Problems with Nikon F-301

tonyowen · Dec 4, 2018

I’m confused over two issues with my Nikon F-301 camera:-

1] I’m wondering if one or other of the shutter curtains (blinds) is stuck.

If I set a very slow speed either 1/30s or B and opening the back I cannot see any apparent shutter opening although the visible horizontal shutter slats vibrate. [Image 01]

HOWEVER If I put a piece of marked paper on the film track [image 02] then I can see that paper image when the back is closed, the shutter button pressed. and viewed through the lens. [image 03]

Please explain this paradox.

2] An adaptor ring to allow 42mm lenses to be attached has become stuck in the Nikon Flange. The release button is not proud and cannot be pushed further inwards [image 04]. Any ideas for fixing?

Regards

Tony

shutterfinger · Dec 4, 2018

1. Nikon cameras with vertical travel focal plane shutters are designed to not fire the shutter with the back open.
2. Hold the lens release button down as far as it will go then wiggle the adapter from the fully engaged to the removed positions.
You may have to apply a fair amount of force to get it to move as its likely jammed the lock pin.

John Koehrer · Dec 5, 2018

The counter has to be on the first frame to do that the lever in the top groove should be depressed. You can do this with a toothpick
put in the slot. Break the toothpick & you're looking at $$$ to get it out.

tonyowen · Dec 6, 2018

John Koehrer said:
The counter has to be on the first frame to do that the lever in the top groove should be depressed. You can do this with a toothpick
put in the slot. Break the toothpick & you're looking at $$$ to get it out.

Don't understand. Is the lever the one 'below' the 'n' in NIkon?? This moves radially anticlockwise until just passed the 'N' of Nikon and when released springs back to below the 'n'
regards
Tony

shutterfinger · Dec 6, 2018

tonyowen said:
Don't understand. Is the lever the one 'below' the 'n' in NIkon??

No, its this one in the green circle.

Once depressed turn the camera on, press the shutter release and wait for the camera to run the load cycle.

tonyowen · Dec 7, 2018

shutterfinger said:
No, its this one in the green circle.Once depressed turn the camera on, press the shutter release and wait for the camera to run the load cycle.

Maybe I'm thick, but how does this help/aid release the stuck adaptor??
regards

shutterfinger · Dec 7, 2018

tonyowen said:
Maybe I'm thick, but how does this help/aid release the stuck adaptor??

It doesn't.
You asked why the shutter does not work with the back open, it answers that question.
You asked how to get a stuck adapter off the camera, a suggestion was made.
Have you had your daily Alzheimer's medication yet? (mine is French Roast. I think you guys use Earl Grey)

shutterfinger · Dec 7, 2018

This is a Nikon F4 lens opening. The arrow points to the lens release linkage that is in the edge of the image box.
Being Nikon's build/design is similar between bodies then its likely with the back and shutter open on your camera you cam verify the lens lock pin is releasing with the button on the front and if not pull it back releasing the adapter.

tonyowen · Dec 8, 2018

shutterfinger said:
Have you had your daily Alzheimer's medication yet? (mine is French Roast. I think you guys use Earl Grey)

Mine is Bloody Mary or G&T, the Earl Grey is an afternoon tea. Seriously it was the sequence of postings that caused me to ask the 'daft question'. But as I've said before I'd rather ask the question than assume.

shutterfinger said:
The arrow points to the lens release linkage that is in the edge of the image box.Its likely with the back and shutter open on your camera you cam verify the lens lock pin is releasing with the button on the front and if not pull it back releasing the adapter.

How do I open the shutter earlier you said "Nikon cameras with vertical travel focal plane shutters are designed to not fire the shutter with the back open."

regards and enjoy your coffee
regards

neilt3 · Dec 8, 2018

With the back closed you can set the camera shutter speed to "bulb" and press and hold the shutter release button down .
As long as the shutter button is pressed down , the shutter will remain open .
Then open the back , press the lens release button and see if the tab indicated moves when you press the button in .
If you accidentally let go of the shutter release , the mirror will drop back down and the shutter will close on whatever you stuck in there , ruining your camera , so make sure you use the cable release .

This won't do you much good though .
I have the F301 , F501 and F4 and they all behave the same way .

