Nikon F4s odd problem

cabrito · Jan 22, 2016

Thanks Ricardo for the advice. I will sacrifice a roll and test the camera. Now who's would you recommend to have the camera repaired? I think you're right it's the lack of use and also maybe the sensors are faulty but I am going to try fixing it myself before having a pro look a it.
Thanks

cabrito · Jan 23, 2016

hi,
i have been trying to make the f4 work but no luck yet. i started testing it with film and now i got a buzzing sound. that means that when i load the film and close the back cover, i turn it on and press the shutter button to make the ilm advance to frame 1 but it only clicks and the buzzing sound comes on for like 5 seconds then the red light comes on and stays on for 10 seconds and then goes off. i press the shutter button again and same thing happens and the film advances and i can see the frames being counted by it on the top of the camera but when i look through the view finder it doesn't get past frame 1. now i think i have to bring it to a repair center. anyone has any ideas of what might be happening and what service sites do you recommend?
thanks

Ricardo Miranda · Jan 23, 2016

You haven't said what country you are in.
I can only recommend a repairer that I would use myself: http://www.aztechservices.com/

cabrito · Jan 23, 2016

i am in the united states. the aztecs are in the uk where you live no?
thanks

Ricardo Miranda · Jan 23, 2016

Yes.
But, don't send it to repairs, yet.

The world is full of coincidences.
This afternoon I met a gentleman with a Nikon F4 who was having a problem in loading his film.
I would like to ask you to try and load a film again, this time take a pic (a stupid-o-phone is fine for this) of the back just before closing it. Post pic bellow, please.
I'm almost sure that you are miss-loading the camera.
Remember the end of the film tip needs to be lined up with the end bit of the red mark inside the film chamber.

shutterfinger · Jan 23, 2016

There is a red tab or there should be on the base of the film chamber where the leader should be for the film to load properly. Mine will load film 40% of the time if the film leader in within the first 1/3 of that tab and loads 100% of the time if the leader is in the last 1/3 of the tab. Ricarodo's post reminded me of that oddity.

Ricardo Miranda · Jan 23, 2016

Yes, that is also my experience.
The take-up spool has teeth that need to engage the first or even second perforations.
Before switching to Nikon in 2003, I used to have Canon EOS and don't remember having so many miss-loads as I have had with some Nikons.

cabrito · Jan 24, 2016

i think that might be the issue because i almost got it to work earlier. after multiple tests and reloading the film, i pressed the shutter once to have it advance to the first frame. then, i pressed it again and it took a photo then i pressed it again and took another but then it started acting up again on me. i will post the photo of the film chamber as i load it and please revise it and let me know what it might be i am doing wrong. thanks for all your help. i do appreciate it.

BetterSense · Jan 24, 2016

I had an F4 that did not work well without the extended battery grip.

cabrito · Jan 24, 2016

I can't upload a photo of the film chamber and how I load it. I am going to keep running tests and I'll let you know if I have any luck or I might as well bury it along with its belongings. Thanks

cabrito · Jan 24, 2016

No luck! It is still acting up and the buzzing sound is more frequent. Any thoughts?

Xmas · Jan 25, 2016

http://www.butkus.org/chinon/nikon/nikon_f4/nikon_f4.htm

Ricardo Miranda · Jan 25, 2016

Thanks Noel.
There is also this one from Nikon USA: http://cdn-10.nikon-cdn.com/pdf/manuals/archive/F4-F4S.pdf

Ricardo Miranda · Jan 25, 2016

Something that might help you:
http://photo.net/nikon-camera-forum/00NRqy

http://photo.net/nikon-camera-forum/00M3AK

http://photo.net/nikon-camera-forum/00cTgZ

Xmas · Jan 25, 2016

Page 21 applies...
I'd snip off some leader, same reason I cut to 23 sprocket holes with a Barnack.
Film can skew advancing on one sprocket set, even gently with manual camera.
l also always tension film in cassette before closing back.
Still get miss loads, and damaged film.

But the camera may be broken.

Lots of pros did not even like F3s!

Nikon F4s odd problem

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