Nikon F3 mirror is stuck after each trip of the shutter

[moco]

Nikon F3 mirror is stuck after each trip of the shutter

I am currently traveling in Cambodia and upon arrival the mirror was stuck up and so little else on the camera worked as well. I took off the lens and manually pulled it down. Then the meter worked and I hit the shutter button, and it seemed to work. However, when I advanced the lever, the mirror remains in the up position. Is there anything I can do to fix this?? Or do I need to find a repair center? Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!!

 

[flash26c]

Sticking to the foam bumper?

 

[Jeff L]

Sticking to the foam bumper?

I've had this happen. Its's a cheap and easy fix. Might mean the whole camera is due for new seals too - also a cheap and easy do it yourself.
Good luck.

 

[mikelimch]

Not too familiar with Nikon nomenclature but for my canon AV-1 , this happens when the battery is weak.

 

[NB23]

Yes, usually when the battery is weak the mirror will hold up like this on many cameras. I don't know about the F3 though.

This same thing happened with my R6.2, a fully mechanical camera, and the repairman said it needed a Lube.

 

[Chan Tran]

Yes, usually when the battery is weak the mirror will hold up like this on many cameras. I don't know about the F3 though.

This same thing happened with my R6.2, a fully mechanical camera, and the repairman said it needed a Lube.

On the F3 is the battery is weak the LCD won't turn on before the battery voltage is low enough to cause malfunction. I do think it's the foam. As the camera started its cycle by releasing the the mirror. The mirror has to complete its travel before it will trip the shutter. It's the mirror mechanism that will trip the shutter.
If the shutter opened and closed but the mirror stayed up then it's because the foam is sticky and holding it up. If the mirror went up but the shutter didn't open then the mirror didn't travel all the way up. Try pushing it up might help to complete the cycle. Sometimes someone replace the foam and put in too thick foam strip and it would cause this problem.

 

[Ap507b]

John Goodman /Interslice does great foam kits. You can find him on ebay if you need one. He does either kits for just one camera or bulk kits. I got the later & so far have done about 5 cameras with it. Tons of material left still.