Nikon F100 "Err"

[finn21]

Hi,

I just bought "Mint+++" Nikon F100 from ebay. The camera is really like new but with two problems:

a) the diopters knob is not functioning and the diopter correction lens is swinging back and forth in eyepiece
b) when I press depth-of-field preview button the camera is giving me "Err" message in stops responding (I have Nikkor 50mm 1.4G attached)

Could any of you help me out with the second problem? What can I do to correct this "Err" and let the camera function again.

Thanks!

Finn

 

[pentaxuser]

It doesn't sound like a "Mint +++" F100 to me. If this was the way it was described on e-bay then you would seem to have a legitimate complaint that (a) the item is not as described and (b) it is not "fit for purpose" under the sale of goods act.

I'd contact the seller and seek my money back

pentaxuser

 

[MartinCrabtree]

Yeah send it back. There's too many of them out there in good condition to get beat up with a bad sale. "ERR" message means send it to the repairman in most cases.

 

[gone]

Can't say for sure what is wrong w/ the diopter w/o seeing it, but the F100 I had would give an Err message whenever the batteries were low. Installing fresh batteries cleared the message on mine. I believe there are some posts on this on the web as well.

I am not 100% sure that a G lens can be used w/ the DOF feature, so that might be your problem. Since those lenses don't even have an aperture ring, I'll bet they have no way to do a DOF either.

I found this possible fix on your diopter. Are you pulling the knob out to set the diopter? It won't do anything by simply turning it, you have to pull it out first.

http://photo.net/nikon-camera-forum/00YZTz

 

[ic-racer]

The aperture on "G" lenses is set with a dial on the camera body. G lenses support all functions on the F100, including DOF preview. As mentioned , try fresh batteries. If still with Err then send it back.

 

[brofkand]

Hi,

I just bought "Mint+++" Nikon F100 from ebay. The camera is really like new but with two problems:

a) the diopters knob is not functioning and the diopter correction lens is swinging back and forth in eyepiece
b) when I press depth-of-field preview button the camera is giving me "Err" message in stops responding (I have Nikkor 50mm 1.4G attached)

Could any of you help me out with the second problem? What can I do to correct this "Err" and let the camera function again.

Thanks!

Finn

I had an F100 at one time that did the Err thing sporadically. I spoke to a repair tech (I forget who), who said that the motor that handles aperture stop-down is mated to a plastic gear, and over time the plastic gear strips. This is the cause of the problem.

I'd send this camera back and demand a full refund. eBay will be on your side should a dispute arise.

 

[Sirius Glass]

It could be that the batteries are low. Or the lens in not on correctly. Or that a lens switch is not in one position or another. Or there is a real problem.

If you cannot fix is easily, then return it. It does not sound like it is mint.

 

[trythis]

The diopter adjustment has a plastic pin that slides back-and-forth in a course thread screw as you turn the adjustment knob. That pin is made of plastic and could be broken. The pin is connected to the diopter lens which slides back-and-forth on stainless steel rails. The sleeve that the pin is attached to split in half on mine and I wrapped a wire around that holding it in place.

Still, its not mint, it should have been sold as for parts or repair. Return it.


Typos made on a tiny phone...

 

[MartinCrabtree]

Out of curiosity I installed a G lens on my F5 and tried the DOF button. Works fine. BTW the 18-55 kit lens goes all the way to f36. And boy is it dim on the F5 even at f5.6. Put the 50 f1.4 Ais back on and what a difference.

 

[bobwysiwyg]

I mounted a Nikon 28-80 G on my F100. No "err" stopped down to f36 with preview no problem.

 

[John Earley]

I noticed that my N80 will give the ERR message if the battery is low and I press the DOF preview or if the lens (50/1.8D or G) is not fully mounted or set to AF.

 

[MartinCrabtree]

I gotta take a couple shots at f36 just to see image quality. Just got some ND filters too.

 

[moranjr]

• 
  [*=left]E and ERR blink — Film didn’t load correctly; reload film.
  [*=left]ERR blinks — Camera detected a malfunction. Press shutter release again—if problem persists take camera to repair center.
  [*=left]ERR, ISO, and DX blinks — Non-DX coded film or incorrect DX code detected; set ISO manually.
  [*=left]From Thom Hogan's excellent website. http://www.filmbodies.com/accessories/concise-instructions/f100-concise-instructions.html

 

[tkamiya]

I had the same diopter adjustment issue with one of my F100. A respected local camera repair person said the whole assembly is cheaply made in all plastic, so it strips and breaks. He couldn't fix it as Nikon won't sell parts to him and he didn't have a donor body.

I sent it to Nikon to repair. Total cost of repair was $215, I think. At that time, I was told support for F100 will end mid this year (which is already past). After that, neither Nikon nor affiliated will repair F100. It *may* have been extended as Nikon has done this in the past.

Otherwise, if you decide to keep it, you'll have to find an independent, non affiliated repair facility with a donor body to repair your problem. I'd sent it back...

 

[bobwysiwyg]

I gotta take a couple shots at f36 just to see image quality. Just got some ND filters too.

My bad keyboarding. It was f25.