farlymac
PF McFarland
So, I wandered down to my favorite antique/junk shop, and there on the back shelf was an FA. With an MD-15. And MF-12. And sporting a lovely 50/1.4 Nikkor AI-S. Only thing missing is the PC cap, because the cord from the MF-12 was plugged into it. Minor issue.
We put some batteries in the drive, and nothing happened. Cleaned the interior contacts, and the battery case ones too, with a pencil erasure. Still no joy. The winding lever was halfway through the stroke, and the meter didn't activate. The batteries to the MF-12 were dead of course, but the big problem there was the cord had been broken off at the back.
But gosh, that lens was beautiful. Worth every penny the dealer was asking for the whole kit, which he said he put together himself from stuff that had come in seperate purchases. But he doesn't like selling broken things on the bay, so there it was in the store. So I asked. "$100.00" he said. I thought just long enough to be nice, and said "Okay".
Got it home, and went to work on it shortly. I took a fiberglass pen to the drive contacts, loaded some fresh AA's, and ZOOM, it came alive. I then pulled the dead CR-1/3N out of the well, and replaced it with a couple of 357's. The shutter fired, and I could wind it to the next frame, and fire again. Woo-hoo! Okay, since I'm not really enamored with the databack on it, I'll just get a standard back to swap that out, and take my dear sweet time getting a cord for it. So I mated the drive to the body, and they made such nice music together. Now all I need to do is get a Goodman Seal kit for it, and start shooting .
So much fun for a hundred bucks!
PF
We put some batteries in the drive, and nothing happened. Cleaned the interior contacts, and the battery case ones too, with a pencil erasure. Still no joy. The winding lever was halfway through the stroke, and the meter didn't activate. The batteries to the MF-12 were dead of course, but the big problem there was the cord had been broken off at the back.
But gosh, that lens was beautiful. Worth every penny the dealer was asking for the whole kit, which he said he put together himself from stuff that had come in seperate purchases. But he doesn't like selling broken things on the bay, so there it was in the store. So I asked. "$100.00" he said. I thought just long enough to be nice, and said "Okay".
Got it home, and went to work on it shortly. I took a fiberglass pen to the drive contacts, loaded some fresh AA's, and ZOOM, it came alive. I then pulled the dead CR-1/3N out of the well, and replaced it with a couple of 357's. The shutter fired, and I could wind it to the next frame, and fire again. Woo-hoo! Okay, since I'm not really enamored with the databack on it, I'll just get a standard back to swap that out, and take my dear sweet time getting a cord for it. So I mated the drive to the body, and they made such nice music together. Now all I need to do is get a Goodman Seal kit for it, and start shooting .
So much fun for a hundred bucks!
PF
Austintatious
Well-known
Sounds like one sweet deal, just too good to pass up !
Photos coming soon ?
Photos coming soon ?
nikon_sam
Shooter of Film...
I love to hear when things like this happen...
I have a MF-12 mounted on a Nikon FE and it works just fine (although I rarely use this camera) It has the cord attached...now you mentioned that your cord had been "Broken off"...hopefully nothing was damaged on the MF-12 as the cord just plugs into it and gets unplug whenever you have to open the back...Plus there's not a whole lot that the MF-12 back does...I will say that mine has the correct time & date on it right now...
I have a MF-12 mounted on a Nikon FE and it works just fine (although I rarely use this camera) It has the cord attached...now you mentioned that your cord had been "Broken off"...hopefully nothing was damaged on the MF-12 as the cord just plugs into it and gets unplug whenever you have to open the back...Plus there's not a whole lot that the MF-12 back does...I will say that mine has the correct time & date on it right now...
farlymac
PF McFarland
Soon as I do the seals, Charles.
Sam, the cable broke right where it fits into the back, so the connector is stuck in the back. No way to reattach it. I just wonder, since the MF-12 fits so many models, if I can take the back off my FM to swap it out with. My chart shows the MF-12 was for the FE2 and FM2, and the MF-16 was for the FA, FE2, and FM2. So maybe that won't work. I'll just keep looking for a standard back then.
PF
Sam, the cable broke right where it fits into the back, so the connector is stuck in the back. No way to reattach it. I just wonder, since the MF-12 fits so many models, if I can take the back off my FM to swap it out with. My chart shows the MF-12 was for the FE2 and FM2, and the MF-16 was for the FA, FE2, and FM2. So maybe that won't work. I'll just keep looking for a standard back then.
PF
nikon_sam
Shooter of Film...
The MF-12 will fit any of the FM/FE series and the FA so you could swap it out...
Check this out...http://mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/nikonfeseries/fefmshared/mf12/index.htm
Check this out...http://mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/nikonfeseries/fefmshared/mf12/index.htm
farlymac
PF McFarland
Sorry I hadn't got back to this, but when the power went out for a few days, I kinda lost track of things.
Sam, the MIR site is a great place, and I've had a few of his pages bookmarked for some time now. I'm beginning to think the FA was not a well recieved model, as I can't find anything other than motor drives for it. The standard back seems to be non-existant, and the grip is impossible to find. Main reason I want an FA back is the databack on it now is supposed to be for the FE2, and it doesn't fit right on the FA, so I'm leary about using an FM2/FE2 standard back. If neccessary, I have located an MF-16 back. I have been told that the part number for the FM2/FE2 back and the FA back is the same, but have not been able to confirm this, nor have I found definite proof that they are interchangable. One place says something different than another place. So I'll keep looking, and have a Goodman seal kit at the ready whenever I get another back.
PF
Sam, the MIR site is a great place, and I've had a few of his pages bookmarked for some time now. I'm beginning to think the FA was not a well recieved model, as I can't find anything other than motor drives for it. The standard back seems to be non-existant, and the grip is impossible to find. Main reason I want an FA back is the databack on it now is supposed to be for the FE2, and it doesn't fit right on the FA, so I'm leary about using an FM2/FE2 standard back. If neccessary, I have located an MF-16 back. I have been told that the part number for the FM2/FE2 back and the FA back is the same, but have not been able to confirm this, nor have I found definite proof that they are interchangable. One place says something different than another place. So I'll keep looking, and have a Goodman seal kit at the ready whenever I get another back.
PF
dogberryjr
[Pithy phrase]
I suspect that the FA was not produced in great numbers (relatively, anyway); I've had a casual eye out for one for a while, and you just don't see many.
farlymac
PF McFarland
Just saw one over on ShopGoodwill.com a few days ago. I'm in the process of procuring the finishing touches on a Canon FTbn outfit for my oldest brother, or I might have made a run on it. It was the chrome version, and went for less than $70 (then add shipping on top of that). I think they were sort of a bridge model, as they introduced what would become known as Nikons Matrix Metering System.
PF
ps: Love the Marty Feldman avatar