Early Nikon FM and motor drive MD-12

[Chan Tran]

When using the MD-12 with Nikon FM serial number less than 300000 (the one with the locking collar around the shutter release button) if you don't set it in the lock position with the red line the motor will malfunction. I can't get it back to working until I mount the MD-12 on a camera serial number greater than 300000. I can't figure it out how to get it back to working if I don't have a new version of the FM. Anyone knows how?

 

[reddesert]

I don't know the answer to this, however I offer that sometimes problems with the FM / FE and MD-11 or -12 are due to the camera and drive being in a intermediate or undetermined state, and can be resolved by procedures like: switch MD off but leave it attached, wind the camera with the wind lever, fire it with the body release, switch MD on.

 

[Chuck1]

This is kind of related:
If I wanted to use an md12 with no batteries (as a grip) would I be damaging the camera ( and a little less critical,would I be damaging the drive)?

 

[Chan Tran]

This is kind of related:
If I wanted to use an md12 with no batteries (as a grip) would I be damaging the camera ( and a little less critical,would I be damaging the drive)?

No but there is a problem. If you want to use the MD-12 as a grip and not turning on the MD-12 (of course it makes no difference whether you turning it on of off because you don't have batteries in the MD-12) you have to release the shutter with the camera shutter release button not the button on the MD-12. You also have to pull out the film advance crank to tun on the meter. Try it, to me it's ergonomically terrible. Personally I wouldn't do that because holding the camera with the MD-12 is a lot more difficult than with the FM alone.