Uneven exposure on Nikon S - shutter problem?

[Jan Van Laethem]

I have noticed uneven exposure on some recent pictures I took with the S. If you look at the second image, there is a darker area on the negative at the right hand side of the image, which translates in a lighter area on the final print or scan.

Could this be a shutter problem? Both pictures were taken in close succession on a test roll I did with some black and white filters. I have not seen this on any other film I exposed with the S, but have several rolls that haven't been developed yet, so it may be a recurring problem.

http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=9058432

http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=9058412

Has anyone ever experienced this? What could be the cause of this problem?

Thanks for your input

Jan

 

[Hazelshark]

Hi Jan,
I had the same problem with a Nikon S, too. It was a shutter problem, some kind of sluggish curtain closing which my very experienced repairman finally was not able to fix. Sometimes it occured obviously, sometimes slightly, sometimes not.
Finally I sold it to a shelf collector.
But maybe You will find someone who can fix it successfully, good luck,
Christopher

 

[Jan Van Laethem]

Sometimes it occured obviously, sometimes slightly, sometimes not.

Hi Christopher,

Upon close examination of the complete roll of film, I see that it is exactly as you describe: sometimes it is clearly visible, sometimes there is just a hint of it and sometimes it is completely absent and the pictures are perfectly exposed.

 

[xayraa33]

It looks like that the shutter curtain tension needs to be adjusted.
The last shot shows shutter curtain bounce, so the curtain brake, if the Nikon S is so equipped, needs to be set up properly if the shutter curtain speeds are to spec.

 

[Charles Woodhouse]

The curtains in your Nikon S are probably a bit old and stiff and don't unfurl at a consistent rate. The first curtain which appears to be causing the problem, spends most of its life wrapped tightly around its spring roller, and as the curtain ages the rubber either perishes or hardens, so the curtain tends to stick. The only satisfactory cure is a complete curtain replacement, although some repairers might cut corners and just replace one curtain. The Nikon S is not the easiest camera to replace curtains, but it is probably simpler than other Nikon rangefinders.

 

[Charles Woodhouse]

Curtain tension adjustment and thorough lubrication should be the answer if the curtains are in good condition, but if they are old and stiff replacement is the best cure.

 

[Tom A]

I find that the S has the most shutter problems of any of my Nikons. Partly, I suspect, because of the age of the curtains and partly due to stiff grease.
You should be able to have the curtains replaced (if they are brittle and stiff) and also have it "relubed". Occasionally the curtain's hang up on debris stuck in the track for the shutter blinds.
The S is incredibly overbuilt. Obviously Nikon set out to stop any statements of "cheaply made Japanese cameras"- and built it to the proverbial brick outhouse standard. Once you replace the blinds and have it "re-greased" it should be good for another 50-60 years. You will always have the erratic slow speeds on them - but that is part of the S myth.

 

[Jan Van Laethem]

Thank you for the answers. It looks like a service is inevitable then. Can anyone help me find a good repair service that is competent to work on Nikon RF? If at all possible, I would prefer to keep it in Europe (just to avoid the high shipping charges back and forth), but I will consider other locations as well.