• Welcome to Photrio!
    Registration is fast and free. Join today to unlock search, see fewer ads, and access all forum features.
    Click here to sign up

F100 Diopter Adjustment decoupled from a lens inside

tkamiya

Member
Allowing Ads
Joined
Oct 3, 2009
Messages
4,284
Location
Central Flor
Format
Multi Format
My Nikon F100 has a diopter adjustment knob right next to the view finder. Nikon kindly says, in the manual, DO NOT poke your eyes adjusting it. Yes, I was careful and did not poke my eyes as Nikon feared. But, I also found out, as I pulled it and turned it (like I'm supposed to), nothing changed. I screwed a round protective glass out then watched a rectangular lens inside. As I turned the knob, it did not move. In comparison, doing the same on my second F100, I can clearly see a piece of glass move forward and backward.

Obviously, that lens decoupled itself from the shaft attached to the adjustment knob. Does anyone know how EXACTLY these things attach to each other? I intend to send it to Nikon for repair but I'm curious what is actually broken. This body was sitting in my closet for about 8 months unused, and last time I used it, it worked. So I know nothing was forced. It seems something "just fell off....."

Now, I have two F100 that needs repair. This one, and my second one with intermittent exposure mode adjustment knob. Grrrr....
 
Under the cap with plus minus on it, there is a little screw. If the screw comes undone, there's nothing to hold the knob to the adjustment mechanism. If there was an easy way to get that little cap off, you should be able to screw it all back together.

When I bought my F100, I was choosing between three of them, and one of the samples had this problem. On that one, the knob came all the way off, and so it would have been easy to pop the cap from the backside.

I wonder if you gently keep turning the knob counterclockwise, if the little screw will completely come out, and you can fix it quickly yourself.

Get it fixed before May, because I wrote Nikon about when they would suspend service coverage, and they said until May 2015. I will be sending mine in for a CLA in the springtime.

J.

Postscript: Mine has a wonky meter switch too. I sat watching a movie and rocked it back and forth for an hour. Works ok now and is only a little prone to stay in matrix when I pick center weighted. The defect saved me $80 on the camera though, so that money will go to the CLA.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Ah the diopter bit - I am finding that mine doesnt seem to work right either - thats a pain!
Is there anyway to get it right without sending for an expensive CLA?
 
This may be of some help. Some pictures from the parts list.
 
THANK YOU!
 
On careful VISUAL inspection, it appears my know IS coupled to the shaft securely. So I presumed the issue is the connection between the shaft and the mirror. My local repair person says there are cheap plastic gears there and they often crack. Since he can't buy the parts, he refereed me to Nikon itself.

Sent the camera in and the repair quote was $200.

I OK'd it since I like this camera and they will clean and adjust as well. The job is now on hold for parts.
 
That's about what they quoted me for a plain CLA.

Totally worth it to keep a machine like that in action for a few more years.

J.
 
That's what I thought. I'll have a freshly looked at and fully functional F100. My spare body failed two, so both of them went. Ouch... $450 repair (with shipping and all that)
 
Keeping the F100s running is better than trying to save up for an F6.

I figure when mine dies, the F6 might be affordable on the used market.

Ever think we might see an F7?

J.
 
F7? Probably not....

To me, F100 is best combination of feature and size. F5 is too big and heavy. F6 is too much money. I have to have two identical one for each of my usual lens. Only reason I might get F6 is because it works with current line of flashes, which I have two of.

I hope my bodies come back soon. Last time I checked, it was in-shop, waiting for parts status.
 
The F5 and F6 are heavy but more much robust and meant for professional use. I believe there will never be an F7, Nikon don't even accept film photographs to be entered in their photographic competitions these days.
 
Nikon India site has film cameras -f6, fm10 listed for sale (with price/warranty info). Their support rep doesn't even know what those are and said 'we neither sell not service them'.
Have checked with their service centers too!

Sent from Tap-a-talk
 
Yep, Nikon india has pretty much thesame listing including price Info - pricing close to 1200 pounds, I think.
But given their indifference to it, might as well Buy a Bessa!

Sent from Tap-a-talk
 
My two F-100s just came back from NIKON. All I can say is WOW.... In addition to my concerns addressed, they calibrated and cleaned the cameras. One had sticky back, so the rubber covering was replaced. They both pretty much look brand new. I don't know what they use to clean the body but the results far exceeded my expectations.

In case anyone is wondering, cost involved were about $220 each.
 
I was hesitant at first to spend $220+ on a camera body I spent less initially. I believe I bought one of them for $175 with a grip and the other for $200 (came like new in factory box). But I did anyway because good to great one in used market is becoming hard to find now.

Yes, it is worth doing it. I have not tested it yet, but I have no doubt they will perform as new. There weren't a spec of dust anywhere, including the mirrors. An only way to tell one of them isn't new is there is a circular cleaning mark on the view finder glass. This is truly a WOW result. If I had to, I will definitely do it again.

By the way, this isn't a true CLA. I don't think technicians took everything apart, cleaned, and oiled everything. This is a repair, clean, and adjust.
 
I am more or less veering to have one done - only problem is that I probably will have to send it internationally... that is a pain!
 
I'm quite surprised you can't have it done locally.... especially in India.
 
Nikon doesn't do it. So I don't want to 'try' others. Not with a camera that includes this much electronics. I had started a topic regarding this and feasibility of repairs (I think in the 35mm sub-forum itself)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register