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FE - Shutter at one speed


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6 replies to this topic

#1
Autonerd

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Hi all - I'm new to Nikon forum and SLRs (I was a Pentax guy in my film days) and I just discovered a friend's old FE in a closet.

 

The problem I'm having is that the shutter only fires at one speed regardless of where the dial is set. Bulb setting works properly. I have changed the batteries, the indicator light is on and the meter seems to work as does the self-timer.

 

I did have the stuck-advance issue (mirror going up but shutter not firing, advance lever locked) but with a little fiddling with the lever that problem went away on its own. Now it fires and advances but at what sounds like just one shutter speed. 

 

The camera looks like its in pretty good shape with clean insides, and I don't see any crud in the battery contacts. It's been sitting unused for many years.

 

Any ideas would be appreciated -- really eager to run a roll of film through this baby and see if those Nikon optics are as good as everyone says. :)

 

Thanks in advance --

Aaron



#2
Brian

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Even on manual- this camera sets the shutter speed electronically. It sounds like the variable resister of the camera may be at fault. On the FE,  Nikkormat EL, and other Nikons of this era - these can develop problems and crack. I replaced one on a Nikon EM years ago, and had a Nikon EL2 repaired that had the problem.



#3
gts350

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Sorry, I don't know why these repeated.

#4
gts350

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Again, sorry for the repeat.

#5
gts350

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You need to replace the batteries. Dead batteries cause the Nikon FE to only operate at 1/90th of a second no matter the speed selected (excluding bulb).
Good camera have fun.

#6
Rudedog34

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Aaron,

I have the same problem. Did you get it firing right again?
And, why is it that there has to be one or two people in a thread that refuses to read the text the OP wrote. In photo forums these people always ask, "Did you replace or check the batteries?" Even though the OP clearly stated the batteries are fine.
Drives me nuts.

Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

#7
Merco_61

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I think Brian is on the right track here.

Do the two FE-s vary the shutter speed in aperture priority in different light levels? In that case, the problem is almost certainly a cracked variable resistor. If it doesn't, the problem lies elsewhere, probably a broken wire between the meter and the shutter.

 

Sometimes, a battery can work the meter and the battery check, but the current draw of the shutter is enough to cause malfunction. Cleaning the battery contacts with some De-OxIt gold in an old camera that has been sitting a long time unused is always a good idea as the extra resistance there can make the current draw too high, especially if using alkaline button cells.