Nikon FE2 Back has some play

[hsandler]

I just became the proud owner of a Nikon FE2 with 3 lenses. the previous owner said she last used it about a year ago with no light leaks. I put in batteries and it all works. I gently touched the foam mirror bumper at the edge of the focus screen and its still springy, but feels a bit tacky. I did not want to fool with the light seals in the channels next to the film path but the wider piece on the back next to the hinge feels ok. Howver, I notice when the back is closed, there is a little play in the back in that you can push it in more after its latched, and when you let go it will spring back with a click. Maybe about 0.5 mm of play. Is this normal or could it be a sign of light seals too worn down?

ALso, the eyepiece is chrome with no rubber edge or eyecup. Is there a screw-in piece missing, or is that how it is if you dont need an adjustment diopter? I wear glasses and wonder about the tshin hard metal edge scratching them. (The camera has a really low eyepoint, but I knew that before buying.)

 

[Aja B]

.5mm play in the door sounds off. Foam may be old/compressed. Peruse all foam and replace before it wanders elsewhere, quite easily costing more in cleaning, repairs and image quality. Appears to be missing the thread-on eyepiece (with rubber coating over the metal ring). There isn't a model number associated with the piece as it is simply known as 'eyepiece for Nikon FE, FE2, FM, FM2n, FM3a'.

 

[elekm]

I would guess that the rubber coating on the eyepiece has worn away. You can buy replacements for about $20.

I would replace the foam seals. If they aren't in need of replacement now, they will be soon.

 

[Peter Simpson]

Seals are $10 from Jon Goodman and take only about an hour to put in (most of which is cleaning out the old gunk). I do it as a matter of course on all the bodies I buy. Then I don't have to worry about when I'll need to do it!
After you do the foam the back should be snug, and will feel overly tight the first couple of times.

All my finders are bare metal...I just buy the diopters and flip my glasses up when shooting.

 

[jochen]

Hello,
most Nikon backs from that time have some play and rattle a little bit. My FE, FM, F 2, FM 2, FE 2 do this.

 

[SafetyBob]

Every Nikon film cameras I have had or have all have some movement in the door. None of them leaked light but it is well worth your time to redo the foam on the camera. Jon has the best kits and premium foam you will find out there. Which is a good reminder I could sure do a couple of mine as good insurance......do it now so you won't have a suprise someday with "that" roll of film you absolutely positively want to be perfect.....bettery to fix the light leak before it shows then after you ruin once-in-a-lifetime photos...

Bob E.

 

[hsandler]

thanks for the quick replies all.

For the eyepiece, I don't think any rubber has worn away. The eyepiece tube is part of the camera and has inside threads, so I'm pretty sure I'm missing a screw-in piece. As I understand it, the built-in diopter on old Nikons is -1, and the diopter eyepieces are rated for the overall diopter you will get after they are installed. So if I don't want to change the view, just have a rubber lip to protect my glasses from the sharp metal edge, I need to buy a -1 diopter eyepiece?

 

[Mick Fagan]

Just ran a vernier caliper over my FE2.

The overall length of the eyepiece with rubberised end and as from the factory, is 5mm from the body.

The screw in bit is 4mm in length.

The other bit that the screw in bit screws into, is 1mm clear of the body.

Hope this helps.

Mick.

 

[brucemuir]

I read once that if at some point someone replaced the hinge foam with foam that was too think it could rag out said hinge.
Hopefully this is not your scenario.

Get the correct foam from J.Goodman and I bet you'll be fine.
Don't sweat the door channel foam too much. It's an easy job, just messy and time consuming.
Use the wooden tool he has for scraping that crud out.

Once you do one they are no biggy really.

 

[hsandler]

Thanks. I have just ordered a kit from Jon. My eyepiece part only protrudes 1mm, so I am missing the diopter screw in part, as I thought.