Nikon AF F 601 flash problem

Kirk Coleman · Jan 2, 2012

Hi Gang,
Although I shoot available light most of the time I though I would try out the fill flash option on my F 601. I have used it in the past and it worked. The problem I have now run into is in low light conditions, when the flash LED in the viewfinder blinks and I pop up the built in flash it won't charge (no LED in the viewfinder ) and the sutter won't release. If I put the flash back down the LED blinks again and the the shutter will release. I have reset all the settings to the basic mode with the TTL fill flash turned on, changed the battery, tried a different lens (although I don't think that should make a difference) but nothing seems to work. I did read that sometimes the condenser gives up the ghost but don't know how to check that. Anyone out there have any suggestions?
Thanks, Kirk

MFstooges · Jan 2, 2012

Does it pop on manual mode ?

Kirk Coleman · Jan 2, 2012

MFstooges said:
Does it pop on manual mode ?

Unfortunatly no, I shoot manual all the time and that is where I first discovered the problem. I thought perhaps I had accidently turned something off so I reset the camera to all it's default settings.
Kirk

LunoLuno · Jan 2, 2012

My F-601 has excatly the same symptom as yours. Sounds like the condenser has given up. With my 601, the battery came to run out very quickly. It lasts for about three or four rolls after the condenser's gone.

Kirk Coleman · Jan 2, 2012

LunoLuno said:
My F-601 has excatly the same symptom as yours. Sounds like the condenser has given up. With my 601, the battery came to run out very quickly. It lasts for about three or four rolls after the condenser's gone.

Hi LunoLuno,
I will keep an eye on the battery life and see how that holds out. Have you tried to get yours fixed and if so what was the cost?
Thanks Kirk

MFstooges · Jan 3, 2012

Mine was dead after years of usage, I guess the built in flash in this type isn't built to last. I forgot how much to fix it but I didn't really care since I have a SB-23. You can do the same and buy a used speedlight, it's more powerful and probably cost less.

Kirk Coleman · Jan 3, 2012

MFstooges said:
Mine was dead after years of usage, I guess the built in flash in this type isn't built to last. I forgot how much to fix it but I didn't really care since I have a SB-23. You can do the same and buy a used speedlight, it's more powerful and probably cost less.

Hi MFstooges,
You are right; buying a Speedlight is a possibility. In fact the reason I was once again using the flash was because I was thinking of using it as the trigger for an off camera Speedlight. I wanted to avoid using a cord as well as the cost of radio triggers. I have sent an email describing the problem I am having to a camera repair shop in a city close to me (the closest that I know of) and hope to get a reply about the likelihood of it being a condenser problem as well as a quote to fix it. I guess I should also start looking for a Speedlight as well. For the most part I shoot portraits in available light, from your experience would the SB-23 be a good choice for this use or would you suggest something else?
Thanks, Kirk

MFstooges · Jan 3, 2012

I used it as on camera flash, it works well with the matrix metering and the fill in feature. It also fit my budget and has 2 seconds recycling time. But you can't alter the manual output as far as I remember, so if you can find its big brother, SB24, in decent price that would be better.

Kirk Coleman · Jan 3, 2012

MFstooges said:
I used it as on camera flash, it works well with the matrix metering and the fill in feature. It also fit my budget and has 2 seconds recycling time. But you can't alter the manual output as far as I remember, so if you can find its big brother, SB24, in decent price that would be better.

I have started to check the used offerings in my area for speedlights but I think I will wait until I hear back from the repair shop before making a decision. Thanks for the info.
Kirk

LunoLuno · Jan 3, 2012

Kirk Coleman said:
Hi LunoLuno,
I will keep an eye on the battery life and see how that holds out. Have you tried to get yours fixed and if so what was the cost?
Thanks Kirk

I didn't fix mine as I knew it would cost around 15,000yen ($175). That was the repair charge in 2006 when Nikon officially ended the repair service of their F-601. If the F601 had been a very special camera for me, I would have fixed it, but it was not the one; The avarage price for a F-601 in the second hand market had already become around 1,000-2,000yen ($12.50-$25.00) then, so it was much cheeper to get another sample.

Kirk Coleman · Jan 3, 2012

Just a quick note to update this thread. I got a reply from the camera repairman who said he had "never come across a condenser that had died". He also said that until he could actualy look at the camera there was no way for him to tell exactly what might be wrong. As I have two other Nikon bodies I think I will spend the $25 Canadian for him to have a look at it and give me a quote on the cost of repairs. This will have to wait until I next head to Victoria ( the city near me with a repair shop).
Unless anyone else has any ideas about what might be wrong with the F 601 I think I will continue to look for used Speedlights and call this done for now.
Thanks to all of you for your suggestions.
Kirk

John Koehrer · Jan 4, 2012

FWIW There are dead caps. but to be fair, the trigger coil or even the flash tube could croak. Cold solder joint, several different things and they can't be diagnosed from outside the camera

Kirk Coleman · Jan 4, 2012

Hi John,
I agree with you, there are many different possibilities that can't be checked (by me anyway) without taking the camera in. I just wanted to make sure that I haden't missed anything foolish like not popping up the flash head.
Kirk

Nikon AF F 601 flash problem

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