Today I opened some packages of cameras that I received last year.
There was also a Nikon F4S that I hadn't even thought about.
Clearly used extensively, signs of use, but with a flawless viewfinder LCD at the top and a LCD at the bottom with only a small dark spot.
Unfortunately, the fact that the LCDs can get black and colorful spots over the decades - the so called „LCD bleeding“ - is a weak point of the F4.
The two automatic programs and shutter priority do not work. The camera exposes everything with the smallest aperture that must be preset for automatic shooting. So an irreparable damage, at least for me.
Since I have a second F4 that works, but both LCDs are badly bleeding, I decided to replace the LCDs.
The bottom LCD
was easy to replace as I only had to exchange the DP-20 viewfinder which is intended to be exchanged with other viewfinders. The LCD is integrated in the viewfinder and shows, among other things, exposure time, aperture, exposure metering mode and adjustment for manual exposure setting.
The upper LCD
however, which displays the image counter and the exposure compensation values in +/- 1/3 increments, is integrated into the camera.
To exchange the upper LCD I only had one attempt. If I had damaged the replacement LCD or the corresponding electronics in the acceptor F4, the function of the latter would have been limited at least.
I reconsidered everything and took the risk.
And it worked
To access the upper LCD (on the left), these screws are loosened.
The unit with the LCD, its electronic illumination, the prism for light entry and the LEDs for focus and exposure correction (on the left) hangs on a flexible circuit board after the screws have been loosened. The bottom cover is already detached.
The LCD lies with its conductive rubbers on the contacts on the flexible circuit board. Above this is the prism, which is fixed by a bracket with two screws. The bracket, prism and LCD are already removed here.
The electronic illuminator lies on the prism and hangs on two cables. It can be seen here, the bright flat cuboid.
The structure corresponds to that of the Nikon F3(/T):
Bracket with screws, prism and LCD
All disassembled parts at a glance.
These are the components from the donor F4. Only the LCD (defective) is from the acceptor F4.
Since the camera has already become a spare parts donor, I disconnected the unit with the replacement LCD in order to be able to work on it better. For this I cut the flexible circuit board.
The broken display. If there is voltage, the light gray spots turn black. This means that the digits can no longer be read at this point.
The replacement LCD at its new workplace.
On the left the spare F4S and on the right the F4 with two - almost - new LCD.
+++
All information provided without guarantee and use at your own risk.
There was also a Nikon F4S that I hadn't even thought about.
Clearly used extensively, signs of use, but with a flawless viewfinder LCD at the top and a LCD at the bottom with only a small dark spot.
Unfortunately, the fact that the LCDs can get black and colorful spots over the decades - the so called „LCD bleeding“ - is a weak point of the F4.
The two automatic programs and shutter priority do not work. The camera exposes everything with the smallest aperture that must be preset for automatic shooting. So an irreparable damage, at least for me.
Since I have a second F4 that works, but both LCDs are badly bleeding, I decided to replace the LCDs.
The bottom LCD
was easy to replace as I only had to exchange the DP-20 viewfinder which is intended to be exchanged with other viewfinders. The LCD is integrated in the viewfinder and shows, among other things, exposure time, aperture, exposure metering mode and adjustment for manual exposure setting.
The upper LCD
however, which displays the image counter and the exposure compensation values in +/- 1/3 increments, is integrated into the camera.
To exchange the upper LCD I only had one attempt. If I had damaged the replacement LCD or the corresponding electronics in the acceptor F4, the function of the latter would have been limited at least.
I reconsidered everything and took the risk.
And it worked
To access the upper LCD (on the left), these screws are loosened.
The unit with the LCD, its electronic illumination, the prism for light entry and the LEDs for focus and exposure correction (on the left) hangs on a flexible circuit board after the screws have been loosened. The bottom cover is already detached.
The LCD lies with its conductive rubbers on the contacts on the flexible circuit board. Above this is the prism, which is fixed by a bracket with two screws. The bracket, prism and LCD are already removed here.
The electronic illuminator lies on the prism and hangs on two cables. It can be seen here, the bright flat cuboid.
The structure corresponds to that of the Nikon F3(/T):
Nikon F3/T: LCD replaced
A project that has occupied me for years without being able to tackle it - for lack of a replacement display and know-how. Now it's implemented 😀 With my most beautiful F3/T (never used before), I had to watch the LCD display in the viewfinder slowly but steadily disappear. At first, only...
Bracket with screws, prism and LCD
All disassembled parts at a glance.
These are the components from the donor F4. Only the LCD (defective) is from the acceptor F4.
Since the camera has already become a spare parts donor, I disconnected the unit with the replacement LCD in order to be able to work on it better. For this I cut the flexible circuit board.
The broken display. If there is voltage, the light gray spots turn black. This means that the digits can no longer be read at this point.
The replacement LCD at its new workplace.
On the left the spare F4S and on the right the F4 with two - almost - new LCD.
+++
All information provided without guarantee and use at your own risk.
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