Nikon F3 shutter problem

[samhuwyler]

Hello everyone

I dig up an old Nikon F3. So I bought a new battery and turned it on. The built in light meter seems to work fine.
But the shutter is way to slow. It doesn't matter if i turn it in Auto shutter speed mode or if i set the shutter speed manually.
It seems that the shutter speed is off by factor two or three.
Sometimes it doesn't even close the shutter. Even if i turn the camera off it remains open.

Has anybody experienced the same problem?
Would it help to CLA it? and if it does is it possible to do it myself?

I'd like the camera to work but I'm not willing to invest a big amount of money.

Thank you and greetings from Switzerland
Samuel


(I beg your pardon for any grammatical errors, I did my best)

 

[BrianShaw]

Is the film counter >1? If not, it will not meter and control the shutter correctly.

 

[samhuwyler]

Is the film counter >1? If not, it will not meter and control the shutter correctly.

The counter works fine.
The Meter also works fine. I tested the readings with an other working Light meter.

 

[BrianShaw]

Sounds like it is a paperweight then. It is possible that a full servicing may be able to restore functionality... or it may be possible that the shutter is broken. You really need to have a repair pro look at it.

 

[samhuwyler]

Okay. thank you for your advice.
Now I just need to find a repair pro.

 

[MartinCrabtree]

I have an FM2n with the same issue. The repair man's diagnosis was:
*Lubricant failure*, causing
> slow speed escapement jam-up and sporadic function. Meter LED chatter as
> lens AI linkage moved. Foam dust & light traps failure, causing among other
> things, contamination to mirror-box mechanism & screen system, haze &
> debris in VF elements.

Currently being restored.

 

[BrianShaw]

With the F# it could be that, and/or a couple of other electrical issues.

 

[presspass]

With the relatively low price of F3s, you may consider simply replacing it.

 

[John Koehrer]

If the curtain doesn't close completely, it's time for the ol' CLA.

 

[MartinCrabtree]

Why do so many look at the dollar first? "oh it's not worth it buy another" is a lousy philosophy. The repaired camera will be useful much longer than the dollars supposedly saved by tossing it in the trash. Buying another may indeed put you behind the 8-ball again when it doesn't work and you need repair anyway.

 

[Xmas]

Repair is so expensive here, if it is more than a basic service, it is cheaper to take the risk and buy another.

We even have shops which offer 6 or 12 months warranty so there is a trade between inspection + warranty and eBay estate sale camera where the vendor may know nothing.

The shops are not that dear for film cameras, and they normally inspect carefully...