Nikon F4: Quick fix for gummed mechanics parts?

[Andreas Thaler]

The still wet films hung to dry after bathing in the stabilizer.

The Portra 800 with orange mask is my test film from the F4.

The other is an XP-2 Super from the F3/T.

I can already say this much:

• The new Bellini C-41 process works, a good replacement for the previous Tetenal Colortec.
• The exposures look balanced across all 35 shots.
• Exactly then after scanning and converting in SmartConvert.

Kit Color Negative Film C41- RA Process - Monopart Developer - Bellini Foto

This kit contains products to make 1 litre of Developer – 1 litre of Bleach-RA – 1 litre of Fixer RA and 10 litres of Stabilizer. It is made for the C41 negative film process at 38°C (C41-RA Rapid Access process). The capacity of this kit is 16 negative films (35 mm) of 24 exp.

www.bellinifoto.it

 

[miha]

Thanks for the update. I can vouch fot the Bellini kits, E6 and C41, great products.

 

[Andreas Thaler]

The negatives from the Nikon F4 are correctly exposed, even at the small aperture values

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With this test I conclude the project.

Conclusion:

• Using Zippo/Graphit as a mixture for injection I was able to make the aperture mechanism of the F4 working again to that extent that even the small apertures close completely.
• I couldn't fix that the aperture closes with a slight delay.
• The F4 obviously recognizes the deviation and corrects itself in aperture priority mode. If there is any deviation at all that matters.
• The F4 should also do this in shutter priority and the two automatic programs, as the camera checks the exposure again immediately before opening the shutter. In manual mode, however, the delayed aperture opening could possibly have an effect.
• Slight variations in exposure should not be a problem with negative film, which has a large exposure latitude.
• Anyway the camera is fully operational again.
• A complete repair of the gumming in the aperture mechanism would require removing the mirror box in 22 steps. A high risk.

 

[Andreas Thaler]

Follow-ups:

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

Finally a success One last update on my F4S, which I treated with the syringe: The aperture lever has improved and now folds down to 50%: That is sufficient to close the small apertures completely and happens quickly enough. The camera can be used. A success, even if it took several...

www.photrio.com

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

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