DP-11 Meter Issues

Ariston · Dec 30, 2020

I just received my F2 in the mail. The DP-11 meter is not responding to light. The battery check shows the battery I put in it is just fine: on top of the finder and in the finder the needles move to center.

Before I try to resolve this with the seller, I just wanted to make sure I am not missing anything. I really like the body and may keep it anyway at the price I got. The only other issue I have come across is that the front timer (2-10 seconds) is off.

BradS · Dec 30, 2020

I don't know but I can tell you from the several F2 that I have bought and sold or sent back for refund, it seems very unlikely to find a DP-1, DP-2 or D-11 that is accurate across the full range. Of the eight that have passed through my hands only one was even close and it was still off a little at low light. The DP-3 and DP-12 seem to be better....but I've only experience with two of those (one of each).

I guess what I'm trying to say is that you're not likely to find an F2 with an truely accurate DP-1, DP-2 or DP-11 meter - despite what sellers say.

logan2z · Dec 30, 2020

BradS said:
I don't know but I can tell you from the several F2 that I have bought and sold or sent back for refund, it seems very unlikely to find a DP-1, DP-2 or D-11 that is accurate across the full range. Of the eight that have passed through my hands only one was even close and it was still off a little at low light. The DP-3 and DP-12 seem to be better....but I've only experience with two of those (one of each).

I guess what I'm trying to say is that you're not likely to find an F2 with an truely accurate DP-1, DP-2 or DP-11 meter - despite what sellers say.

Good to know. I've been thinking about buying an F2 as well and might try and find one with the DE-1 prism, given what I've heard about the accuracy of the metered ones. I'm used to using a handheld meter when shooting with a meterless Leica so I don't think I'll miss the built-in meter. There do seem to be very few F2s for sale with the DE-1, however.

Sirius Glass · Dec 30, 2020

Brad pointed out his experience with the Nikon meters and I would recommend that if you find a working light meter that you then send the meter to be calibrated. When George Milton @ Quality Light Metric 7095 Hollywood Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90028 (323) 467 2265 calibrates a meter he tells you the range of accuracy and how much it deviates and where it deviates from the proper measurement so that you could correct the measurement when necessary.

CMoore · Dec 30, 2020

logan2z said:
Good to know. I've been thinking about buying an F2 as well and might try and find one with the DE-1 prism, given what I've heard about the accuracy of the metered ones. I'm used to using a handheld meter when shooting with a meterless Leica so I don't think I'll miss the built-in meter. There do seem to be very few F2s for sale with the DE-1, however.

If you use a hand-held anyway......It is not that much Bigger/Heavier...... maybe just buy a decent "Photomic" for a lot cheaper.?

Ariston · Dec 30, 2020

BradS said:
I don't know but I can tell you from the several F2 that I have bought and sold or sent back for refund, it seems very unlikely to find a DP-1, DP-2 or D-11 that is accurate across the full range. Of the eight that have passed through my hands only one was even close and it was still off a little at low light. The DP-3 and DP-12 seem to be better....but I've only experience with two of those (one of each).

I guess what I'm trying to say is that you're not likely to find an F2 with an truely accurate DP-1, DP-2 or DP-11 meter - despite what sellers say.

I hate to hear this, because I purposefully selected a metering head that uses a needle instead of the LEDs.

George Mann · Dec 30, 2020

Ariston said:
I hate to hear this, because I purposefully selected a metering head that uses a needle instead of the LEDs.

CDS cells can either be calibrated for reasonable accuracy in good light, or useable accuracy in low light, but not both.

dynachrome · Dec 31, 2020

You might want to contact Sover Wong.

Ariston · Dec 31, 2020

dynachrome said:
You might want to contact Sover Wong.

I would love to be able to send in the whole body to Sover - but that's too rich for my blood right now. Maybe later down the road. I will pop a prism finder on it for now.

jimjm · Dec 31, 2020

I just communicated with Sover last month about having my DP-11 overhauled. It's a great finder and I prefer the needle display as well, but it started getting jumpy last year, as many of these Photomic heads do eventually.
He's pretty backlogged with repairs now, and anticipates about a year's wait.

logan2z · Dec 31, 2020

Sover Wong is definitely the go-to guy for the F2. But a year-long wait and the possibility of a hefty repair bill is starting to make me reconsider an F2 purchase. I may just keep things simple and stick with my FM as my only Nikon for now.

Watching this didn't help either:

I feel like being stuck at home during the pandemic has caused my attention to wander more towards gear and less towards making pictures - not a good thing IMHO.

CMoore · Dec 31, 2020

jimjm said:
I just communicated with Sover last month about having my DP-11 overhauled. It's a great finder and I prefer the needle display as well, but it started getting jumpy last year, as many of these Photomic heads do eventually.
He's pretty backlogged with repairs now, and anticipates about a year's wait.

I sent him my pair of F2-S about 5 years ago.
The wait was "only" 3 moths and the price was a bit less than now, though still A Lot more than most people would ever pay to fix an F2.
Oh Man..... he also did an F2-A for me. Not sure what i could ever sell these for. I suppose it all depends on how big of a hurry i would be in to sell.
I would never do it again, not unless i was making big money.

The Nikon FM is a great option......... Canon, Minolta, Olympus made several worthy models that use 35mm roll film. The photos will never know the difference.

Chan Tran · Dec 31, 2020

Ariston said:
I hate to hear this, because I purposefully selected a metering head that uses a needle instead of the LEDs.

The F2 finders that used meter needle are all based on Cds cell and those are not as reliable as one based on silicon cell like the DP-3 or DP-12. Also the galvanomter movement is very fragile and can get damaged over that many years.

