Caleb Hauge
Member
A few weeks ago I bought a Nikon FM on eBay from a reputable seller that I've bought from before. They said the light seals were bad but the camera was otherwise good. When it arrived, I realized that wasn't the case.
- The DoF preview lever is broken (necessary for stop-down metering on non-AI lenses)
- The meter coupling lever was stuck in position and would not flip up for mounting non-AI lenses.
- The light meter, supposedly tested twice (and I do believe them), is non-functional.
- Ironically, the light seals are totally adequate in 90% of situations. Harsh sunlight at sunset at the perfect angle causes a faint light leak, but that's it.
None of these make the camera unusable. I'm good at guesstimating exposure accurately enough for Ektachrome (though apparently not for Velvia...), and I've got a light meter app on my phone that has never failed me. But all of my lenses are non-AI, and I'm not about to go buy more expensive AI versions of them with different characteristics just to use this camera. All of you will be cringing at this, but I ended up ripping the meter coupling lever off the camera.
That being said, I would heavily prefer for all of these to be working. The seller offered to ship me a new DoF preview lever (and it came today), but I don't have any idea how to mount it. I'd also like to get the light meter working. The seller said they tested it twice, and I do trust them. But I can't get it to do anything. The LEDs for the meter don't light up in any situation. What would you guys recommend?
- The DoF preview lever is broken (necessary for stop-down metering on non-AI lenses)
- The meter coupling lever was stuck in position and would not flip up for mounting non-AI lenses.
- The light meter, supposedly tested twice (and I do believe them), is non-functional.
- Ironically, the light seals are totally adequate in 90% of situations. Harsh sunlight at sunset at the perfect angle causes a faint light leak, but that's it.
None of these make the camera unusable. I'm good at guesstimating exposure accurately enough for Ektachrome (though apparently not for Velvia...), and I've got a light meter app on my phone that has never failed me. But all of my lenses are non-AI, and I'm not about to go buy more expensive AI versions of them with different characteristics just to use this camera. All of you will be cringing at this, but I ended up ripping the meter coupling lever off the camera.
That being said, I would heavily prefer for all of these to be working. The seller offered to ship me a new DoF preview lever (and it came today), but I don't have any idea how to mount it. I'd also like to get the light meter working. The seller said they tested it twice, and I do trust them. But I can't get it to do anything. The LEDs for the meter don't light up in any situation. What would you guys recommend?