Nikon F4 AF issue

StevilTwin · Feb 16, 2023

I picked up an F4 earlier this week and I’m having issues with the auto focus. When I slightly depress the shutter sometimes it will slightly adjust focus, most of time time it does nothing. I’ve tried cleaning the contacts, the drive does seem to engage and I’ve tried the lens in another body with no issues. I’ve tried changing modes between m, c, and s with no difference in operation. Any ideas before I take this thing in to a repair shop assuming the motor is toast.

brian steinberger · Feb 17, 2023

I had the same problem with mine. Worked barely, then eventually not at all. I used it as a manual focus camera for years until a few years ago when I decided to get it fixed. I had to call quite a few shops til I found one that could fix the AF. It was the motor. Not sure where you’re located but in the US Camera Service Pro in Atlanta GA did the work on mine and did a great job. Good luck!

neilt3 · Feb 17, 2023

Do you have a vertical grip for it ?
If so does the shutter release button function correctly on that ?

If it does , then the cameras button is at fault , if not then it's deeper in the body , such as the motor as mentioned above .

Sirius Glass · Feb 17, 2023

Also KEH.com in Atlanta Georgia [approximately]

StevilTwin · Feb 17, 2023

I believe I have tracked the issue down to the dp-20 viewfinder. If I take the viewfinder off it focuses no issue. Upon further inspection one of the contact pins may be damaged between the body and viewfinder. I also do not get any display on the lower lcd. I can’t seem to find any pictures of what it should look like but one contact is definitely missing. Can anyone confirm that all pins should be present?

neilt3 · Feb 18, 2023

I've only got my DW-21 to hand , but I'm positive they are both the same.
Notice the last one on the right is a different type of contact than the others , likewise the contact for this pin is different on the camera body as well .
( Apologies for the crappy phone image )

StevilTwin · Feb 18, 2023

Thanks for taking a look! Yeah, the one pin on the far edge is different but I found the repair manual for the viewfinder and pin “I” for CLK (not sure what that is) is definitely broken off. The contact on the camera side looks slightly marred too. Likely from when it broke off. Looks like I’ll have to hunt for a replacement viewfinder or parts.

Craig · Feb 18, 2023

Mine has 11 pins present, 10 are the same and 1 different. Mine looks like the photo above. Is the viewfinder fully seated onto the body?

StevilTwin · Feb 18, 2023

when it’s fully seated I have the AF issue. If I unseat it it works as normal but I no longer have a full viewfinder. I’m pretty clearly missing a pin.

Craig · Feb 18, 2023

I can see the pin there in the photo, its pushed under the hole.

StevilTwin · Feb 18, 2023

I don’t think the rest of it is inside there but I’ll open it up later and see if it’s just a matter of bending it back.

Craig · Feb 18, 2023

These days, probably just as cheap to buy another camera as the finder.

Huss · Feb 18, 2023

StevilTwin said:
I don’t think the rest of it is inside there but I’ll open it up later and see if it’s just a matter of bending it back.

Try poking in there with a needle first. Maybe you'll get lucky.

Joel_L · Feb 19, 2023

My F4 has a DP20 also, I just looked at it, there is nothing I could do to get my pin to disappear like that. Makes me think it broke off. If you keep the body, it also looks like the contacts could use a wipe of deoxit ( removes corrosion/oxidation form contacts ).

I see several DP-20s on E-Bay in the $50.00 range, some less.

StevilTwin · Mar 10, 2023

This ended up being a replacement on the viewfinder fixed it. The contact was broken off. All is good now. Thanks everyone.

Oldwino · Mar 10, 2023

StevilTwin said:
This ended up being a replacement on the viewfinder fixed it. The contact was broken off. All is good now. Thanks everyone.

Thank you for bringing actual closure to a thread. Doesn’t happy too often…
Happy shooting!

Nikon F4 AF issue

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