Ricoh TLS 401 meter fixes

[rhl-oregon]

For those unfamiliar with this beast, have a look at Raul Da Santas's website: http://www.flickr.com/photos/raulm/5637169915/

I just got one cheap, and upon discovering the meter does not respond to a fresh battery, am on a 3-legged stool about what next:

1/return to seller whose ad mentioned the meter as an asset, not as a zilch;
2/take it to my camera tech along with the link to Stuart Willis's meter wiring repair http://www.kyphoto.com/classics/ricoh401.html;
3/keep but shoot with the Luna Pro handy.

The TLS 401 doesn't have to displace my OM4, but I do love the "waist-level" view. I dislike #1, #2 will probably cost 3 figures, so #3 is my plan for now.

However (#4!): Any TLS-401 lovers with experience/advice to impart? I've read some of the old posts on this thread, btw.

Thx, R

 

[rhl-oregon]

The CDS woke up!

The CDS woke up!

This may end up being the briefest problem-solving thread ever.

The Ricoh's meter, which hadn't been responding to lesser lights, woke up this afternoon when I pointed it directly at bright 6pm sun.

I was walking around the neighborhood metering with the Luna Pro to get used to how I'd feel about this beast being meterless. And I was enjoying the top-down/sorta-waist-level view, especially when I stooped to shoot some ankle-level hyacinths and water running in the gutter.

When the sun flared up--we notice sunniness with special attention during the rainy months in western Oregon--I aimed at it, switched on the "useless" meter in a Why-not-give-it-one-more-chance whim--and it jumped! And since then it has been responsive in lower lighting. And though it's just a tiny match needle, there's a real response, too, when I switch on the spot meter. So there are little miracles.

This is not to say I don't want to hear from others with experience/suggestions for when a TLS 401 meter conks. If it woke up unexpectedly, it may conk out just as suddenly.