Nikon Photography - Recent Questions, Troubleshooting & Support

It sounds like your Nikon FM may be experiencing a mechanical issue with the shutter mechanism. Here are a few troubleshooting steps you can try:

1. Inspect the Film Advance Mechanism: Check the film advance lever and mechanism to ensure they are functioning properly. Make sure there are no obstructions or debris interfering with the movement of the advance lever.
2. Check the Shutter Release Button: Inspect the shutter release button to see if it's sticking or malfunctioning. Sometimes, a stuck or sticky shutter release button can cause the shutter to fire unintentionally.
3. Examine the Mirror Mechanism: Carefully inspect the mirror mechanism to see if there are any visible signs of damage or misalignment. If the mirror is flipping up unexpectedly, there may be an issue with the mechanism that controls its movement.
4. Clean and Lubricate: If the camera hasn't been serviced in a while, it's possible that dirt, dust, or dried lubricant may be causing the issue. Consider cleaning the internal components of the camera and applying a small amount of appropriate lubricant to the moving parts (be cautious and follow proper procedures when lubricating a camera).
5. Seek Professional Repair: If the issue persists after attempting basic troubleshooting, it's advisable to have the camera inspected and repaired by a qualified camera technician. They can diagnose the problem more accurately and perform any necessary repairs or adjustments to restore the camera to proper working condition.
6. Use a Different Lens: Sometimes, issues with the lens can affect the camera's operation. Try using a different lens to see if the problem persists. If the issue only occurs with a specific lens, there may be a problem with that particular lens.

It's essential to handle the camera with care during troubleshooting, especially when accessing internal components. If you're unsure about performing any repairs or adjustments yourself, it's best to seek professional assistance to avoid causing further damage to the camera.

Remove the lens and look inside it. Do you see the mirror? If not, your mirror is stuck in the up position. Its flat up against the focusing screen. If the mirror is down, the problem is in the lens, or you still have the lens cap in place.
Check your manual under troubleshooting.
Try setting the shutter speed dial to the M90 position.
Also be sure the batteries are inserted correctly!!!!

If no change yet, you can try to put the mirror back down yourself. With the lens removed, set the camera on its back. You can use your fingers, but I suggest a toothpick cuz they won't leave fingerprints on the mirror and the toothpick should break before you exert enough pressure to really break something. So just try to return the mirror to the 45 degree angle within the mirror box. Be careful not to damage anything in there, like the shutter or the arms that raise and lower the mirror. Depending on where you live, there may be some corrosion or rust on the mirror linkage. It should move easily. If you feel any roughness when you move the miror, that may be the reason it did not return on its own. Then turn it on, off again. At some point, you may want to have this camera cleaned, lubricated and Adjusted(CLA) - after all, its over 25 yrs old.
If all that did not work, you'll need to send it in. Here are some good choices for repair places...
Garry Airapetov in Niles, ILL
Camera Repairs in Avon, IN.
BTW here's a website with several pages about FG...http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/emfgfg20/fg/index.htm
copy and paste it into your browser.

Have you tried fresh batteries and setting the shutter speed dial to M90 or m250 whichever you have? If this does'nt work you can remove the camera bottom plate and gently pull a lever away from the advance cog. Some times things get out of sync in there. Sorry I can't be more specific but I did this many years ago. Good Luck.

Probably means the film has not been loaded correctly. Look in the manual for instructions on how to do this.

Hi,
When the batteries in an F3 die, though the film can still be advanced, the photographer is limited to a single mechanical shutter speed of approximately 1/60 second. It is tripped by a secondary fully mechanical shutter release. Works fine when camera is attached to a motor drive because it uses the drivers power...Pls replace the batteries as one of the following is okay.....

