I still have my old Nikon F, 1966 version, and was thinking about using it as an extra body for some senic shots. I called RRS to inquire about a plate for the camera and was told that it may be inaccurate at speeds less than 1/125 of a second, unless it is calibrated every 6 months or so.

Does anyone have supporting information about this? I was trying to find a use for this camera. It has taken many great pictures, and I sort of hate to see it sitting around unused.

-- Tom Shapiro (tshapiro@erols.com), June 04, 1999

Answers

Old F's never die, they just get sluggish... Any old camera that has been unused for a while is likely to run slow for a while, the lubricants can become sticky. Take it out of the cupboard, and fire the shutter a couple of hundred times (with no film), at various shutter speeds. It is quite likely that it will then be fine. Otherwise, it might benefit from a service.

My most used camera is an F, a little younger than yours. I seem to have acquired a few over the years. If the speeds are inaccurate, they are consistently inaccurate, and they don't vary. I bought one second-hand in 1979, and I suppose it might benefit from a service, but I've never bothered.

The trick is to try it out. Use it alongside your normal camera, at various shutter speeds, and compare the results (examining the negatives or slides). If the F underexposes, then just compensate in the future.

-- Alan Gibson (Alan.Gibson@technologist.com), June 04, 1999.

I still use my old F all the time, shooting mostly Velvia and Provia, and as far as I can tell, the full range of shutter speeds are still usable, even with reversal film. I have never had it serviced, but it has been in constant use. I would use it if I were you. If you find that they are off a bit, and you dont want to have it serviced, just load it with print film, and open up a stop. You should still get decent images.

-- Ron Shaw (shaw9@llnl.gov), June 07, 1999.

After using my sporadically Ftn for 10 years between cleanings, the only change was (minus 1-stop) in shutter speeds of 1/500 second and speeds slower than 1/8 sec.. It is good advice to take the camera and dry fire it several times, occasionally before using. I do not believe that you can wear out a Ftn shutter, under normal use.

-- Charlie Robbins (robbnsc@hotmail.com), June 07, 1999.

What seems to consign many an otherwise functional old mechanical SLR to an early grave are the petroleum-based lubricants of the '60s and early '70s. Regular exercise will reduce the symptoms, but most shutter timing and other irregularities arise from coagulated or sticky lube. A good CLA with silicone-based products will usually keep these old dears working for years.

-- Gary Watson (cg.watson@sympatico.ca), June 24, 1999.