Nikon F4 doesn't seem to stop lens down completely

[RalphLambrecht]

Bumping this old thread, I have the same issue. A bit of ISO alc solves it temporarily but it comes back. Aside from sending it for overhaul which would cost more than another F4 - what else can be tried to correct this 'sluggish' aperture?

'exercising' the camera regularly. But thanks for the repair documentation.

 

[Andreas Thaler]

Bumping this old thread, I have the same issue. A bit of ISO alc solves it temporarily but it comes back. Aside from sending it for overhaul which would cost more than another F4 - what else can be tried to correct this 'sluggish' aperture?

See

Nikon F4: Mission Aperture Lever - two ways to fix the aperture problem

{Moderator note 12 Jan 25: five threads on the F4/F4S aperture lever repair have been merged into the present thread. You may encounter one or two dead links to 'other' threads. The posts they pointed to, are now all part of this thread, which mostly still follows the journey in a logical and...

www.photrio.com

 

[Sirius Glass]

I suggest you get it checked on by a qualified repair person. I assume that any camera I buy will need a CLA first, hence buying from KEH.com is my normal route.

 

[Andreas Thaler]

I suggest you get it checked on by a qualified repair person.

In this case, all you need is a single drop of oil on the bearing of a gear. To get there, the front panel of the F4 with the mirror box has to be removed and everything then reassembled. This takes several hours of work, depending on whether you have already done it or not. The cost of this, for a professional, will be disproportionate to the current value of the camera. The alternative is a shortcut with oil that you apply more or less precisely. At least in Germany and Austria, I have not found anyone who does this work or regretted telling me what they do and what they take my money for.

I assume that any camera I buy will need a CLA first, hence buying from KEH.com is my normal route.

There is always the question of what is actually done to a CLA. A thorough overhaul in the sense of the term means checking all camera functions, dismantling, cleaning, replacing parts, oiling/lubricating, assembling and adjusting. With newer cameras, it may also be the case that some things cannot be adjusted because the necessary equipment is missing. A CLA like this naturally costs a lot of money. Everything else can therefore only be a compromise.

 

[Andreas Thaler]

'exercising' the camera regularly. But thanks for the repair documentation.

Unfortunately, this will not solve the problem here, as the lack of oil cannot be replaced by operating the mechanism. In this case, it is a gear that controls a photo interrupter that is responsible for setting the aperture. If it no longer rotates correctly due to a lack of oil, the aperture fails, see above.

 

[Sirius Glass]

In this case, all you need is a single drop of oil on the bearing of a gear. To get there, the front panel of the F4 with the mirror box has to be removed and everything then reassembled. This takes several hours of work, depending on whether you have already done it or not. The cost of this, for a professional, will be disproportionate to the current value of the camera. The alternative is a shortcut with oil that you apply more or less precisely. At least in Germany and Austria, I have not found anyone who does this work or regretted telling me what they do and what they take my money for.



There is always the question of what is actually done to a CLA. A thorough overhaul in the sense of the term means checking all camera functions, dismantling, cleaning, replacing parts, oiling/lubricating, assembling and adjusting. With newer cameras, it may also be the case that some things cannot be adjusted because the necessary equipment is missing. A CLA like this naturally costs a lot of money. Everything else can therefore only be a compromise.

But do not use 3 in 1 Oil which will do a superb job of gumming up the works!

 

[Andreas Thaler]

But do not use 3 in 1 Oil which will do a superb job of gumming up the works!

I used Nyoil:

Lubricant, Oil, Shutter 100gram

Lubricant, Oil, Shutter 100gram. NYOILIs a clear, odorless oil for lubricating, polishing, cleaning, and preventing rust. Formulated nearly 100 years ago, it remains the most highly refined oil ever produced. Applications: NyOil works great on cameras, roller blades, fitness equipment, locks...

www.micro-tools.com

 

[MFstooges]

What's the general consensus of the lifetime on the electronic components on these AF cameras? I assume they're better than Minolta XD era.

 

[MattKing]

Thread moved, as it has become about repairs.

 

[Andreas Thaler]

What's the general consensus of the lifetime on the electronic components on these AF cameras? I assume they're better than Minolta XD era.

It will depend on the electronic components.

Candidates for problems after decades are electrolytic capacitors, which can leak.

ICs, diodes, transistors, resistors work without wear.

Heat is a factor that causes components to age if they are outside the intended specification, e.g. a camera under the car window in the sun.

Humidity causes corrosion.

Since low currents at low voltages usually flow in camera circuits, there should be no temperature problems here due to high power losses, as with devices with mains voltage, for example. But I have also seen a power transistor in the F4, for example, which is dimensioned for higher loads.

All in all, I consider the electronics of the 80s SLRs to be robust and durable; at least I have not yet seen a broken electronic component, apart from defective electrolytic capacitors.

Issues usually arise with contact problems on switches due to dirt or oxidation, corrosion due to leaking battery electrolyte, damage caused by force or water, of course excluded.

But these are just my observations. Repair shops with much more experience repairing various cameras can say more about this.

Of course, the dimensioning of a circuit also plays a role, so that it can withstand the loads and the components are of good quality and sufficiently protected by the housing and against mechanical forces. This shows the great engineering achievements of Japan, when SLRs that were previously used intensively are still working after 40 years.

 

[beemermark]

My suggestion, always ignored, is to run a roll of film through the camera to determine if it is operating properly.

 

[swchris]

This takes several hours of work, depending on whether you have already done it or not. The cost of this, for a professional, will be disproportionate to the current value of the camera.

I nevertheless had it been repaired, since I wanted a good, dependable F4. Buying another one is again a lottery on how long it's going to work. Good things cost good money.

At least in Germany and Austria, I have not found anyone who does this work or regretted telling me what they do and what they take my money for.

I had it repaired by Nikon in Berlin. They did a good job. And among the German Nikon repair shops they were the only ones still working on film cameras.

 

[Andreas Thaler]

I had it repaired by Nikon in Berlin. They did a good job. And among the German Nikon repair shops they were the only ones still working on film cameras.

Great, when was that or do you know if they still accept repairs on analog Nikons/gear and the F4?

 

[Andreas Thaler]

Great, when was that or do you know if they still accept repairs on analog Nikons/gear and the F4?

Can you tell anything about the cost of this repair by Nikon?

 

[swchris]

Can you tell anything about the cost of this repair by Nikon?

Let me dig out the invoice. Is going to take some days since I'm not at home currently.

I think it was around 6 to 8 years ago, and the cost was something over €400 maybe.

 

[swchris]

Hmm, I don't find a Nikon Service Point in Berlin anymore. :-( I'll look for the invoice...

 

[swchris]

I've gooled a bit. They don't exist anymore
Liquidation 2021.

 

[Andreas Thaler]

I've gooled a bit. They don't exist anymore
Liquidation 2021.

Thank you!

Another reason to do it yourself:

Nikon F4: Mission Aperture Lever - two ways to fix the aperture problem

{Moderator note 12 Jan 25: five threads on the F4/F4S aperture lever repair have been merged into the present thread. You may encounter one or two dead links to 'other' threads. The posts they pointed to, are now all part of this thread, which mostly still follows the journey in a logical and...

www.photrio.com