I have a Nikon F2 that I am selling for the widow of a good friend. I have been shooting Nikons for 15 years, but can't figure this one out. I can only get the camera to fire by the following sequence: After advancing the film and firing the shutter, I cannot advance the film again unless I first set and trigger the self-timer. After the self-timer goes off, I can advance the film and fire the shutter again.

Does this make sense to anybody? I would like to know if the camera is working correctly before trying to sell it.

Thanks,

-- Ed Farmer (photography2k@hotmail.com), July 26, 2001

Answers

Hi Ed. It sounds as if someone's been at it. The wind on mechanism must be aligned with the motor drive shaft, if that makes any sense to you. If everything isn't 'just right' then either the shutter will be locked out, or the wind-on will be locked up.
Try releasing the shutter via the motor drive release in the base of the camera, that might free it up. My guess is that this camera has been on the awful MD something-or-other winder; it's been used at a slow speed, the whole thing's locked up, and it's just been taken off the motor drive and abandoned. If you're lucky, a bit of jiggling with the different releases (top plate, base, and self-timer) might just free it up. Otherwise, it probably needs the motor drive shaft releasing and resetting. Not a repair that I can describe easily, or recommend.

-- Pete Andrews (p.l.andrews@bham.ac.uk), July 27, 2001.

I have owned several F2s and though your problem sounds quite odd I'm not supprised. The self timers on those cameras usually give you the most trouble and have learned to try them before you buy one. Howerer I do not think that it is broken. From memory there should be a 2 or 3 position switch physically around the shutter release. One position is locked second normal, third conects the shutter to the self timer to the shutter for long time exposures. I think that is where your problem is the shutter is still linked to the self timer. How to release it it has been a while so I cant tell you how to release it. But maybe this will jog someones memory. Hope this helps.

-- john (dogspleen@juno.com), July 27, 2001.

Ah, yes, the shutter could be set to 'T', that would give the symptoms Ed describes. I thought that would've been far be too obvious, though.

-- Pete Andrews (p.l.andrews@bham.ac.uk), July 27, 2001.

Hey guys! Thanks for the help. The camera was set to "T", although it was far from as obvious as all that! In any case, the camera appears to be functioning perfectly.

-- Ed Farmer (photography2k@hotmail.com), July 27, 2001.

I have also bought a Nikon F2 78xxxx for US$500/- in Iran. I think I have paid a high price and if the knob is in position T the timer function would have to be on so try not to switch to timer position unless you yourself want to be photographed Vijay,Planning Consultant Mapna,Iran Please reply as I am now looking for a good combination of drive which one ??? Regards Vijay

-- nayar vijay (vijay_n52@hotmail.com), December 27, 2001.