual I think it would be difficult to fix. LOL, with the repair manual it still would take an expert to fix the camera.

The 880 is the predecessor to the 881 and I think the 880 is more flawed than the 881. I don't know if the 861 was ever released. I wonder if the Bolex version of the 880 and 860, aka the 680??? is any better?