Nikon Fe self timer mirror

Montanawildlives · Feb 8, 2019

I think when you press the shutter after activating the self timer on the Nikon Fe the mirror is supposed to be up, like mirror lock-up. However when I do this the sound when I press the shutter button is very quiet it doesn't really sound like a mirror moving out of the way. By comparison the actual exposure a few seconds later is much much louder. If I didn't know better I'd say the loud noise during the exposure includes the mirror moving up and the shutter activation. Am I Wrong? Could the mirror lock-up be so quiet? Of course during the few seconds between shutter press and exposure I can't see through the viewfinder which I guess means that the mirror is in fact locked up! Just seems weird that the noise would be so quiet.

Theo Sulphate · Feb 8, 2019

Montanawildlives said:
... Of course during the few seconds between shutter press and exposure I can't see through the viewfinder which I guess means that the mirror is in fact locked up! Just seems weird that the noise would be so quiet.

That seems to be the case. Anyway, just remove the lens and watch what happens with the mirror during your tests.

Montanawildlives · Feb 9, 2019

Theo Sulphate said:
That seems to be the case. Anyway, just remove the lens and watch what happens with the mirror during your tests.

Well sure, I could do THAT...

Thanks, I guess that didn't occur to me because I just loaded a new roll and it takes me a few weeks to take 36 pics, but you are quite right!

Montanawildlives · Feb 9, 2019

Theo Sulphate said:
That seems to be the case. Anyway, just remove the lens and watch what happens with the mirror during your tests.

Also because I'm an idiot. And new. ;-)

BrianShaw · Feb 9, 2019

You’ll only waste 1 frame doing this, which will put an end to the guessing.

Les Sarile · Feb 9, 2019

Montanawildlives said:
If I didn't know better I'd say the loud noise during the exposure includes the mirror moving up and the shutter activation. Am I Wrong? Could the mirror lock-up be so quiet? Of course during the few seconds between shutter press and exposure I can't see through the viewfinder which I guess means that the mirror is in fact locked up! Just seems weird that the noise would be so quiet.

On cameras with manual mirror lockup, you will know that moving the mirror up is effortless and leisurely therefore it can be very quiet. However, releasing the shutter involves the mirror as well as vertical shutter blades moving and stopping fast. I have not completely disassembled any of my bodies yet but I suspect there are other internal gears that also move to add to the noise.

Les Sarile · Feb 9, 2019

BrianShaw said:
You’ll only waste 1 frame doing this, which will put an end to the guessing.

You could cover the lens mount prior to the shutter releasing to avoid exposing the frame. Then you can use the multiexposure lever to arm the shutter again without advancing the frame and you're ready to go.

BrianShaw · Feb 9, 2019

Les Sarile said:
You could cover the lens mount prior to the shutter releasing to avoid exposing the frame. Then you can use the multiexposure lever to arm the shutter again without advancing the frame and you're ready to go.

Sure... But why?

Les Sarile · Feb 9, 2019

BrianShaw said:
Sure... But why?

So you won't waste a frame just to test . . .

Chan Tran · Feb 9, 2019

I am sure the OP FE would move the mirror up at the start of the self timer.

BrianShaw · Feb 9, 2019

Chan Tran said:
I am sure the OP FE would move the mirror up at the start of the self timer.

That’s how it’s designed.

dxqcanada · Feb 9, 2019

Yes, the mirror movement is quiet in comparison to the shutter ... I just listened to my FE with the lens off the body.

Montanawildlives · Feb 11, 2019

Thanks everyone, someday I'll have a slightly more advanced question

mark · Feb 11, 2019

This has nothing to do with the thread but when I saw the title my brain went right to the Fe and pronounced like in Santa Fe. Then I literally said to myself, where the hell is Nikon Fe?

Montanawildlives · Feb 11, 2019

mark said:
This has nothing to do with the thread but when I saw the title my brain went right to the Fe and pronounced like in Santa Fe. Then I literally said to myself, where the hell is Nikon Fe?

Ha! Nikon Fe is just a little south of Santa Fe. I think I was just too lazy to go back and capitalize that e

Theo Sulphate · Feb 12, 2019

Montanawildlives said:
Well sure, I could do THAT...

Thanks, I guess that didn't occur to me because I just loaded a new roll and it takes me a few weeks to take 36 pics, but you are quite right!

Don't feel bad - when I bought my new Pentax SP500 back in 1971, I mounted its 55mm f/2 Super Takumar lens on it and left it there for the next 15 years -- no need to remove it because that was the only lens I had.

Even to this day I am reluctant to change lenses on cameras -- it's a weird quirk.

Montanawildlives · Feb 13, 2019

heheh --yep, I have a weird "quirk" where I keep forgetting whether or not a particular roll of film has been exposed or not. I think I'm going to get some interesting quadruple exposures.

Nikon Fe self timer mirror

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