Sad Nikon FM

mrred · Nov 29, 2014

I have a sad Nikon FM. The light meter lights in the view finder, but there is no movement at all. This is how I got it, when I bought it over 2 years ago. I gave the OK at the time beceause the lights lit up in the view finder and was too late when I noticed it did not actually work.

Is there anything I can do, short of sending it to a tech?

j-dogg · Nov 29, 2014

Poor little guy. Obviously you checked the battery voltage?

I would say it's probably time to send it off, I have had to do that with a few of my rigs.

I believe there are a few guys on APUG who work on Nikon bodies, I am only limited to mechanical functions that I can repair, broken hinges, easy stuff.

mrred · Nov 29, 2014

The problem here is the repair would cost more than the camera is worth. What's going for this one, is it looks almost new. The bad thing is it would probably need a part, of which I have none.

Because it's a FM, I have been able to use it. Just no joy. I do have a FM2 that stands in.

I am mechanically inclined, and a former radio & tv tech. With a manual I am sure the job could get done, baring parts.

Has anyone seen this condition before?

Theo Sulphate · Nov 29, 2014

Do you have an AI lens on your FM or a pre-AI lens?

A pre-AI lens will mount on an FM without problems, but metering must be done in stop-down mode. AI can be used wide open.

mrred · Nov 29, 2014

I have tons of Nikon gear. Pre Ai, Post Ai, D, G lens. Importantly, I have a fully functional FM2 to compare with. The camera is broke.

Chan Tran · Nov 29, 2014

mrred said:
I have a sad Nikon FM. The light meter lights in the view finder, but there is no movement at all. This is how I got it, when I bought it over 2 years ago. I gave the OK at the time beceause the lights lit up in the view finder and was too late when I noticed it did not actually work.

Is there anything I can do, short of sending it to a tech?

Which one of the lights is lit? There are 3 of them.

RalphLambrecht · Nov 29, 2014

mrred said:
The problem here is the repair would cost more than the camera is worth. What's going for this one, is it looks almost new. The bad thing is it would probably need a part, of which I have none.

Because it's a FM, I have been able to use it. Just no joy. I do have a FM2 that stands in.

I am mechanically inclined, and a former radio & tv tech. With a manual I am sure the job could get done, baring parts.

Has anyone seen this condition before?

Yes, I've seen this before but ssa new set of batteries always fixed it for me;short of that, off to an authorized Nikon service, i'm afraid.the body is worth it. I bought my FMs for 430 EACH and spend $70 of service on them by nowand will e doing that until they fall apart which will never happen but it's worth it to me.

j-dogg · Nov 29, 2014

I would say its worth it, every time I have sent stuff off I look at the cost to replace it with a like new copy and usually it's near the cost of the repair.

Like I sent my FED-2 off for CLA to Fedka and it cost me 70 dollars, it would cost that much for a like new refurbished copy on eBay or from Fedka themselves.

mgb74 · Nov 29, 2014

Had this happen to me with an FM that was not used for a year. Garry's Camera (www.garryscamera.com/) did a good repair at a reasonable cost. This was a few years ago.

Xmas · Nov 30, 2014

Check that the AI ring moves with the lens aperture ring.
But the camera is still usable without a battery I don't fit one to mine.

frank · Nov 30, 2014

Get a free light meter app for your phone.

mrred · Nov 30, 2014

Chan Tran said:
Which one of the lights is lit? There are 3 of them.

Bottom one.

Xmas · Nov 30, 2014

remove lens and sweep the AI ring in the body back and forwards to see if the LEDs change as you sweep.
Then do same with shutter speeds and then ISO settings.

mrred · Nov 30, 2014

No change.

Xmas · Nov 30, 2014

Think there is a maintenance manual on web see if google helps you find.

blockend · Nov 30, 2014

frank said:
Get a free light meter app for your phone.

I have a bunch of Nikons, and none of the light meters work. The phone app serves them all. Repairing them all would cost a few thousand.

mrred · Nov 30, 2014

I have cameras without light meters, bought for that purpose. I prefer the FM work as advertised. I have a light meter for the phone, but I would rather use my real one.

John_Nikon_F · Nov 30, 2014

It's probably the ring resistor, which is underneath the shutter speed dial on the FM and FM2/2n cameras. Would be easiest to find a camera with a bad shutter, but a good meter, then swap the shutter speed control assembly, complete with the ring resistor to your camera. The service manual can be found online, so, since you plan to do it yourself, you're only out the parts and your time to do the job.

Before doing that, though, try adjusting the ASA to something like 1600 or 3200 and see if the meter responds. It's possible that it's just WAY out of adjustment. Looked at an FM recently that had this problem. The red LED next to the "-" was lit constantly, until I adjusted the film speed up to 3200. Then, it acted as if it had been adjusted to 100.

These days, the FM is like the Nikkormat FT series. Cheaper to buy a good working example than to have a shop fix one. So, I don't buy them if there are any meter issues, or if 1 second seems slow, etc. The FM2 and FM2n are getting borderline for bodies that aren't at least KEH EX or EX+ grade. When you can buy a decent black FM2n in good working order for $120-$150, it doesn't really make sense to get a less clean body overhauled, unless it has sentimental value.

-J

mrred · Nov 30, 2014

I did manage to get a wiring diagram last night and what you have stated makes sense. As I have a fully working FM2, a light and metered manual camera is in service. I can either experiment on the FM with no real loss or just designate it to studio style work.

Ricardo Miranda · Nov 30, 2014

I have a repair manual for the FM2 and some parts of the FM manual. Send me a PM if you are interested.

John_Nikon_F · Dec 2, 2014

And, if you decide that you want a fully functional FM (and your FM looks like a lost cause), I know that there's a nice black one with MD-11 (or maybe MD-12) and a 50/1.8 listed here on the site.

-J

mrred · Dec 5, 2014

I have found the full FM repair manual. It has procedures to check the circuits. Now the courage to rip it apart......

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Sad Nikon FM

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