Help with my FM

mrred · May 12, 2012

I just picked up a new to me Nikon FM, which looks pristene. Put in two A76 cells and slapped a AF 85 1.8 d lens on it. Indecates the FStop in the viewfinder and LED lights on the '-' in the right side of viewfinder....all good to go...

The light meter never changes, even when pointed directly into the light. I have gone through my wide collection of lens and even tried some with stopped-down modes. No go.

Is it busted, or do I have to do something I don't know about?

CGW · May 12, 2012

mrred said:
I just picked up a new to me Nikon FM, which looks pristene. Put in two A76 cells and slapped a AF 85 1.8 d lens on it. Indecates the FStop in the viewfinder and LED lights on the '-' in the right side of viewfinder....all good to go...

The light meter never changes, even when pointed directly into the light. I have gone through my wide collection of lens and even tried some with stopped-down modes. No go.

Is it busted, or do I have to do something I don't know about?

Is the flip-up Ai tab down and engaged with the notch on the aperture ring?

http://mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/nikonfmseries/fm/basic.htm

Scroll down to Step #3.

Get the smoke out of the subway yet?

Newt_on_Swings · May 12, 2012

Check with silver oxide batteries instead of alkaline. Also check your iso/ Asa dial and make sure it's not set super low. Then take off the lens and check inside to see if there is dirt or dust obstructing the meter cell.

The aperture shows because of the viewing window, it's not a key indicator for electrical operation.

mrred · May 12, 2012

CGW said:
Is the flip-up Ai tab down and engaged with the notch on the aperture ring?

http://mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/nikonfmseries/fm/basic.htm

Scroll down to Step #3.

Get the smoke out of the subway yet?

This looks like I was doing everything right.

There actually was not that much smoke. They just have to shut things down to verify..... Just a PIA so far. No public support for the cause must confuse these little children. There will be a bounty soon on students...

mrred · May 12, 2012

Newt_on_Swings said:
The aperture shows because of the viewing window, it's not a key indicator for electrical operation.

It does indecate that the lens was mounted correctly, which was the only point I was trying to make.

Gadfly_71 · May 12, 2012

Dumb question...

Did you remember to cock the film advance lever? The FM and the FE (and others) "turn on" by cocking the advance lever about 30 degrees. Are you seeing any LEDs light up in the viewfinder when you turn the camera on? Did you check to make sure that the batteries were installed correctly, that they are good and that they are making good contact?

CGW · May 12, 2012

Any meter activity when you stop down and hit the DOF thingy? Suspect the Ai ring that turns with aperture changes isn't talking to the meter. If you're seeing LEDs, there's not a power/battery issue.

BobD · May 12, 2012

Did you turn on the meter by pulling out the film advance lever?

mrred · May 12, 2012

Gadfly_71 said:
Dumb question...

Did you remember to cock the film advance lever? The FM and the FE (and others) "turn on" by cocking the advance lever about 30 degrees. Are you seeing any LEDs light up in the viewfinder when you turn the camera on? Did you check to make sure that the batteries were installed correctly, that they are good and that they are making good contact?

mrred said:
and LED lights on the '-' in the right side of viewfinder

It was on.

mrred · May 12, 2012

BobD said:
Did you turn on the meter by pulling out the film advance lever?

See above.

Chan Tran · May 12, 2012

I think your FM is busted. The sensor seems to receive no light. Try to set the camera at a reasonable EV i.e. ISO100, f/5.6 @ 1/125. If the FM is set at an EV value that is out of the meter measuring range it would display only the minus sign no matter what.

eggsovereasy · May 14, 2012

I've not used an FM, but my F3's meter won't do anything until I advance to frame 1

jochen · May 15, 2012

Hello,
there were two versions of the FM, the early version had a coaxial switch around the trigger and the later version didn't. This switch was two change between normal action and the MD-11 or MD-12 motor drive. Could it be that this switch is set to "Motor Drive", I think it was ared dot?

mrred · May 15, 2012

You are correct and it also prevents you from fireing when a motor drive is attached. Suffice to say this is not the problem.

Help with my FM

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency