Nikon F100 - LCD illuminator repair?

[Yashica]

Hi,

After not using my F100 for about 2 years, I noticed 2-3 days ago that the LCD light no longer works. Otherwise my F100 continues to work perfectly. Is this worth repairing - and if so, how much will it cost me?

Greetings

 

[koraks]

You mention the "LCD light". I assume you refer to the little light that improves readability under low light conditions of the LCD on the top right of the camera.

You'd first have to find someone who's willing and capable of working on these cameras. The question will then be what the exact nature of the defect is; i.e. is it a simple case of a small incandescent bulb replacement (assuming that a replacement part can be sourced), or is the cause more complex and will require additional troubleshooting?

Whether a repair is 'worth it' is of course very subjective. I would expect that anyone who works on these cameras (semi-)professionally will charge €100 at the very least, depending on the time needed to troubleshoot and fix the problem. If the camera works fine otherwise, I personally would hesitate to try and get this fixed. How often do you use the LCD illumination in the first place? I.e. how much does this defect really affect the functional value of the camera?

 

[Andreas Thaler]

Hi,

After not using my F100 for about 2 years, I noticed 2-3 days ago that the LCD light no longer works. Otherwise my F100 continues to work perfectly. Is this worth repairing - and if so, how much will it cost me?

Greetings

If you attempt a repair yourself, it won't cost you anything.

There's a possibility of a contact fault or the component is defective.

The former should have a chance of being fixed, the latter only if you get the replacement part from another F100.

For DIY, there's the Nikon Service Manual and - presumably the last copy available in the world - the L. L. Service Guide for the F100 by Larry Lyells. Fully illustrated in color, the best you can get:

Nikon 100: Series 4, Issue 3 Larry Lyell's Service Guide, 2001

Nikon 100: Series 4, Issue 3 Larry Lyell's Service Guide, 2001

www.camerabooks.com

 

[Yashica]

Thanks guys, i think i leave it as it is. After 25 years...its ok. The F100 wasn't up to "professional" standards, for my taste,
in terms of - 1) detoriating adheasive, sticky film back door, rubber leatherette 2) film rewind fork broke under torque,
due to material (plastic) fatique. 3) Same goes for the plastic latches, which holds the film door - it can also break, due
to material fatique, again.

The F90(x,s) never had these F100 issues...before. Rewind film fork metal, film door metal latches...and the LCD light still works
bright, like on the day i've bought it. My copy also was never getting sticky, like the film door from my F100.

 

[koraks]

I can't really comment other than that last year I purchased a second hand F90x and gifted it to the young woman who photographed our wedding. I took that camera for a spin to verify everything worked and I thought it was absolutely lovely.

 

[Yashica]

I can't really comment other than that last year I purchased a second hand F90x and gifted it to the young woman who photographed our wedding. I took that camera for a spin to verify everything worked and I thought it was absolutely lovely.

The F90(s,x) does have other issues - that matte black color over the whole body, especially the film door back, is also detoriating. Not on the rubber grip, but everywhere else. One can rub this off with a clean cloth and alcohol/isopropanol...but then, the printed symbols are gone, wiped off, and the film door becomes shiny plastic, which is a scratch and finger-prints magnet. Other than this cosmetically, it never failed me.

It does have only one center AF point, like the F4, F60, etc...but it's alright.

 

[choiliefan]

"For DIY, there's the Nikon Service Manual and - presumably the last copy available in the world - the L. L. Service Guide for the F100 by Larry Lyells. Fully illustrated in color, the best you can get"

I have a copy of this service guide. It helped me repair an issue with my viewfinder lens.
Sumptuously illustrated. Its the best service manual I've ever seen. Found mine on ebay a few years ago for $6.

 

[Andreas Thaler]

I have a copy of this service guide. It helped me repair an issue with my viewfinder lens.
Sumptuously illustrated. Its the best service manual I've ever seen. Found mine on ebay a few years ago for $6.

Wherever Larry Lyells is written on it, grab it immediately

 

[Acere]

Thanks guys, i think i leave it as it is.

The right choice!

 

[PurpleCat]

Hi,

After not using my F100 for about 2 years, I noticed 2-3 days ago that the LCD light no longer works. Otherwise my F100 continues to work perfectly. Is this worth repairing - and if so, how much will it cost me?

Greetings

Is it the top LCD or the internal one? Chances are the LCD backlight somewhere failed. It's going to be easier if it's the top one and not the inner LCD.

Given it's an EL backlight, you're going to have to take the camera apart and screen apart to replace the EL backlight, along with measuring the driver circuitry to see if it's putting out voltage. It's been done before with other devices, but keep in mind with a camera you're going to be working on something a lot tighter and more fragile than say, a radio or meter with a bad backlight. If you can live with it, it might be better to "let it be".

 

[koraks]

Given it's an EL backlight

I didn't realize this; it complicates matters a bit. But it also makes failure of the HV DC-DC converter a likely cause.

If you can live with it, it might be better to "let it be".

I would expect that's the most realistic option at this point.

 

[Yashica]

@PurpleCat It's the LCD top backlight.

Update - i called nps germany today. They suggest, that the switch for the on/off/backlit feature is somehow broken. Because i told them - with CSM 17 - 1 the LCD panel is backlit all the time - any keypress would just for the moment of touch disable it, then light all the way. The two button reset - i did it 5-times, no change of that issue.

My other two F100's are different. Its off, then any button activates it. Also, when i hit the switch to the blacklit symbol - backlight goes on.

So perhaps there's just a bit via the internal F100 firmare being inverted, i guess? Or some connector, capacitor issue might be...nikon told me,
that they don't have any active service tech guys for the F100 anymore...of course, these ppl are retired now...the F100 came out into 1999 -
i remember that time very well...

So, i just use this F100 as it is, as my daily driver F100, when i'd need the F100. Even it does look like mint, 95% new..no scratches, dings or dents, all features besides the backlit, works as it should be, flawlessly. Hopefully for a long time to come...honestly, this F100 doesn't see more than perhaps <2-5 rolls per year...sometimes a roll (b/w) inside for ages - until it's finished, yes, and then i always pull out the batteries, for storage. This F100 wasn't used the last 2 years...so the milage on this shutter is very low.