Vintage Nikon that needs a CLA.

[GregY]

You`ll never believe what Dean said to me after I told him that my last roll of film was the best ever using the iPhone app.
He said you don`t need any service and just use the phone app, it`s much more reliable and technologically advanced than
the phonemic meter.
Dean said also the results on film is more forgiving than with slide film. Film will tend to have better results with less critical exposure.
Slide film would show much more of a shutter problem than film...!

but does that solve your problem with the meterhead? I'm sure Dean doesn't need to solicit additional work either.

 

[Nikon 2]

but does that solve your problem with the meterhead? I'm sure Dean doesn't need to solicit additional work either.

Well, no it doesn’t. Even if the meter was fixed it probably wouldn't be as accurate as the iPhones myLightMeter…!

 

[GregY]

Well, no it doesn’t. Even if the meter was fixed it probably wouldn't be as accurate as the iPhones myLightMeter…!

The idea of a TTL meter is that it is selective.... that is with a wide angle, micro nikkor or telephoto....it will give a more accurate reading than a general iphone app.

 

[Craig]

I've tried a couple of iPhone lightmeter apps. They are maybe within a stop of a true reading. Certainly not good enough for slide film. My Mk I calibrated eyeball is better than some apps I have tried.

 

[Nikon 2]

I've tried a couple of iPhone lightmeter apps. They are maybe within a stop of a true reading. Certainly not good enough for slide film. My Mk I calibrated eyeball is better than some apps I have tried.

I've tried a couple of iPhone lightmeter apps. They are maybe within a stop of a true reading. Certainly not good enough for slide film. My Mk I calibrated eyeball is better than some apps I have tried.

Have you tried this one.
It was designed by a photographer...!

 

[MattKing]

That app installed in a good smart phone may very well compete well with many hand meters.
And the technology in the phone may very well be better than the decades old technology in the Phototomic.
But applying a hand meter or cel phone metering app to taking a photograph is a substantially different matter than applying a meter that reads through the lens to taking a photograph.
I expect Dean's perspective tends more to the technical than the "in use by a photographer".

 

[btaylor]

It is best not to measure the value of a CLA against the price of a non CLA'd camera.
It is best to measure the value of a CLA against the value to you of having a Cleaned, Lubricated and Adjusted camera to work with.

Some of my most prized cameras were sold to me as "working." Barely! I certainly wouldn't count on their functionality. They went out for CLA's, and I couldn't be happier. The value to me was kinda priceless, honestly.

 

[Huss]

Have you tried this one.
It was designed by a photographer...!

Some light meter apps are good, some not so good. If you like the one you have, then that's good for you.

The question is if you like using your camera with a broken meter - which you can of course ignore by not using it. If you have no problem, then you are set.

Personally I hate broken stuff, even if it is not essential. Just the thought that that piece on my camera doesn't work. What I would do is ditch that broken metered prism, and replace it with the sleeker meterless DE1 prism. With that on your F2, your F2 works perfectly! Also cheaper than a CLA. By a lot.

 

[Nikon 2]

Some light meter apps are good, some not so good. If you like the one you have, then that's good for you.

The question is if you like using your camera with a broken meter - which you can of course ignore by not using it. If you have no problem, then you are set.

Personally I hate broken stuff, even if it is not essential. Just the thought that that piece on my camera doesn't work. What I would do is ditch that broken metered prism, and replace it with the sleeker meterless DE1 prism. With that on your F2, your F2 works perfectly! Also cheaper than a CLA. By a lot.

It might not be broken, it could just be a dirty film advance switch…!

 

[Huss]

It might not be broken, it could just be a dirty film advance switch…!

These meters in the F2 just kick the bucket w age/wearing out. It happened to my F2as (fixed by Sover), and standard F2 w photomic head. The resistor rings in them fail. What is this 'film advance switch' that you are talking about? And how would something called a 'film advance switch' effect the meter?

 

[Nikon 2]

A few photos that made me reconsider a CLA…!

