Nikon F3 Memory lock question. Mine doesn't appear to work.

trythis · Feb 2, 2014

Hunting down a gremlin that my F3 has...Memory lock is not working. The button works, and closes the contacts inside the camera, but there is no effect.

Anyone worked on this before?

Is there something simple I am missing or do I need to do a full tear down? I cant find the troubleshooting diagram for it in the repair manual.
Thanks.

gone · Feb 2, 2014

Are you keeping the button depressed? I think on that camera it has to stay depressed until you fire the shutter.

BrianShaw · Feb 2, 2014

Momus is correct. Push and hold to lock the exposure. Keep holding while releasing the shutter.

Chan Tran · Feb 2, 2014

momus said:
Are you keeping the button depressed? I think on that camera it has to stay depressed until you fire the shutter.

You must keep the button pushed and then Nikon only warranted that the camera will hold the shutter speed for 30 seconds. It would hold longer than that but no warranty.

trythis · Feb 2, 2014

Yep, I'm holding it, but the LCD readout changes and the shutter speed changes with it, going dark to light and light to dark. I have the camera open enough to see the button moving the contact metal tabs, so the mechanical components are good. Next I guess I am tracing continuity...ehg...sigh

Ricardo Miranda · Feb 2, 2014

Yep, I'm holding it, but the LCD readout changes and the shutter speed changes with it

I don't know the F3, so this might not apply to that model.
Previous AE Nikon models with AEL (e.g. FE) always display the current reading even if the AEL button is pressed.

Chan Tran · Feb 2, 2014

Ricardo Miranda said:
I don't know the F3, so this might not apply to that model.
Previous AE Nikon models with AEL (e.g. FE) always display the current reading even if the AEL button is pressed.

On the F3 when the AE lock button is pushed the shutter speed is locked and the display doesn't change. On the FE the shutter speed locked but the needle still moves if pointing at brighter or darker subject.

Ricardo Miranda · Feb 2, 2014

Ok! Thanks Chan! The F3 manual doesn't refer that.

trythis · Feb 2, 2014

Chan, Thanks from me as well, this was something I could not find the answer to. It didnt matter as of yet in my case because the time changes were quite audible.

Chan Tran said:
On the F3 when the AE lock button is pushed the shutter speed is locked and the display doesn't change. On the FE the shutter speed locked but the needle still moves if pointing at brighter or darker subject.

trythis · Feb 3, 2014

Mystery solved:

That green wire is supposed to be connected to the switch....

Such an easy fix, such an impossible place to get to.

Trask · Feb 3, 2014

Ya gotta wonder how it got flexed to such an extent that it broke like that -- I'm assuming Nikon didn't let it out of the factory that way!

trythis · Feb 3, 2014

Yeah, there isnt really any opportunity for it to move inside the body at all. I am wondering if the previous owner had it pulled by a technician because it was acting weird, but I would think they would have gone about it differently. The camera has been serviced and it was owned by a reporter (supposedly) and its possible it was damaged while being serviced. I think that is most likely the case, now that I write this.

trythis · Feb 4, 2014

Nearly there, lots of unneeded steps in the repair manual to get to this point. Most of it is de-soldering.

I haven't broken or lost any parts yet, so there is hope!

I am thinking of doing just a tiny bit of cleaning the dust off a few places, but I dont want to do too much.

I am surprised to see fabric ribbons used with the metal shutter.

trythis · Feb 9, 2014

Just in case there are lots of lurkers wringing their hands, hoping I will fail or succeed, I fixed it!

Its all back together and everything seems to be completely functional.

Its also a lot cleaner inside and out. There was a lot of grit all through the camera. now there is no grinding noise when rotating the aperture ring and the winding lever is smooth.

I did break the aperture ring string in the process...
I found a near exact match and have extra that I can mail out for $1 if you need a few feet.

Very Happy:w00t:

Nikon F3 Memory lock question. Mine doesn't appear to work.

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