Oh no! I think the meter died in my F3HP!

desmobob

Senior Member
I just pulled my old F3HP out of storage and popped in a new pair of batteries. Everything powers up, the shutter speed defaults to 1/80 until the counter gets to frame #1, and then the viewfinder reads "-8-". When I go to manual settings, the shutter speeds show up but the meter reads "-" on every speed. I attached the motor drive to be sure it wasn't the new batteries I had put in the body. Same result. Darn it!

I haven't used this body in a L-O-N-G time, but I don't think it' user error... am I forgetting something about using the F3 and doing something wrong?
I live fairly close to a camera repair shop so I'll have to stop by and see what they can do.

So far, I've already had two cameras die on me this fall; my D70 (sensor failure) and my Panasonic Lumix DMC-T5 (power switch/PSB), and now my F3HP isn't working! I want to shoot some film but now I'm afraid to pull out an F4s or F2S for fear my bad luck will continue! I guess I'll load up the old FG and give it a try...

Stay sharp,
Bob
 

pendennis

Senior Member
Do you have a lens mounted?

Are the camera batteries oriented properly (+/-)? And, in line with batteries, did you thoroughly clean the contacts in the holder and the body? Over time, batteries will secrete a film which can interfere with the contacts. If you have a fiberglass brush, or a decent pencil eraser, be sure the contacts are spotless. Also, insure you use something like Scotch Brite to clean the threads on the battery cap, and the body. It only takes a slight "non-contact" to keep the batteries from making a complete circuit. Nikon, as well as others recommend not making any contact with batteries and your bare skin.

Also, you may want to remove the finder, and insure the contacts are clean between that and the body.

These are niggling problems which arise from time to time.
 

desmobob

Senior Member
Thanks, Dennis. I did have a lens mounted. I also tried with the MD-4 attached. It powered up the camera and operated normally but I still had the meter reading problem. The camera's DE-3 finder functions properly when mounted on another normally-functioning F3. I will try cleaning all battery, motor drive and finder contact areas with some Deox-it and keep my fingers crossed, but I fear the old girl has a dead meter.

Thanks again,
Bob
 

desmobob

Senior Member
More than two years later, I finally dropped off this F3 at the camera repair shop today! I also left my F2S for a CLA, and another F3 body for a foam light seal job.

If the F3 with meter trouble can be fixed for a reasonable amount of money, I'll do it. If not, the other F3 and the F2S (and an FG and pair of F4s at home) will be ready to shoot some film in a week or two. I haven't shot any film in too long. I was able to fire up my old Coolscan V ED film/negative scanner too, thanks to software by VueScan.

When I was chatting with the gentleman that will be repairing my cameras, I was telling him that I picked Nikon way back when because they seemed to value backwards-compatibility in their equipment, and that fact made me surprised that they totally bailed on the scanners, leaving their customers with no software support to carry them into the future.

He told me things aren't like they used to be with Nikon and said they won't even sell parts to repair shops any longer. He said Canon is now the company offering the most help to keep old equipment running through parts support, etc.

Interesting...
 

Fred Kingston

Senior Member
More than two years later, I finally dropped off this F3 at the camera repair shop today! I also left my F2S for a CLA, and another F3 body for a foam light seal job.

If the F3 with meter trouble can be fixed for a reasonable amount of money, I'll do it. If not, the other F3 and the F2S (and an FG and pair of F4s at home) will be ready to shoot some film in a week or two. I haven't shot any film in too long. I was able to fire up my old Coolscan V ED film/negative scanner too, thanks to software by VueScan.

When I was chatting with the gentleman that will be repairing my cameras, I was telling him that I picked Nikon way back when because they seemed to value backwards-compatibility in their equipment, and that fact made me surprised that they totally bailed on the scanners, leaving their customers with no software support to carry them into the future.

He told me things aren't like they used to be with Nikon and said they won't even sell parts to repair shops any longer. He said Canon is now the company offering the most help to keep old equipment running through parts support, etc.

Interesting...

I wouldn't get too excited. Canon just dropped 15% of its Authorized Canon Dealers because of struggling financial conditions.
 
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