BradS · Jan 1, 2021

logan2z said:
Good to know. I've been thinking about buying an F2 as well and might try and find one with the DE-1 prism, given what I've heard about the accuracy of the metered ones. I'm used to using a handheld meter when shooting with a meterless Leica so I don't think I'll miss the built-in meter. There do seem to be very few F2s for sale with the DE-1, however.

All of the metered finders for the F2 show f/stop and shutter speed settings in the view finder. The DE-1 does not. For this reason, I prefer the metered finders, even if not working.

logan2z · Jan 1, 2021

BradS said:
All of the metered finders for the F2 show f/stop and shutter speed settings in the view finder. The DE-1 does not. For this reason, I prefer the metered finders, even if not working.

Ahh, I wasn't aware of that, good to know.

Chan Tran · Jan 1, 2021

BradS said:
All of the metered finders for the F2 show f/stop and shutter speed settings in the view finder. The DE-1 does not. For this reason, I prefer the metered finders, even if not working.

The DE-1 doesn't display exposure information because you would determine and set exposure before raising the camera to your eye. I hate to have a photomic finder which the meter doesn't work.

Ariston · Jan 1, 2021

I just saw on Sover's site that someone took a non-working metered finder and converted it into a prism finder. I think I am going to try something similar...

BradS · Jan 1, 2021

Ariston said:
I just saw on Sover's site that someone took a non-working metered finder and converted it into a prism finder. I think I am going to try something similar...

Eeeeek!
Perhaps contact Steven Gandy first? He’s here in Los Angeles and his turn around is significantly less than Sover’s current 14 months.

https://www.cameraquest.com/repairs.htm

CMoore · Jan 1, 2021

BradS said:
Eeeeek!
Perhaps contact Steven Gandy first? He’s here in Los Angeles and his turn around is significantly less than Sover’s current 14 months.

https://www.cameraquest.com/repairs.htm

Seems odd.
"The Pandemic" is going on 12 months.
From his page ....

CameraQuest will not be accepting new repairs during the pandemic

BradS · Jan 1, 2021

CMoore said:
Seems odd.
"The Pandemic" is going on 12 months.
From his page ....

CameraQuest will not be accepting new repairs during the pandemic

details...

but seriously, I'd give him a call.

Ariston · Jan 1, 2021

CMoore said:
Seems odd.
"The Pandemic" is going on 12 months.
From his page ....

CameraQuest will not be accepting new repairs during the pandemic

I saw this on his website, too. I enjoy customized gear. I was thinking of trying to put together a wooden top housing to fit over the base and prism. I'm not sure I have the skill.

With the price of the prism finders these days, and the failure rate of the metered finders, some enterprising nerd should 3D print that top and sell it. (I say nerd affectionately, in case anyone is offended.)

benjiboy · Jan 1, 2021

If you want to own a pro. quality SLR of that era with an accurate working TTL meter I suggest you consider buying a second hand Canon F1, because in my experience there's a hell of lot of them around with accurate light meters than Nikon F2's because the meter isn't in the prism head it's in the body and uses a beam splitter in the focusing screen to redirect the light which is a much better design that is why so many more Canon F1's are still working and giving accurate readings.

E. von Hoegh · Jan 2, 2021

George Mann said:
CDS cells can either be calibrated for reasonable accuracy in good light, or useable accuracy in low light, but not both.

This is not true.
I have: two LunaPros, an old LunaSix (which was checked over by QLM 2 years ago) a Gossen N 100, an F Ftn finder, two DP11s, two Nikkormats, several more cameras with CDS cells. All are accurate over their ranges within (at worst) a half stop.

Ariston -
From what you described, your finder may have a very simple problem, possibly just bad contacts in a switch or potentiometer. Ring resistors often come back to life after a good cleaning, also partway through production the DPII was fitted with a more durable ring resistor.
Both of mine are so fitted, and both are dead accurate. Although, one was Soverised - he cleaned contacts, & tweeked the calibration, nothing more.

Ariston · Jan 2, 2021

E. von Hoegh said:
This is not true.
I have: two LunaPros, an old LunaSix (which was checked over by QLM 2 years ago) a Gossen N 100, an F Ftn finder, two DP11s, two Nikkormats, several more cameras with CDS cells. All are accurate over their ranges within (at worst) a half stop.

Ariston -
From what you described, your finder may have a very simple problem, possibly just bad contacts in a switch or potentiometer. Ring resistors often come back to life after a good cleaning, also partway through production the DPII was fitted with a more durable ring resistor.
Both of mine are so fitted, and both are dead accurate. Although, one was Soverised - he cleaned contacts, & tweeked the calibration, nothing more.

I have not disassembled the finder, but I checked the contact from the body to the finder... which I knew that was fine anyway since the battery check worked.

As far as the resistor, I am assuming it is under the ASA selection dial. I did ratchet that back and forth a lot to see if it would clear out any gunk. Maybe I'll try to take it apart. I get a little nervous disassembling these things, but I guess I have nothing to lose. Except maybe a screw or a spring!

E. von Hoegh · Jan 2, 2021

Ariston said:
I have not disassembled the finder, but I checked the contact from the body to the finder... which I knew that was fine anyway since the battery check worked.

As far as the resistor, I am assuming it is under the ASA selection dial. I did ratchet that back and forth a lot to see if it would clear out any gunk. Maybe I'll try to take it apart. I get a little nervous disassembling these things, but I guess I have nothing to lose. Except maybe a screw or a spring!

Look around for pictures of the inside of that finder. Check in order the on-off switch, the potentiometer wipers, ring resistor.The ring thingy is big, it's above & around the prism.

DP-11 Meter Issues

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