When you press the lens release button in , the indicated tab does also move in , but pressing the tab in as suggested does not pull the lens locking pin back in as suggested .
So your lens is still stuck on . Just tried it on the above three cameras to confirm .

As a last resort you could drill a hole in the M42 adapter above the locking pin and then press it in to release the adapter .
Make sure it's the adapter that's at fauld before putting another lens on your camera though , otherwise that'll be stuck on it .
You need to make sure that no metal swarf gets into your camera as well , and that you both drill in the right place and don't go to deep .

Have you tried sliding a feeler gauge between the adapter and body to see if it just needs a bit of a jiggle to get the pin back in ?

Being a £15 camera it's not the end of the world , you might want to decide if you want to save the camera or adapter .

P.S ; a Bloody Mary or G&T with your breakfast ?!
Shurley you mean a Guinness !

tonyowen · Dec 8, 2018

neilt3 said:
P.S ; a Bloody Mary or G&T with your breakfast ?!
Shurley you mean a Guinness !

Don't like Guinness, especially when it is served chilled as in Dublin, - but the wife likes it having studied in Liverpool many decades ago
regards

tonyowen · Dec 8, 2018

neilt3 said:
so make sure you use the cable release .
There is no socket for a cable release that I can find on the F-301

Have you tried sliding a feeler gauge between the adapter and body to see if it just needs a bit of a jiggle to get the pin back in ?![/QUOTE]
Used a thin shim, but though I'm certain the pin retracted - resistance to shim inwards movement disappeared - It did not enable the adaptor to be rotated.
The only positive side to this problem is that the M42 adaptor is for a 28-200mm zoom - so that camera can be used.
BUT I'd still like to be able to remove that adaptor!!!!
regards

shutterfinger · Dec 8, 2018

tonyowen said:
How do I open the shutter earlier you said "Nikon cameras with vertical travel focal plane shutters are designed to not fire the shutter with the back open."

But that can be defeated by pushing in the switches tabs, then running the load sequence, then opening the shutter on B.
Do a internet search for nikon f301 service manual from your location. I get a few free if you register links and a pay link or two. nikon f301 repair manual turns fewer links.

Maybe its time for a dremel with a cutoff wheel.

Edit:
In the U.S. that model was sold as the N2000. The remote control socket is on the front of the camera between the strap eyelet and lens release. It uses the MC-12 A remote control cable which will provide the "cable release" function.

Have you tried pushing in or pulling out on the adapter while holding the release button down and turning the adapter?
Has the lens mount been bent from rough handling with a heavy lens on the camera?
Grip it with a pair of soft joint pliers and see if it will turn before cutting it off.
https://www.amazon.com/Stanley-Prot...1544301935&sr=8-5&keywords=non+marring+pliers

neilt3 · Dec 8, 2018

Just a long shot here , and I don't want to insult you as I don't know your background with Nikon cameras , but.......

My main camera system is Minolta autofocus and manual focus camera , I also use Canon EOS & FD gear , Contax SLR's , Pentax K & M42 , Bronica and Kiev Medium format SLR's and other stuff besides .
Quite sensibly you twist the lenses on clockwise and remove them anti-clockwise .

The first time I went to take a lens off on my other halfs Nikon DSLR I thought it was broke or something , for some silly reason Nikon messed up and made their lens mount go on the wrong way !
I now have a few Nikon bodies and a handful of lenses , and I still try to take a lens off anti clockwise from time to time and wonder what's up with it ....

Like I said , bit of a long shot but if it's a camera system not often used , it's an easy mistake to make .

shutterfinger · Dec 8, 2018

I had an FA on a tripod with a 75-300 zoom on it. Wind caused the tripod to fall over with the tilt handle of the tripod head, the pentaprism and rewind lever taking the hit on concrete.
A slight scratch on the tripod handle, pentaprism, and rewind lever, and the bottom of the lens mount ring bent outward 1/8 inch between the bottom 2 mount screws on a 4 screw lens mount.
The lens was a bear to get off the first time. The camera worked perfectly with a new lens mount installed. If it had been an adapter I would likely had to use pliers to get it off.

tonyowen · Dec 9, 2018

shutterfinger said:

Do a internet search for nikon f301 service manual from your location.
In the U.S. that model was sold as the N2000. The remote control socket is on the front of the camera between the strap eyelet and lens release. It uses the MC-12 A remote control cable which will provide the "cable release" function. Have you tried pushing in or pulling out on the adapter while holding the release button down and turning the adapter?
Grip it with a pair of soft joint pliers and see if it will turn before cutting it off

Click to expand...

shutterfinger said:
.
Tried googling many times but can't source repair manual
Don't have remote control and don't see how a cable release would fit into that socket.
Tried moving all directions with release button down - but nothing happens - even using pliers

neilt3 said:

don't want to insult you as I don't know your background with Nikon cameras.

