FM2 repairs - how tricky is this to fix?

jgcull · Jan 31, 2009

The indexing ring was evidently gunked up and wouldn't turn. I could tell from the last couple rolls of film the meter also wasn't working properly. I sent it off for repairs and when I spoke with the technician he said he was having trouble getting the meter to work right. It was supposed to be fixed, and they sent it back to me.

The meter isn't working, so I've sent it back to them again. This is looking troubling to me. I've probably paid about what it would've cost to buy one 2nd hand, but I paid for the repair instead.

Have any of you had similar issues? I'm getting a bit nervous about this, and hoping I've not just spent money on something that's not going to be right for the long term.

Thanks.

Janet

jgcull · Feb 16, 2009

bump

I called them today and they're still working on it. The meter isn't fixed yet, but they hope they can fix it. ???

snegron · Feb 18, 2009

What did they say was wrong with the meter?

jgcull · Feb 18, 2009

They didn't say, but when I point it into bright light the needle doesn't move. When they had it the first time I was told he was having trouble getting it to keep working. Then they said it was fixed, and returned it to me but it still wasn't working. I sent it back again. I called yesterday and all he said is that "he's working on it". The first thing I noticed wrong was that the indexing ring was stuck. I couldn't easily (or really at all) turn the aperture ring. I suspected the meter also wasn't working right because I'd had 2 rolls of poorly exposed film.

I wish I'd known the fix was going to be complicated. For what I've paid I could have bought a used body, but here we are. Hopefully it *can* be fixed.

Janet

Chan Tran · Feb 18, 2009

There is no needle in the FM2

snegron · Feb 18, 2009

I would be curious to know what they find is wrong with the meter; the cells no longer working; a circuitry problem, etc? Is this a repair shop you have used in the past?

p.s. Chan is right, the FM2 has no needle; it has red LED symblos that light up in the right-hand side of the viewfinder.

jgcull · Feb 18, 2009

Um... maybe it's a + and - sign? I think I mixed it up with the Nikon FG. Anyway, it isn't working. Yes, I've used these people before. In fact, I send it home to Florida rather than going down the road to Charlotte because I've used them for a long time.

jgcull · Feb 20, 2009

I got the word this afternoon that the meter is working, but now the flash isn't. I told him it doesn't matter about the flash. I never use flash with that camera, so if the meter is working that's good enough for me. I hope the meter is working correctly. ~sigh~ I'm sort of sorry I spent the money to have it fixed now. Maybe it will be alright.

snegron · Feb 20, 2009

jgcull said:
I got the word this afternoon that the meter is working, but now the flash isn't. I told him it doesn't matter about the flash. I never use flash with that camera, so if the meter is working that's good enough for me. I hope the meter is working correctly. ~sigh~ I'm sort of sorry I spent the money to have it fixed now. Maybe it will be alright.

I'm no camera repair expert, but my guess is that there was something wrong with the circuitry in the viewfinder (between the hot shoe and the tiny circuit boards in the viewfinder that control the meter display). You might be able to use a flash if you connect it with a small cord to the PC socket. A flash like the Vivitar 285HV comes with a small PC cable that connects to the camera. Many flashes have similar cables.

On another note, shouldn't the camera repair shop be giving you a completely repaired camera? If the hot shoe was working before you sent it to them, I would let them know that I would expect them to fix it; especially if you have spent a considerable amount of money on it!

johnnywalker · Feb 21, 2009

I went through sort of the same thing with my F80. Sent it to Nikon for repairs and a clean-up, and the cost was more than a good one on ebay. However, I'm glad I did it. I know it's in good shape now, and wouldn't know that about strange cameras I've never seen.

jgcull · Feb 21, 2009

>>>If the hot shoe was working before you sent it to them, I would let them know<<<

I don't know if it worked before because I've never used flash with that body. You're right, though. It would be nice to have it all working, but this meter issue seems so iffy that if they've got that working I almost feel like it's a "just give it to me and don't touch it" thing. If I need flash I use either the Hassy or a different Nikon body. The original problem seemed to start with some kind of gunk getting in the indexing ring, which prevented me from being able to move the aperture ring. At the same time I noticed my exposures were off and realized the meter wasn't working right. After I got the camera back, my favorite lens wouldn't work with it either, and I had not sent it down initially on the camera but had a cheaper lens attached. I sent the good lens back with the camera and they cleaned it up as a courtesy, which I really appreciate! I guess whatever gunk was messing up the camera also got into the lens.

