R4M - faulty meter?

[Terao]

My R4M meter is all over the place when taking a reading, more often than not showing -2 and 0 flashing (or +2 & flashing). Varying shutter speed or aperture doesn't seem to affect the reading in any sensible fashion - e.g. it will suddenly jump from say -1 to +2, certainly not progressing through the range in a linear fashion. Thoughts as to what might be causing this and how to fix it?
Also, should the shutter speed dial rotate past bulb to 2000?

 

[wgerrard]

Have you tried a fresh battery? I believe batteries, especially akaline units, can cause odd behavior if they lose power gradually rather than go out all at once.

BTW, if you cock the shutter (advance the film) the camera is "on". I've burned off a battery or two overnight by doing that on my R4M and then stuffing it into a the bag so the shutter was pressed half-way down.

 

[kully]

Terao, As wgerrard said - it is the battery. I get the exact same behaviour on my R2m when the battery was passing to the next life.

And the Bulb-1/2000 - no problems .

 

[Terao]

Cheers both - fresh batteries today and it seems to be behaving itself (well, matching reasonably closely with the meter on my GR-Digital). Proof as always will be in the developing 🙂

I've also taken to not cocking the shutter when I put the camera away. Its in a Voigtlander ever-ready case so shouldn't be activated but I guess its possible...