Problem with Nikon 35ti, please assist!

Creagerj

Incidental Artist
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Hmm, for some reason when I was messing with the exposure compensation on my newly acquired 35ti the needle on the analog display got stuck and won't move when I try to adjust the exposure compensation. The exposure comp still works, but the needle won't move.

72436_591321994213_39204817_33979147_5903792_n.jpg


As you can see from this very low quality image, the needle (in the lower center of the display) is pointing to 4 o'clock when it should be pointing to 6.

I tried resetting the display, and while the other three dials respond and can be adjusted in the reset mode, the exposure comp needle won't budge.

What gives? Did I do something to cause this? Is there anyway to fix it (aside from forking over a bunch of cash, I only paid $7 for the thing so I'm not about to do that.) Has anyone ever heard of this problem or something similar to it?

I'm bummed, I thought this thing might be fun to use, but it isn't much good to have exposure comp if you cant tell how much you compensated without using a hand held meter to confirm:bang:. Plus I was kind of hoping I might be able to trade the thing to get myself a film scanner, but I suppose this will affect its value a bit.
 
I don't own a TI, but here are some random things I'd try:

- Remove the batteries, reinstall them.
- Replace the batteries altogether.
- Try some "mister persuasion": slap the camera on your hand, from different angles, to dislodge the needle.
- Maybe it's working properly, but in a non-intuitive way? If you go into a bright sunny place, does the needle move at all?

Hopefully an actual 35ti owner will answer, and add to my meager advice! :)
 
I don't own a TI, but here are some random things I'd try:

- Remove the batteries, reinstall them.
- Replace the batteries altogether.
- Try some "mister persuasion": slap the camera on your hand, from different angles, to dislodge the needle.
- Maybe it's working properly, but in a non-intuitive way? If you go into a bright sunny place, does the needle move at all?

Hopefully an actual 35ti owner will answer, and add to my meager advice! :)

It is only an exposure compensation needle, so it should only move when I tell it too.

I tried to removing the battery. All other needles continued to function correctly while nothing changed with the comp needle.
 
Well, mine sits in the closet -- the aperture needle points 180 degrees away from where it should, so it's pointing toward the center of the dial. That's the way it came to me. I have no idea how it could have gotten this way, other than messed up electronics. So I'm looking at a costly repair, I'm sure.
 
Well, mine sits in the closet -- the aperture needle points 180 degrees away from where it should, so it's pointing toward the center of the dial. That's the way it came to me. I have no idea how it could have gotten this way, other than messed up electronics. So I'm looking at a costly repair, I'm sure.

So I'm not alone here. Does it still function properly other than that? Can you still adjust the aperture even though the dial doesn't move?
 
So I'm not alone here. Does it still function properly other than that? Can you still adjust the aperture even though the dial doesn't move?

The dial moves, but I have no idea what the actual setting is since the needle is pointing away from the aperture scale.

I suppose I could try shooting in Program mode, but I'm so disgusted that I'm not interested in doing so.

I'll check the link to the Butkus site, but I bet this isn't covered there.
 
The dial moves, but I have no idea what the actual setting is since the needle is pointing away from the aperture scale.

I suppose I could try shooting in Program mode, but I'm so disgusted that I'm not interested in doing so.

I'll check the link to the Butkus site, but I bet this isn't covered there.

Oh, in that case, you're camera is perfectly fine. You just need to reset the display. It is a fairly easy fix. PM me and I will send you the camera's manual if you don't have it. Otherwise look up how to set custom functions and set code 02001. When the code is set just move the command dial until the aperture dial points exactly 12 o'clock.

I hope that helps.
 
Mine did that a couple of times and all it took was turning it off and on again. Presto!

BTW, are you in P, S or A mode when you dial the compensation?
 
Mine did that a couple of times and all it took was turning it off and on again. Presto!

BTW, are you in P, S or A mode when you dial the compensation?

I tried turning it on and off quite a few times, and tried taking out the battery, no luck.

I'm using it in A mode. There is only P, A, T, no S.

Edit: I have tried it in all available settings, no luck.
 
It's been a long time since I owned this camera so all is a little hazy but I remember a similar "problem".

Go into the menu settings (mode - set etc) and see what's there. I seem to recollect this is what I did with success.

Hope somehow this helps
 
Well, it does have matrix metering, so perhaps it's reasonable to just not use exposure compensation once you've confirmed that it's zero'd. I have a 35ti and have never bothered with exp comp
 
You might try over at Nikonians. They way many folks here love Leicas here they do Nikons. It's free for 30 days, or at least it was.

Great price for a GREAT CAMERA.

B2 (;->
 
You see, that thing is broken so price is just right :)

I wonder if needle isn't bent, as I remember from another thread, camera has got a bump?

It does have a dent, but the thing is, the needle worked fine for almost a whole role of film while I experimented with bracketing exposures via exposure comp and THEN it crapped out on me. So it did work when I bought it. I messed with it quite a bit and there were no indication that something was wrong, and then the needle wouldn't go in the minus direction, only positive, and then it just got stuck.
 
It's been a long time since I owned this camera so all is a little hazy but I remember a similar "problem".

Go into the menu settings (mode - set etc) and see what's there. I seem to recollect this is what I did with success.

Hope somehow this helps

You're talking about resetting the display I'm pretty sure, I've tried that a couple of times with no luck.
 
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