Nikon F2 troubleshooting

[helvetica]

A few weeks ago I picked up a Nikon F2 that looks practically unused. No brassing, scuffing, or even any wear and tear on the leather case. Great for collectors, but this is trouble for actually using, being all mechanical with little excercising.

I put some fresh batteries in And everything was great. Accurate meter, times, and smooth actuations. I'm on my fourth or so roll now, and all of the sudden there is no response from the meter. Checked all of the contacts, battery compartment, etc. oddly enough, if I press the battery test button, it jumps right to the middle as expected. I therefore know the meter is getting power!

Any armchair repairmen want to wager a guess? Dead meter cell?

Edit: DP-1 meter, body is 7,238,xxx serial range

 

[Vickko]

No personal experience to convey, but, I'd start my research here

http://www.soverf2repair.webs.com/

 

[CameraQuest]

trouble spots in order
1) bad batteries or inserted wrong
2) bad battery contacts
3) bad battery switch on film advance
4) bad battery compartment
5) bad meter

try interchanging your meter onto another F2

that will quickly isolate the problem to the meter
or your F2 body.

Stephen

 

[helvetica]

Thanks Vick, that guy's setup looks very legitimate. I did not realize there where so many people still shooting the F2 seriously.

Stephen I wish I had another F2 to try swapping prisms and bodies with, that would narrow things down in a hurry! I was hoping that by seeing the battery test work, problems #1-4 would be eliminated, but on the other hand, problems #1-4 are the easy ones to fix!

 

[Dwig]

...if I press the battery test button, it jumps right to the middle as expected. I therefore know the meter is getting power!

Any armchair repairmen want to wager a guess? Dead meter cell?

Edit: DP-1 meter, body is 7,238,xxx serial range

If the battery test button makes the needle swing then the problem is definitely not #1-#4 on Stephen's list. The battery test is in the finder so the problem is in the finder, not the battery, the body or the connection between body and finder (a set of contacts often overlooked).

It sounds like a failure in either the meter cell or the "resistor gear". The latter is the larger variable resistor that is connected mechanically to the shutter speed dial and aperture coupler.

 

[helvetica]

It sounds like a failure in either the meter cell or the "resistor gear". The latter is the larger variable resistor that is connected mechanically to the shutter speed dial and aperture coupler.

That is what I was assuming. After reading up on Vick's link to Sover's site, it seems highly unlikely to be the resistor gear, as the camera looks practically unused.

Now the strange thing about F2's is that at this point (2013/14) it's cheaper to just buy a new prism than fix an old one, and it's cheaper to buy a whole new F2 than it is to buy just the prism. Talk about backwards logic! I think for now I will just have to go meter-less.

 

[biomed]

It may be the ring resistor in the finder. I had my F2 and finder overhauled by CameraQuest. It is works as well as it did when I bought it in 1973.

 

[nobbylon]

I've had exactly the same problem. I took the base off of mine and the problem is the contacts in the base of the camera. A bit fidly but easily solved. There is a contact which is activated when you pull the advance lever out and you will see it when the base is removed. Took me 15 mins to fix.
Sover has serviced 4 F2's and an F for me and his work is superb.

 

[presspass]

Don't forget to check the contacts between the body and the finder. Try wiggling the finder and see if that makes the meter work. You could also take the finder off and clean the contacts with either electronic cleaner or a pencil eraser.

 

[jschrader]

Don't forget to check the contacts between the body and the finder. Try wiggling the finder and see if that makes the meter work. You could also take the finder off and clean the contacts with either electronic cleaner or a pencil eraser.

I had problems exactly here. I don't use the F2 much these days so I am not sure if the problem came back 🙁

 

[sevo]

Don't forget to check the contacts between the body and the finder.

If the battery check works, these are ok - there are no other contacts beyond the power supply.

 

[FrankS]

Just go meterless. These all die eventually.

 

[nobbylon]

Just go meterless. These all die eventually.

No they don't. Complete load of old bollocks. Every F and F2 I've had has had a fully functional meter. That's such a broad statement. All cameras die if they are used too much without maintanence! Nikons are much more reliable than anything else on the planet! 🙂 try and stop perpetuating internet bull!
I don't get the meterless F or F2 thing. Too many wanna be war photogs singing that tune!