Shutterbug Strasse

A photographer's haven for the lastest in digital or traditional film cameras.

Return to Shutterbug Strasse


Message Sort: Post Order or Asylum Reverse Threaded

a question about a possible (?) Nikon lens/(film) body compatibility issue

66.189.37.139

Posted on June 9, 2009 at 16:51:42
mhardy6647
Audiophile

Posts: 16025
Location: New England
Joined: October 12, 1999
Contributor
  Since:
October 23, 2016
My son has a Nikon FM body he bought used last year from KEH and a brand-new (as of last week) 85 mm f1.8 AF lens. The aforementioned Nikon lens (carefully chosen by him for compatibility with his FM and his D40 DSLR) works perfectly with the D40 but appears to have a weird intermittent compatibility issue with the FM. Given that the lens is brand new and the camera used, he's in a quandary: is the new lens somehow defective OR does the camera body have an issue OR is it some fundamental (albeit unexpected) compatibility glitch?

He e-mailed Nikon's service support. Here's his question to them (and their response); I'd be interested in any comments, suggestions, or thoughts any Nikon-gurus here might have!

Question:
Customer (...) 06/09/2009 03:58 PM

I have owned a Nikon FM for about a year and had no issues with it
using a variety of lenses. I recently bought a new 85mm f/1.8 AF lens
because I wanted a short telephoto to use with film. As far as I know
this lens should be compatible, but when I try to use it on the FM the
camera has some odd issues. Approximately every other time I advance
the film either the shutter releases as I release the advance lever
(without ever pressing the shutter release), or the camera locks up
(mirror up, shutter open, aperture stopped down) until I fiddle with
the shutter speed dial. The FM still operates fine without a lens or
with a different lens. Do you have any idea what is causing this?

As I said, the lens is brand new, I bought it maybe a week ago...

Thank you...

Nikon response:

...Not sure why your Nikon FM and with the 85mm f/1.8 AF lens is having
this difficulty. The lens is compatible for use with the camera. The
lens should not have any relationship with the shutter and advance
mechanism. If the problem persists you may want to have it inspected
by a service facility...


He got the lens at a bricks & mortar store here in MA, but he is in GA for two months on a summer internship. I figure in the worst case he can take it back to the store when he comes back in August, but it would be great to have some inkling of what is going on and whether the camera or the lens might actually have something wrong with it.

You can read a little more about this glitch (and see some of his photos!) at his photoblog (link below).

I am a proud father (and a bad photographer) so I'll also link to a few of his photos as part of this thread! Thanks very much for your consideration!
___

Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket

all the best,
mrh

 

Hide full thread outline!
    ...
I think it's a problem with the FM, posted on July 28, 2009 at 18:44:51
danj
Audiophile

Posts: 3286
Location: Near Salem, Oregon
Joined: December 11, 2001
The lens should have nothing to do with the shutter and advance. I think the FM body has an intermittent shutter problem and it is just a coincidence that it has only happened with the new lens. The FM has no electrical connection to the lens and a mechanical shutter so electrical interference is not an issue.

The FM was made from 1977 to 1982 so it's pretty long in the tooth and may be due for a CLA (clean lube adjust) service.

 

Page processed in 0.019 seconds.