• Battery: Choice of one 3V lithium battery CR-1/3N type,,

• two 1.55V silver-oxide batteries SR-44 type, or

• two 1.5V alkaline batteries LR-44 type

Hope this helps!
Take care and please Remember to rate/vote and give me 4 Thumbs Up for me to continue for Helping out the Community :)
Thanks

A few things to try, based on my FG's operation: - The most obvious- are your batteries good? Correct type? If they are: - When all is well the red LED metering lights will appear in the viewfinder window on the right side, in the range of shutter speed numbers. - The red LED metering lights are only activated when you press the shutter release button (halfway). The lights go out after a few seconds if the shutter button is not held down. Just tap the shutter button to reactivate them. - The shutter speed setting dial must NOT be on B (Bulb) or M90 (non-electronic Manual mode) if you want to see the red LED metering lights. The lights do not operate on these two settings because metering is irrelevant here (you'd be doing the metering, not the camera). - If you're in P (Program mode) the lens aperture must be set all the way to the smallest setting (usually f22 or f16, depending on the lens). If not, you'll only see blinking lights at the top and bottom of the shutter speed range on the right in the viewfinder. That's a reminder to set the lens to the smallest (highest numeric) aperture.
Hope these help. The FG is a great little camera.

There are youtube videos on this type of repair to DSLR cameras and I dont recommend that you try it unless you have incredible talent for small details and a very clean environment.

First would be to check your batteries. If they are good look inside the battery holder see if there is battery corrosion, if so it should go to Nikon for CLA.
Call Nikon Nikon Film 1-800-645-6687

1. Set the film speed manually or DX to do it automatically by holding down the ISO button and turning the command dial.

2. Slide the camera back lock releases toward each other to open the back.

3. Insert the film cartridge on the left.

4. Pull film leader over to the red index mark on the right.

5. Close the back, making sure there's no slack in the film, and the lock releases snapped close.

6. Lightly press the shutter button. The film icon will appear in the LCD panel.

7. Fully depress the shutter button to automatically advance film to frame 1.

You can download a manual from http://www.butkus.org/chinon/nikon.htm

Hello Blair, I too like old school camera, mine are the N2000, N6006, N80, and F100. First without film in the camera I would attempt to release the shutter. If it does then there is something going on with the film transfer causing a bind. However, If it continues not to release the shutter I would put the FM10 on the shelf then go to KEH.com for another. Just now checked KEH.com, 2014-05-26, a FM10 in EX condition is $89, EX+ condition $99. That would be a much better move than repairing yours and less expensive. Cordially

The camera should operate perfectly fine without a lens. It should also operate perfectly fine without film (other than for not taking any pictures, of course).I know this is stupid, but make sure the batteries are inserted in the proper direction. Then make sure the film advance mode selector around the shutter release button is not in the "L" position. L is for Lock, S is for single-frame, and C is for continuous.If you need a manual you may download a copy here.

N65s were notorious for bad shutter release buttons. The metal is thinner than a strand of hair and they break. Search Ebay and see if the part is available to replace (note: Nikon stopped selling parts last year).

This is so tedious a job that I would not try it myself unless I was adept in doing this right.Unless the camera costs a lot to start with, I would just get another SLR. I believe the cost in repairing it depending on model and the size, will be about $200. I say this because from experience, I had a $250 camera 20 years ago and the latch broke on mine and he said it would not be worth it to fix it. Unfortunately, it was way out of warranty.

On many cameras, a lens error means the lens is not set to is highest f/stop such as f/16 f/22 and the like. The lens must be put in that mode for the camera so that the camera electronics can auto set the f/stop as needed. First thing I would do is look at the f/stop on lens with manual f/stop settings; such as the Nikon 50mm f/1.8D making sure it is set to the highest f/ number (smallest opening). Remove the lens check the dial. Also, is the battery fully charged? If all that is okay then do the following couple of things; 1. Get yourself a film change bag, they look like a black plastic/rubberish T-shirt. Put the camera in there make sure the bottom is fully closed, put your arms through the sleeves, they have elastic keeping light out. Open the camera carefully remove the film canister then using your fingers rewind the film back into the canister. 2. Okay, you do not have access to a film change bag, easy get a thick blanket or two, go in to a closet, close the door, put a towel at the bottom, cover your camera as best as you can then do the same as if you were using a change bag. Important, make sure you are in a completely dark place without ANY LIGHT working its way through to you. Next, being as your are using film, big congratulations for that, purchase a change bag from Adorama, Amazon, B&HPhoto. Every film shooter should have one. Hope the above helps you.