Kiss and goodbye to my F4

[PaulDalex]

I bough a working an cosmetically perfect F4 in the early two thousand (I don't remember the exact date) I liked the focus confirmation and the largest compatibility of any Nikon srl. After a few years it developed bleeding in the DP20. It took years to me to find another DP20 without bleeding LCD.
Recently I loaded the camera with provia in anticipation of good season coming and finally returning to photography after many months of abstinence due to bad weather and covid.
On Friday I turned the F4 on to cheek that everything was in order.
And guess what.
The LCD ON THE BODY has developed bleeding.
Another casualty after the RTSIII and The Maxxum 9, both with fading LCD, and my M5 (which I hope to fix), with stiff rewind
I guess the only way out is to use mechanical srl, but, most of all cameras without LCD's.

 

[PaulDalex]

It strikes me that certain cameras are dead as model, not just as a particular instance. When my Maxxum 9 became unusable, I considered buying a Minolta 9000.
It is a camera I have had and I was very happy with it. But it is impossible to find one without a bleeding LCD.
If a meritorious guy would think of making a Minolta Museum, it would be impossible to include the Minolta 9000, although it was at the time of its introduction, a very advanced camera, and I can say by personal experience a very nice one

 

[raydm6]

Sorry about your F4. It's a shame how some electronics just give up the ghost. I've worked in hi-tech over 4-decades and know how fickle some electronics can be. Hope you find something pleasurable to replace it with.

PS: Not really related to your F4 but I have a personal aversion to anything microprocessor/LCD controlled as regards to household appliances. Still running all mechanical c. 1990 Sear Kenmore washer & dryer (I just call the repair guy if I need a new clutch/motor/dryer element). So far, they still have parts. And my 1990 Kenmore 'fridge is still humming along. Fingers-crossed I just didn't jinx myself 🙂

Good luck with the next camera.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

My 40 year old Nikon F3AF has not developed LCD bleed. An MF-14 left in the box, bought 20 years ago- did. Maybe a manufacturing issue.

 

[p.giannakis]

Mine has also LCD bleeding on the body, the one that displays flame counter and exposure compensation. This doesn't bother me to the slightest as the F4 has a frame counter on the top and you can see the exposure compensation via the dedicated dial. Here is a pic to see how the LCD bleeding looks like in mine .



I use my F4 a lot. I trust the matrix more than the newer F5 for b&w, it is more quiet than the F5 and much smaller (I use the MB20). I can use my Ais 28f/2.8 with matrix too. My kids love putting stickers on it and paint it with markers too.



And it has given me brilliant pictures.







I think the bleeding LCD is a small price to pay - all cameras have an Achilles heel, I am glad the F4 suffers from just from something like that.

 

[jsrockit]

It can’t be used without the lcd?

 

[Pál_K]

These F4’s with bleed - were they subjected to long periods of high heat?

My two F4s cameras have minimal bleed - I don’t see it changing. Hope it stays that way.

My two F3/T cameras have no LCD bleed, although Nikon warned at the time that the LCD’s would bleed.

Is this bleed just “luck of the draw” or something else?

… Not really related to your F4 but I have a personal aversion to anything microprocessor/LCD controlled as regards to household appliances. Still running all mechanical c. 1990 Sear Kenmore washer & dryer .

I share your sentiments regarding modern appliances, as things made today are made only to last through a short warranty period - then buy again.

My friend’s water heater leaked out after less than 10 years. I, and others in my neighborhood, am still using the same water heater that was installed when our houses were built in 1994 - 28 years.

Here’s my washer: a Whirlpool LFA 7680, made in 1977. USA built. I don’t want a new washer/dryer. New products won’t last.

 

[PaulDalex]

raydm6, thank you,
I have a black plain prism Nikon F. I have to check it. I want to buy the photoplug tester to verify the shutter.
I am mumbling about a meterless F2. But it will take time.

 

[PaulDalex]

Pal_K
I pamper all my cameras. At home temperature and humidity are controlled and anyway in Italy, where I live, there are no extreme temperatures and humidity.
Yes I guess in certain cases the defect will never get manifest, but it is statistically frequent.
Thus I won't take the chance again with cameras with LCD displays

 

[PaulDalex]

Pan, Jsrockit,
In my case I can see shutter speed. Of course it could be used anyway. I can see the shutter speed on the shutter speed wheel.
But It is me: I don't like to use broken cameras
BTW: Pan the sticker on the back are cute! And what a nice portrait!

 

[jsrockit]

Pan, Jsrockit,
In my case I can see shutter speed. Of course it could be used anyway. I can see the shutter speed on the shutter speed wheel.
But It is me: I don't like to use broken cameras

Thank you. I can understand. I have a Fujifilm X-Pro3 which has a little sub menu ... and after 1 year and 8 months, it just died. It isn't the same to me even though the camera works fine without it. It is out of warranty and I'll likely get it repaired. At least I still can.