Nikon f100 has gone dead.

analoguey · Jul 23, 2015

I got an f100 a while ago and it was quite familiar to use (read - not much different from my digital cameras). I shot about a dozen rolls on it - one can go through rolls * really* quickly on it! Then, I thought I should try my other manual cameras, and held off for a while (about a month or so). Tried using the camera again but it wouldn't start. Thought maybe it was a battery problem, so swapped in newly charged AA pack(I have the battery grip) but no go! Tried regular aa cells, nada there either.

Has anyone else had this happen to them?

zanxion72 · Jul 23, 2015

Have you tried it without the battery grip? Look for corrosion on the terminals, rub them with a pencil having a rubber eraser at one end.

Russ - SVP · Jul 23, 2015

A Q-Tip moistened with white vinegar is very effective against battery corrosion. It has revived many "dead" cameras for me.

Xmas · Jul 23, 2015

Dry qtip is safer.
Batteries, battery holders and camera contacts all need to be clean.
Remove lens as well, before replacing batteries.
Think there is an internal battery - the F100 is a 24 month service checkout camera.
an F2 only needs film...

analoguey · Jul 23, 2015

So yes, I had cleaned the terminals inside the grip, I now cleaned the connectors of the grip to the vsaket and this seems to be working.

Thanks Kiron Kid, Xmas and zanxion.

zanxion72 said:
Have you tried it without the battery grip? Look for corrosion on the terminals, rub them with a pencil having a rubber eraser at one end.

Couldn't try without the grip, I don't have the 'cap ' to close the battery enclosure.
Why do you say use a pencil? Cos graphite aids connectivity?

Xmas said:
Dry qtip is safer.
Batteries, battery holders and camera contacts all need to be clean.
Remove lens as well, before replacing batteries.

Hmm I used Qtip wetted w Savlon -Savlon usually dries off in its own plus no real possibility of any 'mold'while it's around.

Yes, lens off. Camera off, batteries not in grip or camera.

Xmas said:
Think there is an internal battery - the F100 is a 24 month service checkout camera.
an F2 only needs film...

Could you elaborate what you mean by 24 month service camera?
Yes, I prefer all manual cameras too but f100 with battery grip pretty nice to hold

Xmas · Jul 23, 2015

analoguey said:
Why do you say use a pencil? Cos graphite aids connectivity?
Hmm I used Qtip...
Yes, lens off. Camera off, batteries not in grip or camera.

Could you elaborate what you mean by 24 month service camera?
Yes, I prefer all manual cameras too but f100 with battery grip pretty nice to hold

Creams can have magic ingredient... The hand cream here has 1% NaOH, only for lens fungus really.
The pencil eraser is abrasive...
graphite is otherwise a good dry lubricant if the dust is not a hazard...
The user manual for the F100 calls out a 2 year check over... About page 4 or so.

gzhuang · Jul 23, 2015

Don't feel bad about it. My EOS 3 died on me after only 5 rolls!

analoguey · Jul 24, 2015

Yikes! That's bad. Thankfully, so far, the revival worked.
One (terminal) end of the battery grip though has the metal itself abraded - didn't notice that when I got the camera.
I wonder how long before I'll have to look for another on eBay. Also, the viewfinder screen's loose, so that needs fixing (this is turning out to need more upkeep than any of my other cameras!)

trythis · Jul 24, 2015

I've had to patch up my F100. The meter selector was not sticking so I fixed with tiny screws which are now visible.. That operation messes up the fragile diopter mechanism requiring another top removal and a bit of wire and tape.

Its not the most durable camera.

Typos made on a tiny phone...

gzhuang · Jul 24, 2015

trythis said:
I've had to patch up my F100. The meter selector was not sticking so I fixed with tiny screws which are now visible.. That operation messes up the fragile diopter mechanism requiring another top removal and a bit of wire and tape. Its not the most durable camera.

Is the F100 the film camera equivalent of the D600?

trythis · Jul 24, 2015

Never touched a Nikon D- anything... Not sure what you mean.