If it ends up needing repairs (the camera) again anytime soon, I'll just get another. Actually, a very kind man *gave* me this camera a couple years ago. Still I don't like spending a chunk of money for something that isn't really fixed. Hopefully the meter is! If so, I'm satisfied.

Thanks for all your comments.

Chan Tran · Feb 21, 2009

If he can take the camera apart and but it together than fixing the flash should be easy.

John Koehrer · Feb 21, 2009

The hot shoe connects to the flash switch by a wire that runs from the "hot" pin to the PC socket.
It's completely mechanical.
Does flash work at the PC? If it does.....continue on.
There is a safety switch in the hot shoe which is operated by inserting the flash into the shoe. It's under the spring in the shoe which lifts off from the front. You can remove it with a pair of tweezers, lift the front edge up & push to the rear of the camera.
Once you have the spring off, you should be able to see a small black pin on the wind side of the shoe, where spring was removed. If it's not there, the shoe won't work and to install it the top cover must be removed to install it.

Strokebloke · Feb 21, 2009

Janet, if you do decide to look for a flash for your FM2, consider looking at a Vivitar 283 instead of the 285HV. It will do exactly the same thing, is slightly smaller [less top-heavy on the hot-shoe] has a sync lead just the same as the 285HV, but most importantly, can be picked up on eBay for £15-20 less than the 285HV.
Hope it all works out for you. It sounds as if you've had a bit of a rough ride, with your repairer.
All the best,
Jack

Vonder · Feb 21, 2009

I'm in a similar boat. I recently sent my Konica FT-1 in for a CLA and for $106 total, I expected the C and L and A parts to be done equally well. Well, he replaced the light seals like an amatuer, including one spot where the foam was actually twisted, and he didn't clean the camera at all. He did properly calibrate the meter, which was what I sent it to him for, but sheesh... a guy with his reputation... I expected better.

Especially, as has been said, when you can get a good condition used one on eBay for less.

In your case though, I'd not let them get by with busting the hot shoe. Make them fix it if it was working beforehand. You can get a handheld meter to replace a wonky meter, but no flash means no flash.

jgcull · Feb 25, 2009

I got my camera back and the meter works. Makes me happy!

(Don't ask about the flash. I really, really don't care. In fact, I don't even know if it worked before. I've never used it on this camera.)

Strokebloke · Feb 25, 2009

jgcull said:
I got my camera back and the meter works. Makes me happy! ..... about the flash. I really, really don't care.

I'm really pleased for you, that you got your camera back Janet. Use it for a while & enjoy having the metering operating correctly. [I've got an FM2n - great camera] Maybe sometime in the future, when the memory of recent days has dissipated into a wry smile, consider getting the hot-shoe fixed. Although with a sync lead and a good stand, sometimes a remote flash is a better proposition in a set-up situation. No hot-shoe restricts you though, when you want fill-flash on the spur of the moment.

Regards,
Jack

Click to expand...

nicefor88 · May 3, 2009

I think the meter problem should be circuitry, quite sure about this. I had a similar problem with FM2. Are you the first owner?
Did you use the flash on this body before you sent it to the repair shop the very first time?
The fact that they had trouble fixing the meter puzzles me, it's quite easy to fix a meter on a FM/FM2.
If the circuitry is indeed the culprit then the camera might have been in contact with water (if salty water things will only get worse with time as salt is going to attack further metallic parts, contacts, etc).
Gee, I hope it's not that.
Good luck!

jgcull · May 3, 2009

88, no, I am not the first owner. Actually, it was given to me. No water problems that I know of. I've had it a couple years I think. It's working well now. Thanks for commenting. I've never used the flash, though knowing who it came from I'd assume it worked before.

FM2 repairs - how tricky is this to fix?

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