F3hp help!

dimitris

dimitris

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Hello,

My F3hp stopped working last week. I haven't used it for 3 years and was perfectly fine before then. I must admit I haven't been giving it a workout lately after I built up a digital setup. However ever since I have been here I tried going back and shoot some film last week. Unfortunately I don't get any metering or any speeds. The only way to make the shutter move is by using the manual speed lever. Any ideas or is my F3 fried? 🙁
 
asking the obvious but the batteries are ok and the contacts in the battery compartment are clean ? I have an F3p that sees infrequent useage with no ill effects.
 
Sorry, forgot to mention. I tried 2 new different sets of batteries but in vain. I tried a pair of LR44 and CR-1/3N but none worked. Both are supposed to be compatible with the F3. Anyone any ideas or can you check your batteries?
 
are you getting any info display in the viewfinder ? does the aperture light work ? these could help indicate if you even have power going to the camera. maybe try cleaning the battery contacts and try again. I've got at least a three or four year old CR-1/3N in mine.

edit: just saw that you get no metering. how about the light ?
 
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Unfortunately no metering and no light from the red button at the viewfinder. Also i am using the button at the shutter release. 🙂 It has been my camera for 5 years so I know the thing inside out. It looks like it has no power but no idea what else to try. Also I tried cleaning the contacts with swabs and alcohol but didn't help.
 
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you're not getting power so I would try cleaning the contacts first and go from there. never heard of this problem before with f3's.
 
Are the batteries fresh? They do have a limited self life. If you can, test the batteries with a volt meter or another body. I hope it is the batteries or the switch ON lever at the winder. I recall folks claiming that it is easy for that switch to go bad.
 
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Hmm i tried cleaning the contacts but that didn't work either. I don't know what else to try. Could it be that my new bought batteries are bad?
 
Oh one more thing: The FM2 does not meter when shutter is set to 'B'. Gives the feeling that the batteries are dead. I do not have my F3 near to test that with it.
 
Is the motor drive attached? With the motor drive attached the batteries in the camera bodies are bypassed. Other than that it sounds like an internal corrosion problem preventing a completed circuit.
 
Yes it is easy to forget about this switch.



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Bob
 
Wooo hooo! I checked the online manual and it turns out I had the batteries in the wrong way. Also one of the brand new batteries i bought didnt work! Now I am ready to burn some film after so many years!
 
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