Nikon F2 -- 1/80 speed fires as bulb. What gives?

[mwlauf]

Hello all,

My beloved Nikon F2 has recently been exhibiting a strange behavior. When I set the camera's shutter speed dial at the sync detent, most of the time the camera acts like it is set to bulb. You push the button and the shutter opens; you release the button and the shutter closes.

Since I never use flash with the camera, I can live with this as long as it's not affecting the other speeds or overall mechanical integrity. Right now, other than the aforementioned quirk everything works as expected.

Has anyone else encountered this problem? Am I risking a catastrophe by continuing to shoot the camera without getting it fixed?

Thanks in advance,

M

 

[summicron1]

that hashmark doesn't do anything but indicate the highest shutter speed that will synch with the flash without the shutter curtain blocking off part of the frame during the flash. It shouldn't do anything else, and certainly shouldn't be holding up the second shutter curtain. Flash synch mechanisms don't work that way.

So I'd say you probably won't break the camera any more using it at other speeds, but I would wonder if those speeds are being affected by whatever is making the shutter hold up at that point.

Get it serviced.

 

[Tom1956]

There is no accuracy in that shutter at this time, you have to assume. There is a definite problem there, quite possibly related to failed lubrication.

 

[mwlauf]

Thanks for the input, guys. I'm not sure if I'll get it serviced or take the cheaper route and just buy another body (that may need service as well).

 

[Tom1956]

They all need service. May as well get the one you have working right.

 

[John Earley]

Isn't Sover Wong in GB the F2 repair/rebuild/restore guru.

 

[Ricardo Miranda]

John
Yes, he is in the UK and he is the best repairer for F2.

 

[John_Nikon_F]

Send it to Sover. When you get it back, the camera will work better than it did when it was originally sold.

http://soverf2repair.webs.com/

-J

 

[Xmas]

try 1/60 if it works you are ok unless you need flash.

 

[richard ide]

Flash will work at any speed under 1/80 sec.

 

[John Koehrer]

The occasional hiccup says your F2 needs ye olde CLA(overused term) I would check for capping at higher speeds just for S&G.
The camera may work for years with just this fault. Or just fail when you need it most.

 

[Xmas]

the 2nd curtin is released by a different mechanism for the slower speeds like 1/80 and slower check 1/30 etc. if they work save for a service if they don't don't use them.