Typos made on a tiny phone...

MartinCrabtree · Jul 24, 2015

The D600 had/has issues.

I'm disappointed in the apparent fragility (compared to the F series currently owned) of the F100. After seeing a few incidents recently it's been crossed off the list for me. Oh well more $$$$ for the F6.

trythis · Jul 24, 2015

I have never seen an F6 but I would hope it is more durable internally than the F100.
Plastic moving parts, hard to repair.

Typos made on a tiny phone...

Russ - SVP · Jul 24, 2015

I've had my F100's for years. The only issue that I've had is the locking tabs on the film door, breaking off. That's why I've got three spare film doors. $40.00 new from Nikon. A one minute job to swap them out, and no tools required.

fotch · Jul 24, 2015

I use to want a F100 however, I have been spoiled by the F2, F3, and don't want to take a chance on the newer Nikons. Oh well.

Russ - SVP · Jul 25, 2015

The F100 and the newer auto-focus glass are very good and a joy to use. But, I get just as much or more enjoyment when I slap and older prime or zoom lens on the FM or FE-2 and burn a roll or few of film.

analoguey · Jul 25, 2015

MartinCrabtree said:
I'm disappointed in the apparent fragility (compared to the F series currently owned) of the F100. After seeing a few incidents recently it's been crossed off the list for me. Oh well more $$$$ for the F6.

Hmmm. Maybe I should've seen that too. So far, it doesn't seem fragile as much as needing maintenance - which I suppose is alright. Anything electronic requires more maintenance.

Even The fg20 I got required it. But with the battery grip in the F100 helps me use up way more film than I would otherwise.

Kiron Kid said:
I've had my F100's for years. The only issue that I've had is the locking tabs on the film door, breaking off. That's why I've got three spare film doors. $40.00 new Nikon. A one minute job to swap them out, and no tools required.

Guess I'll have to order a couple and then buy a couple of the battery grips. Really spoilt by it - makes the camera an ergonomic marvel.
maybe I should've got an F5/6? No budget for the f6 yet, but shooting 35mm commercially can make that viable.

MartinCrabtree · Jul 25, 2015

I must admit a bias for the F5. I'd have no problem taking it into a rough neighborhood and using it. Both for photos and self defense.

Tamara · Jul 25, 2015

MartinCrabtree said:
I must admit a bias for the F5. I'd have no problem taking it into a rough neighborhood and using it. Both for photos and self defense.

^^^That. I'm pretty sure you could use an F5 to beat a man to death, and then use it for forensic photography of the crime scene.

Sirius Glass · Jul 25, 2015

Kiron Kid said:
A Q-Tip moistened with white vinegar is very effective against battery corrosion. It has revived many "dead" cameras for me.

White vinegar is an acid. Electrical contact cleaner will do the job cleaning the contacts and not leave any residual reagents that would later cause corrosion.

Russ - SVP · Jul 26, 2015

I prefer the F-100. It can be downsized and the RED focusing patches are a huge aid in dimly lit scenes.

analoguey · Jul 26, 2015

That brings me to the question - why doesn't it have the 'low light' focusing lamp available on other Nikons - even the nikon f65 has one?

Russ - SVP · Jul 26, 2015

The higher end Nikons don't have the focusing light or onboard flash units. But the infrared focusing beams from the SB flash units work quite well when focusing in dim light.

MartinCrabtree · Jul 26, 2015

I did not know that.

vsyrek1945 · Jul 26, 2015

MartinCrabtree said:
I'm disappointed in the apparent fragility (compared to the F series currently owned) of the F100. After seeing a few incidents recently it's been crossed off the list for me. Oh well more $$$$ for the F6.

I had a bad experience a couple of years back with an online auction F100 that would up having the "Err"-m-with-bad-aperture-unit issue. At least it was a good-looking unit, so I was able to flip it as a "Parts/repair" piece and cut my losses some.

That, plus these stories make me appreciate my N90s and N8008s even more.

Nikon f100 has gone dead.

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