broken FE worth getting?

destroya · Jan 24, 2014

at the local thrift store they have a pretty decent conditioned FE with an Ai-s 35-105 zoom for $30. the problem is that the FE's film door release switch, you know the one with the small tab that's sits on top of the ISO switch, is broken and can't be turned. As such I can't or couldn't (didnt want to break it any more) open the film door to check out the seals and what not. would it be worth getting it anyway and trying to fix it? Playing with the shutter, it sounds very clean and seems to be working at from what i could tell close to the appropriate speeds. The seals inside the mirror box looked new

the piece could be fixed by a camera guy but i'm not sure what the cost would be. I don't need the lens and to be honest don't need the camera either. I have an FE-2 and it would be cool to add the FE to my collection but its more of a luxury than anything else. What i don't want is to pay the $30 which is real cheap and then have to pay $100 for a repair. might as well get one from KEH at that price as they have a retunr policy which the thrift shops doesn't. So any thoughts on if it can be fixed cheaply?

snapguy · Jan 24, 2014

plunger

The fact that you are asking the question makes me think you are not a plunger, not a bit of a gambler. I have bought a couple of dozen old cameras at thrift shops, etc. in the past few years and some turn out to be very nice and ready to go and others aren't worth a dime. If you think you might be able to DIY then it might be a deal. But it seems these days there are new "great deals" on film cameras right around the corner.

alienmeatsack · Jan 24, 2014

IMHO, no unless you just want the body for a collection or parts.

A working FE can be had for not much more, the repair on it would be way more then the camera itself. I priced some repair on mine and it was $85-100 USD. A working FE can be had for less, so I just put a rubber band around it to keep the back shut.

If the lens was worth something and unique or valued, you could sell it at least and make a few. But it sounds like you aren't interested in it. I'd say pass. You never know when a better one will come along that is in great shape for similar cost.

trythis · Jan 24, 2014

If you have to pay to have it fixed, no. I would buy, but I dont mind tearing a camera apart for the fun of trying to fix them.

BrianShaw · Jan 24, 2014

I don't know what a "plunger" is but I would probably buy it if it were in a thrift store near me. Does that make me a plunger?

LyleB · Jan 24, 2014

I'm NOT of the "Old camera not worth repairing, another old camera can be had for less money" ilk.

That may be true, but then you still end up with an old, dirty, out of adjustment camera, that works marginally and could fail at any time.

If you find a deal on a nice camera with one or two mechanical problems, they can probably be repaired (electronic problems more of a gamble). Send them in to a competent repair service and you get back a fully working, adjusted, cleaned, and light-tight camera that will probably be good to go for many more decades.

Even if you buy from KEH, they do not service the camera prior to selling it, they won't, even if you ask. I have had cameras service by them and they do nice work, but the cameras they sell are not serviced before the sale.

I can recommend Garry's Camera Repair. Very fair prices, excellent turn-around time, and quality work. I've had multiple cameras serviced/repaired by him and been nothing but pleased in every case.

elcabezagrande · Jan 24, 2014

If just that little tab is broken, you should still be able to turn collar that it is broken off of with a small pointy object and release the door. It looks like it would be an easy fix. You could probably even remove the whole lock without changing the functionality of the camera.

destroya · Jan 24, 2014

went back to look at it again, this time with some needle nose pliers and alas, its gone. you snooze you loose. oh well. there will always be more cameras

snapguy · Jan 24, 2014

plung

A plunger is some who plunges into the river and then finds out if it is too cold, too hot or has crocodiles in it.

thundertwin72 · Jan 24, 2014

Maybe you could have it repaired:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Original-Ni...011?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item43a623449b

Regards.

Mark Minard · Jan 24, 2014

destroya said:
went back to look at it again, this time with some needle nose pliers and alas, its gone. you snooze you loose. oh well. there will always be more cameras

There's about a million more on ebay

John_Nikon_F · Jan 25, 2014

I'd almost look at an FM or FM2/2n... Still cheap, but I've had better luck with them than the FE bodies. Every FE I've owned has either had meter issues or would intermittently fire.

-J

broken FE worth getting?

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