Nikon FM2 depth of field preview lever doesn't budge

happymelon · Feb 17, 2017

Hi!
Sorry if this is the wrong place to post this; I'm desperate and need help urgently.
I just bought a second hand Nikon FM2 and the depth of field preview lever can't be moved at all, its stuck!
Is it spoilt or could there be other reasons for it?
I've never used a mechanical camera before and am very new to this. The lens is a Tokina 49mm, not a Nikon lens.
I'm really worried now! I'm going on holiday tomorrow and was hoping to play with it! Please give me any advice! Thanks!

Nick Merritt · Feb 17, 2017

When you push the DOF lever back toward the body of the camera, a lever at 9:00 inside the lens throat should move downward in its track. Check to be sure that lever hasn't gotten bent somehow, so as to interfere with its movement. If it has gotten bent, maybe you can carefully bend it so it's moving freely.

Huss · Feb 17, 2017

Take the lens off and then see if the lever moves. If it does, there may be an issue w the lens/lens interface.

happymelon · Feb 17, 2017

oh dear removed the lens and it still couldn't move.......

Nick Merritt · Feb 17, 2017

Can you move the lever inside the lens throat manually while pushing on the DOF lever? Just wondering whether it's gotten stuck and needs to be freed, or if there's something more significant blocking its movement.

Hang on -- I just reread your original post. You said the lens is a Tokina 49mm -- the 49mm refers to the diameter of the lens filter ring, not the lens's focal length. Are you certain this is a Nikon mount lens? While it would be very hard to mount a lens that isn't meant to fit that camera, things can get forced -- and in the process, internal connections (like the depth of field lever) can get damaged. I may be totally off base here, of course, but thought I'd ask this very basic question.

happymelon · Feb 17, 2017

the little lever at 9 o clock could be moved downwards.. it doesn't seem like it could move "backwards" which is the where the direction of the depth of field lever should move towards (towards the camera body right?).. so it feels like its not connected the lever.. sorry hope i'm making sense!

happymelon · Feb 17, 2017

The lens came with the camera body when I bought it, I'm not sure if its meant to fit the camera body but it fits rather nicely

happymelon · Feb 17, 2017

sorry i just re-read your first reply again and realised you said it should move downwards.. it moves downwards fine..does this mean its stuck from years of unuse?

summicron1 · Feb 17, 2017

put the lens on the camera and set the lens at f-16 and the shutter speed at 1/50. While looking into the front of the lens, fire the shutter.

Does the lens stop down? You should see the lens diaphram blades close in and make a small hole, then spring open again.

If so, go take pictures and don't worry about it. People rarely use DOF levers. If the DOF lever working is something you really need, you can have the camera serviced.

If the lens does NOT stop down when you fire the shutter, then you have a problem. Camera needs service, or the seller needs to take the camera back and give you a refund.

Nick Merritt · Feb 17, 2017

Right -- if the lever inside the lens throat moves downward when you trip the shutter, then the camera will take pictures properly. If the depth of field lever doesn't work, that is a problem and you should take it up with the seltter, but it won't prevent the camera from taking pictures with the right aperture setting.

happymelon · Feb 17, 2017

Tried it and yes it does work! Thanks!!

RalphLambrecht · Feb 18, 2017

happymelon said:
Hi!
Sorry if this is the wrong place to post this; I'm desperate and need help urgently.
I just bought a second hand Nikon FM2 and the depth of field preview lever can't be moved at all, its stuck!
Is it spoilt or could there be other reasons for it?
I've never used a mechanical camera before and am very new to this. The lens is a Tokina 49mm, not a Nikon lens.
I'm really worried now! I'm going on holiday tomorrow and was hoping to play with it! Please give me any advice! Thanks!

don't force anything;that could make it worse.get lens and/or camera serviced instead;no self repairs either;they always end up being costly.

John_Nikon_F · Feb 20, 2017

Camera needs to be repaired. My FM2n had that problem before it was overhauled. DOF preview button mechanism had become seized. Stop-down lever worked fine.

-J

Nikon FM2 depth of field preview lever doesn't budge

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