Nikon F - "Apollo" Tune-Up.

Brothers...

Here is an image of NASA's Apollo which was rated for lunar orbit.

I have a question for ic-racer, since shutterfinger is no longer active apparently. You seem to be the new resident expert on the F and F2 models. I've been experimenting with my new $46 ebay tester, which was not even meant for focal plane shutters. In fact i don't see how a single sensor tester could possibly be of much use on a 35mm focal plane shutter camera. But that sidetracks my more important question. you've tested a good many shutters before. My mint condition F2 tests out quite well up to 1/250 quite well. After that I'm getting 1/335 and 1/740 respectively for the 500 and 1000 speeds. The 2000 speed checks out at 1/450 which meas nothing. I'll never use i anyway. So my question is: is it safe to assume that my 250 and 500 readings would be in line with what would be expected for a 1973 F2 in excellent condition that has never been serviced? My Three F models check out a good bit more disappointing. Thank you.

Paul Howell said:

Here is an image of NASA's Apollo which was rated for lunar orbit.

View attachment 394586

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That's the one for me!

ic-racer said:

Ok. So this one has shutter speeds all messed up. There is an orderly method depending on speeds above the X synch speed or below.

Above X-synch the speeds are controlled by curtain timing which varies slit width. Below X synch the escapement times the shutter. The escapement; usually 3 or 4 steps both with and without the pallet (which slows it considerably) giving a total of 6 to 8 slow speeds.

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I recently acquired a well-used F + lens at a local camera show. The shutter clearly operated, but on a brief test of it, 1/8 and 1/15 were really slow, like 3 stops slow. 1-1/4 were fine and the faster speeds were decent. Yes, that meant that 1/8 and 1/15 were slower than 1/4. I think that 1/8 and 1/15 are governed by a slightly different mechanism of the slow speed governor (I think that's what you refer to about engaging the pallet or not). I opened up the bottom cover of the body and it didn't seem dirty (I don't think you can really see the slow speed governor from there), so I blew on it, gave it a stern glare, and closed it back up. After exercising the shutter through many speeds and firings, the 1/8 and 1/15 are almost up to speed. The rest of the speeds are within 1/3 stop.

OTOH, my first F that I've had since 1985 - so it hasn't been abused, or serviced, for several decades - has speeds that are dead-on today using a photoplug-type tester. I got it because I wanted a reliable SLR after my first one broke. Unlike a lot of things I do, that worked out.

ic-racer said:

Pre, the shutter speeds are all slow. 1 sec is about 1.5 sec and 1/1000 was about 1/350

Pre, the opening curtain was 15.2ms and the closing curtain was 19.96ms. Both should be 14.5ms.

After setting the curtain speeds (14.3ms/14.48ms*), the rest of the speeds fell in line.


*Curtain times a tad fast, but I don't have all day. I wanted to get out and shoot some film. Each time one curtain is adjusted all the speeds get messed up until the other curtan is adjusted.

1000	-0.1
500	-0.1
250	-0.3
125	-0.1
60	0
30	0
15	0
8	-0.2
4	-0.1
2	-0.1
1	-0.2

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Checking in from my post that you replied to, did you clean and lube the pivots prior to adjusting the curtain speeds? Did you need to adjust any of the eccentric screws?