Nikon F woes

Austerby

Member
Joined
Dec 22, 2007
Messages
7
Location
London
Format
35mm RF
I've just received a 644xxxx Nikon F this morning from a respected US seller who described the camera as condition 10 mechanically, but when taken out of the box I can't seem to get it to function properly.

The symptons are:
a) shutter not firing
b) mirror is locked up and won't come down
c) wind-on is locked and can't advance
d) the marker on the shutter speed dial is at 4pm, not 7pm

Is this a case of user error or mechanical malfunction? I have checked the Nikon F manual online but it doesn't give much help.

Thanks for your thoughts.
 

Rol_Lei Nut

Member
Joined
Jul 2, 2006
Messages
1,108
Location
Hamburg
Format
Multi Format
Either the mirror lock up is on *and* there is a roll of film inside which has reached its end or it's broken....

(Maybe check for film fragments or other material blocking the advance sprockets)
 

Rick A

Subscriber
Joined
Mar 31, 2009
Messages
9,932
Location
Laurel Highlands
Format
8x10 Format
Contact the seller immediatly, see if he has any suggestions.
 

Les Sarile

Member
Joined
Aug 7, 2010
Messages
3,425
Location
Santa Cruz, CA
Format
35mm
You can check if there is film that has reached it's end by turning the rewind crank. If it turns freely then no film.

The sequence is the A-R selector - ring around the shutter, set to A, shutter is advanced, mirror goes up and you're at the point to fire the shutter. At this point, if you move the selector to R, it will release the shutter but mirror still stays up. Set the ring back to A - mirror is still up, and you can advance the shutter again to get it back in the ready to fire point.
 
OP
OP

Austerby

Member
Joined
Dec 22, 2007
Messages
7
Location
London
Format
35mm RF
NormanV said:
You could also check for a film by opening the back.
Click to expand...

There is no film in the camera and I have checked for stray remnants interfering with the mechanism.

I have contacted the vendor, but I'd rather get it sorted if I can than return it.

Any more ideas?
 

Rol_Lei Nut

Member
Joined
Jul 2, 2006
Messages
1,108
Location
Hamburg
Format
Multi Format
Another possibility: if the mirror damping foam has turned to mush, the mirror may have stuck to it...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn more…