Nikon F4 questions

Swordman · Jul 3, 2021

Hi, I've just received a Nikon F4 from eBay and I have a few questions. Bear in mind, I haven't loaded it with film yet. I've just been dry firing it. Anyway, I have these questions:

1. On slow shutter speeds (1/30th and slower) at shutter priority and programme modes, after the shot, the LED starts blinking furiously and I can't take another shot unless I turn it off and on again. Is this normal? Faster shutter speeds seem fine.

2. I can't read the LED at night. Can it be illuminated?

3. Can the F4 be serviced and how much would it cost?

Thanks in advance.

Andrew O'Neill · Jul 3, 2021

The LED is probably blinking because you don't have any film in it. Only a guess. If you went to the same place that I go to service it, it could cost any where from $100Cdn to $200... depending what it needs.

Swordman · Jul 3, 2021

Thanks for the reply. I really like the camera and I'd rarely use shutter priority, but the glitch is annoying.

Huss · Jul 3, 2021

Swordman said:
Hi, I've just received a Nikon F4 from eBay and I have a few questions. Bear in mind, I haven't loaded it with film yet. I've just been dry firing it. Anyway, I have these questions:

1. On slow shutter speeds (1/30th and slower) at shutter priority and programme modes, after the shot, the LED starts blinking furiously and I can't take another shot unless I turn it off and on again. Is this normal? Faster shutter speeds seem fine.

2. I can't read the LED at night. Can it be illuminated?

3. Can the F4 be serviced and how much would it cost?

Thanks in advance.

I can help you by seeing how my 2 perfect F4s work by replicating what you are doing.

But.. first question - do you have a lens on your camera when you are doing this? And what lens?

Huss · Jul 3, 2021

Also make sure the film speed setting is NOT on DX if there is no film in the camera.

To illuminate the LCDs, there is a switch on the front base of the shutter speed dial. Move it to the right to turn the light on. To the left to turn it off.

jwd722 · Jul 3, 2021

https://www.nikonusa.com/pdf/manuals/archive/F4-F4S.pdf

Swordman · Jul 3, 2021

Huss said:
I can help you by seeing how my 2 perfect F4s work by replicating what you are doing.

But.. first question - do you have a lens on your camera when you are doing this? And what lens?

Thanks Huss.

I've tried it with a few lenses:
The 55mm f1.2 pre AI
50mm 1.4 D
28mm f1.4D

Again, no film in the camera. ISO was set to 400. Only the slower speeds affected (and only intermittently).

And thanks for the illumination tip!

Huss · Jul 3, 2021

Swordman said:
1. On slow shutter speeds (1/30th and slower) at shutter priority and programme modes, after the shot, the LED starts blinking furiously and I can't take another shot unless I turn it off and on again. Is this normal? Faster shutter speeds seem fine.
.

Both mine do NOT do that.
Your camera is defective, I'd send it back. There are plenty out there to get a good one.

edit - tested with a 50 1.4D

Pieter12 · Jul 3, 2021

Swordman said:
LED starts blinking furiously and I can't take another shot unless I turn it off and on again.

Page 25 of the manual:
• lf any abnormality occurs during film advance, red alert LED blinks and shutter locks. Open camera back and reload film.

Huss · Jul 3, 2021

Pieter12 said:
Page 25 of the manual:
• lf any abnormality occurs during film advance, red alert LED blinks and shutter locks. Open camera back and reload film.

He is dry shooting it. No film.

Pieter12 · Jul 3, 2021

Huss said:
He is dry shooting it. No film.

That would count as an abnormality in the film advance, I think

Huss · Jul 3, 2021

Pieter12 said:
That would count as an abnormality in the film advance, I think

No. I just replicated what he was doing with both my F4s, and they work fine dry shooting, with no red error lights.

There is only an abnormality in film advance if there is an issue with advancing the film. If there is no film in the camera, there is no issue advancing something that is not there.

Swordman · Jul 4, 2021

Huss said:
No. I just replicated what he was doing with both my F4s, and they work fine dry shooting, with no red error lights.

There is only an abnormality in film advance if there is an issue with advancing the film. If there is no film in the camera, there is no issue advancing something that is not there.

Thank you for your testing. I suspected it was faulty. Disappointing, but it is what it is....these are very old cameras after all.

Nikon F4 questions

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