Click to expand...

You're not, I used many cameras - Leica, Hassleblad, Praktica, Linhof, Canon, Nikon , 35mm, MF, LF, etc etc.
I think the problem is the M42 adaptor which does not have any of the anti-rotation and other features that are on the rear flange of a lens

shutterfinger said:

I. If it had been an adapter I would likely had to use pliers to get it off.

Click to expand...

Believe me I've tried.

The one thing I've noticed is that there is a lever situated between the camera body and the lens mount and rotates. This lever was 'fixed' below the 'n' of Nikon and sprung back if moved CCW. Now after a lot of work trying to free the adaptor that lever has become very stiff.
I've used a shim [that appears] to push the lens pin downwards yet does not allow the adaptor to be removed. Therefore is there another pin/level/item that has licked the adaptor. Also with the lens fitted to the adaptor the lens's 'index' mark is at the 10 o'clock position not the 12 o'clock position as per normal.

regards to both

tonyowen · Dec 9, 2018

For clarity the attached image indicates the lever referred to in the last para of post #16

shutterfinger · Dec 9, 2018

What brand is that adapter?

https://www.slideshare.net/DouglasMullins2/nikon-f-301-repair-manual try at your own risk as I cannot vouch for the site.
https://uscamera.com/product/nikon-n2000-f301-service-manual-parts-list-download/ possibly a better option.

tonyowen · Dec 10, 2018

shutterfinger said:
What brand is that adapter?

No idea, doubt if it has one - bought some years ago via eBay from China.
Has been used on other Nikon cameras without problem
regards

choiliefan · Dec 10, 2018

The lever referred to in message 17 translates the aperture setting of a Nikon AI lens to the meter.

tonyowen · Dec 10, 2018

tonyowen said:
bought some years ago via eBay from China.Has been used on other Nikon cameras without problem
regards

For clarity, attached are two images one shows the attached lens's 'index' mark is slight off the 12 o'clock position.
The other image shows the 'back' of a similar adaptor [this one Nikon to T mount} and there is only the shallow grove/slot into which the release pin 'sits when properly fitted.
I've applied considerable torque to the adaptor and it doe snot move at all.
I'm worried about tearing out the camera flange and do not see how the adaptor can be safely removed.
I think somehow that I put the adaptor in offset to the aligning dot and it has become skewed.
Yes, I could cut it out, but to what advantage as the M42 lens fits okay and does focus at infinity.
regards

shutterfinger · Dec 10, 2018

Run your feeler gauge around the perimeter of the adapter, any obstructions?
Open the back with the shutter locked open on B https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l1313&_nkw=nikon+mc12a&_sacat=0 and inspect the mount from the rear.
Attach a lens to the adapter then try removing the adapter and lens as an assembly.

tonyowen · Dec 11, 2018

shutterfinger said:
Run your feeler gauge around the perimeter of the adapter, any obstructions?
Attach a lens to the adapter then try removing the adapter and lens as an assembly.

Used 0.010 inch shim fitted between rear of adaptor and flange face. Gap seemed bigger on wide of release button [ie adaptor not flat???]
Fitted lens to adaptor tried to remove both using high torque values by hand - not movement of 'assembly' only result was the lens was difficult to remove from adaptor.

regards

shutterfinger · Dec 11, 2018

I'm out of ideas.

tonyowen · Jan 21, 2019

shutterfinger said:
View attachment 212510
This is a Nikon F4 lens opening. The arrow points to the lens release linkage that is in the edge of the image box.
.

Your image [post #8] shows two 'spindles' on the face of the lens flange One is positioned centrally on the flange face. The other is close to the inner edge of the flange face.
One is obviously the lock/release pin for the lens but what is the other??
regards
Tony

Problems with Nikon F-301

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