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Ccguy
Tinkerer Username: Ccguy
Post Number: 1 Registered: 03-2009
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | Posted on Wednesday, March 11, 2009 - 12:10 pm: |
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Last time I used my F3 ( a year ago), it worked fine. Now the mirror won't come down. I cycled the shutter many times, cycled the mirror lock-up lever many times, but no go. Am I missing something? Or must I take it to my friendly camera repair shop? Thanks. |
Vinzenz
Tinkerer Username: Vinzenz
Post Number: 22 Registered: 06-2008
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | Posted on Wednesday, March 11, 2009 - 04:54 pm: |
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I remember that my old Nikon 801s did the same when the batteries were down. After new batteries were inserted the mirror swung down and everything went back to normal. But it seems that the shutter in your camera is still working, despite the locked mirror. |
Bossman
Tinkerer Username: Bossman
Post Number: 27 Registered: 02-2009
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | Posted on Wednesday, March 11, 2009 - 07:50 pm: |
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Trying to picture the F3......may have this wrong but here goes! If your mirror has been stuck up for a year it may be nothing more than it being stuck into the mirror dampening material. Carefully pry it downward a bit and try to loosen it. If that's not it, did you turn the speed control to "M" setting and try unlocking that way? Thirdly (should have been first) make sure the batteries are good AND that there are NO spots of corrosion on the batts, between them or on the contacts or holder base. If some of the above does NOT apply to the F3, don't trash me.....haven't done one for several years!! |
Ccguy
Tinkerer Username: Ccguy
Post Number: 2 Registered: 03-2009
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | Posted on Friday, March 13, 2009 - 03:55 pm: |
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So here I am, about to try Bossman's "M" setting suggestion. I remove the lens mount cap, and there is the mirror! So maybe all the cycling had an effect after all. Anyway, thanks for the suggestions. |
Sevo
Tinkerer Username: Sevo
Post Number: 34 Registered: 09-2008
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | Posted on Saturday, March 14, 2009 - 10:57 am: |
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Don't forget to look into the suggestion of the sticky mirror damping! F3s are by now the age where that usually becomes an issue. Sevo |
Ccguy
Tinkerer Username: Ccguy
Post Number: 3 Registered: 03-2009
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | Posted on Saturday, March 14, 2009 - 06:05 pm: |
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Sevo, that was precisely the problem. The mirror had little specks of black material along its bottom edge. A very light swipe with a tissue removed them. Hmmm ... will this problem get worse? At the very least, I won't store it with the lens in the up position. But it may get to the point where the mirror stays up between shots. Then what? Mike |
Bossman
Tinkerer Username: Bossman
Post Number: 34 Registered: 02-2009
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | Posted on Saturday, March 14, 2009 - 11:04 pm: |
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Send me your address and I'll mail you a replacement strip for your mirror mech. Art @ www.flcamerarepair.com |