seeking SLR repair assistance

[mich8261]

Is it sacrilegious to ask for SLR assistance at RFF? I hope not 🙂.

I just picked up a Nikon FG with a Series E 50mm/f1.8 lens at a yard sale this weekend (for $20). Cosmetically the camera looks great, the lens might have some damage on the rear element, but it's minor and perhaps can be cleaned away. But back to the camera.

• The mirror was sticking in the up position (even on B and M90) so I tried cleaning it and the ground glass with a Q-Tip and some alcohol. That dislodged some fine black particles which seem to be greasy. Perhaps they are from the foam that surround the inside case? In any case, I now see some smudges when I look through the viewfinder. I don't want to make it worse, so I stopped. Is there a better solution to clean this?
• The frame counter is not resetting to S when I open up the back and load film. Through research I have found that this camera automatically reverts to 1/90th until the counter reaches "1", so this is causing a problem beyond just knowing which frame I am on. I do have fresh batteries in the camera and verified that they work through the blinking LEDs next to 60 and 125.

I usually take my cameras to a proper repair shop or send them way, but I would like to make this a learning project. I don't really need this camera, but it would be fun to get it to work for little money.

Thanks for your help.

 

[monopix]

I would like to make this a learning project.

I think you might have just learnt your first lesson - don't touch the focussing screen. They're not impossible to clean but I've never had success cleaning one in situ. If the screen can be removed (not sure in this model) then you might be able to clean it by using some alcohol and then blowing it dry with compressed air (from a can).

I don't see the connection between a sticking mirror and cleaning it. You might have gooey mirror buffer foam which the mirror might be sticking to but cleaning the mirror won't help - the foam needs replacing.

The non-resetting film counter might be due to the catch which the film back normally presses in when closed is permanently stuck in. This can be caused by the light seal foam going to mush and sticking the catch.

You might find someone with experience of this model over at kyphoto.com (http://www.kyphoto.com/cgi-bin/forum/discus.cgi).

 

[mooge]

getting that goo on the focusing screen is not fun. I had to replace a ME super's focusing screen because of that crap. yeah, my first repair job...

DON'T click the shutter if that stuff falls on the mirror!...

if you can remove the fresnel lens/focusing screen/whatever, try cleaning it in naptha or alcohol. I've never tried, I dunno how it will work out for you...

and make sure you scrape off all that remains of the mirror damper!

good luck!

 

[mich8261]

yeah, that was really boneheaded on my part to mess with the ground glass with something liquid. It's probably now more finely embedded in the grooves. I'll try to take it apart this weekend.