 

[Nikon 2]

These meters in the F2 just kick the bucket w age/wearing out. It happened to my F2as (fixed by Sover), and standard F2 w photomic head. The resistor rings in them fail. What is this 'film advance switch' that you are talking about? And how would something called a 'film advance switch' effect the meter?

The film advance lever when pulled out showing the red dot on the F2 activates the switch to check the battery for the photomic meter…!

 

[MattKing]

CLA'd is at least 2/3 prospective maintenance.
Sending a camera to be repaired is done to deal with an observed fault.
In many cases, maintenance can resolve some faults.

 

[Nikon 2]

If the switch is dirty the meter won’t work…!

 

[Nikon 2]

Can you see me in this photo…?

 

[BrianShaw]

CLA'd is at least 2/3 prospective maintenance.
Sending a camera to be repaired is done to deal with an observed fault.
In many cases, maintenance can resolve some faults.

And to add… preventative maintenance is a big part of the reliability equation. That’s why I don’t wait for repair of a broken camera… I value reliability and availability and dependability.

But this seems to be falling on deaf ears. If funds aren’t available, I completely understand. It’s a lot of money. But the waffling and rationale makes these fairly useless threads. We can’t help someone who may not want to be helped.

 

[GregY]

N2, a camera 50 yrs old can produce an image and yet still benefit from service. You've gotten some really good advice. Yes you've shown some scans of negative film... but that doesn't prove all the camera speeds are accurate. (That's what pros like to work with....)
Like Huss i prefer the F & F2 with the plain prism. You've got a bulky meter head that doesn't work... for whatever reason. Get it fixed or not.... it is your choice.... there's really not much that takes 4 pages of discussion is there?

 

[Nikon 2]

And to add… preventative maintenance is a big part of the reliability equation. That’s why I don’t wait for repair of a broken camera… I value reliability and availability and dependability.

But this seems to be falling on deaf ears. If funds aren’t available, I completely understand. It’s a lot of money. But the waffling and rationale makes these fairly useless threads. We can’t help someone who may not want to be helped.

Seriously, I agree with all you said.
I have the funds but lack the fundamentals...!

 

[GregY]

I have the funds but lack the fundamentals...!

......less nerding about cameras..... more taking photos... ;-)..... the photographs are the goods.

 

[Nikon 2]

N2, a camera 50 yrs old can produce an image and yet still benefit from service. You've gotten some really good advice. Yes you've shown some scans of negative film... but that doesn't prove all the camera speeds are accurate. (That's what pros like to work with....)
Like Huss i prefer the F & F2 with the plain prism. You've got a bulky meter head that doesn't work... for whatever reason. Get it fixed or not.... it is your choice.... there's really not much that takes 4 pages of discussion is there?

I like the photomic meter because it shows the shutter speed and f/ number in the viewfinder whereas the DE-1 does not…!

 

[GregY]

I like the photomic meter because it shows the shutter speed and f/ number in the viewfinder whereas the DE-1 does not…!

if you like it..... you'd want it to work...

 

[Nikon 2]

if you like it..... you'd want it to work...

Yes, but it won’t be as accurate as the new technology of an iPhone myLightMeter app…!

 

[Nikon 2]

......less nerding about cameras..... more taking photos... ;-)..... the photographs are the goods.

I hope everyone appreciates that…!

 

[GregY]

Yes, but it won’t be as accurate as the new technology of an iPhone myLightMeter app…!

your iphone app doesn't read through the lens...so won't be as selective.
but...believe what you will. You're getting wound up dreaming about things that have nothing at all to do with making photographs....
N2.....better to put the fun back in fundamentals.....

 

[Nikon 2]

your iphone app doesn't read through the lens...so won't be as selective.
but...believe what you will. You're getting wound up dreaming about things that have nothing at all to do with making photographs....
N2.....better to put the fun back in fundamentals.....

That’s true, but a 50 year metering system isn’t as good as today’s technology either…!