Nikon Lite Touch AF / AF600 Repair

[P-K]

Hi Folks,

I picked up a secondhand AF600 that is currently not functioning and has a particular set of behaviors that give me some hope (??).

1. When a battery is inserted into the camera, the lens extends then retracts. The screen and buttons do not appear to function.

2. After retraction, if the film door is opened and closed, the camera will wind film. The screen now works and notes 'E' or empty. The buttons do not function.

I've done some basic troubleshooting. I removed the external shell and cleaned out the buttons and contacts. I inspected the shutter blades and unit and have found them to be clean and free of debris.

If anyone has any clues on what could be causing this issue, or even a next step with troubleshooting, I'd love to hear it.

 

[zuikologist]

Is the lens cover operating properly ? I had problems with the cover on one I owned a while ago. It needed some very gentle manipulation to open properly. I can’t recall if this affected other functions.

 

[P-K]

Is the lens cover operating properly ? I had problems with the cover on one I owned a while ago. It needed some very gentle manipulation to open properly. I can’t recall if this affected other functions.

I would say the lens displays its full range of motion.

When I place a battery into the camera, the lens cover fully expands, opens completely, closes, then retracts. From there, the camera does not respond at all unless I open the film door open, after which the spool spins and the screen turns on showing the camera is empty.

 

[Phil_F_NM]

I don't know what the attraction to this and other similar cameras is these days.
I wouldn't buy one of these for more than $10 just because a point and shoot from the 80s or 90s is going to have problems that can't be fixed easily.
I cleaned some sand out of mine and cleaned the contacts and rubber buttons, which allowed me to get lucky with one AF600 out of three. I have two parts bodies.
I think that old point and shoots (which is to say all point and shoots) should be treated like the disposable cameras they mimicked in size. Don't put any money and not too much effort into them, shoot film until they break, move on.
There is too much good money being thrown away on bad point and shoot cameras these days.
Then again, people regularly pay over $500 for a Yashica T4 from Goodwill, sight unseen...

Phil Forrest

 

[P-K]

I don't know what the attraction to this and other similar cameras is these days.
I wouldn't buy one of these for more than $10 just because a point and shoot from the 80s or 90s is going to have problems that can't be fixed easily.
I cleaned some sand our of mine and cleaned the contacts and rubber buttons, which allowed me to get lucky with one AF600 out of three. I have two parts bodies.
I think that old point and shoots (which is to say all point and shoots) should be treated like the disposable cameras they mimicked in size. Don't put any money and not too much effort into them, shoot film until they break, move on.
There is too much good money being thrown away on bad point and shoot cameras these days.
Then again, people regularly pay over $500 for a Yashica T4 from Goodwill, sight unseen...

Phil Forrest

I hear ya. I mostly enjoy sourcing a cheap camera and spending some time tinkering with it. Point and shoots are numerous in volume and readily available at a variety of markets so I don’t feel too bad working one into the ground.

With that said point and shoots and their compact form factors are very attractive. I’m not aware of new film point and shoots being produced (not do I expect this to ever happen) so there’s definitely an understanding that supply is only going down.

 

[zuikologist]

I found the AF600 to be particularly fragile. Mine also developed a light leak from the sliding lens tube.

I hope you can get yours working, the lens is good and size is great.

 

[zuikologist]

Did you have any luck with the repair?

 

[P-K]

Did you have any luck with the repair?

Unfortunately not. I took a bit of a pause on the repair after hitting this wall. The body and lens element seem to be in good condition so I will keep this around to Frankenstin a working AF600 together with other nonfunctioning bodies.