Nikon EM question

[Newt_on_Swings]

Kinda miss my EM, it walked off with its perfect 50mm e series as well.

[michael stevens]

I had an FE-2 which did this when I bought it; maybe you have the same problem. In my case it turned out to be the contact inside the camera which senses the aperture. I assume it was dirty or slightly corroded through disuse. Try repeatedly turning the aperture ring backwards and forwards from wide open to fully stopped down. It took quite a lot of twisting, but in my case it worked in the end.

[snegron]

I had an FE-2 which did this when I bought it; maybe you have the same problem. In my case it turned out to be the contact inside the camera which senses the aperture. I assume it was dirty or slightly corroded through disuse. Try repeatedly turning the aperture ring backwards and forwards from wide open to fully stopped down. It took quite a lot of twisting, but in my case it worked in the end.

Do you recommend twisting the aperture ring repeatedly with the camera meter turned on, or with the meter off? I don't know if the jumpy needle problem is on the aperture lever on the camera mount or in the actual needle itself.

[John_Nikon_F]

Doesn't matter if the camera meter is on or not. The problem is in the ring resistor. It's dirty. So, the 10-15 Nikon shuffles that I suggested over on Nikonians should work. You might have to do it some more, but it should work. It's a common problem with the EM.

-J

[snegron]

Doesn't matter if the camera meter is on or not. The problem is in the ring resistor. It's dirty. So, the 10-15 Nikon shuffles that I suggested over on Nikonians should work. You might have to do it some more, but it should work. It's a common problem with the EM.

-J

Thanks John! I was just getting ready to respond to you over at Nikonians, but you saved me the trip! I am rotating the aperture ring repeatedly as we speak. Next on my list will be to change the foam seals on it as well. I will probably be ordering several foam light seals in the near future to replace them on some of my other bodies (FM2n, F3 and an old Pentax), so my "new to me" EM will be my next project.

[CGW]

Thanks John! I was just getting ready to respond to you over at Nikonians, but you saved me the trip! I am rotating the aperture ring repeatedly as we speak. Next on my list will be to change the foam seals on it as well. I will probably be ordering several foam light seals in the near future to replace them on some of my other bodies (FM2n, F3 and an old Pentax), so my "new to me" EM will be my next project.

It can also simply be shot; if so, all the twiddling won't bring it back to life. It's a hit-or-miss solution, at best. The only seal that's behind most light leaks is at the hinge side of the back and you don't need a "kit" to replace it, just a piece of adhesive-backed foam.

[snegron]

It can also simply be shot; if so, all the twiddling won't bring it back to life. It's a hit-or-miss solution, at best. The only seal that's behind most light leaks is at the hinge side of the back and you don't need a "kit" to replace it, just a piece of adhesive-backed foam.

Actually, the twiddling has worked for the most part! The needle is much less jumpy now. Thanks for the feedback on the foam kits. I was planning on replacing the foam on the hinge side of the back as well as the door channel seals as they are gummy. I wasn't too overly concerned changing out the mirror cushion though.

[CGW]

Actually, the twiddling has worked for the most part! The needle is much less jumpy now. Thanks for the feedback on the foam kits. I was planning on replacing the foam on the hinge side of the back as well as the door channel seals as they are gummy. I wasn't too overly concerned changing out the mirror cushion though.

Door channel seals are more for moisture and dust, not light. I've taken them out of several Nikon MF bodies and never had any problems.

[michael stevens]

Actually, the twiddling has worked for the most part!

Keep at it, it can take quite a lot of twisting and turning to make up for the years of neglect!

[snegron]

Keep at it, it can take quite a lot of twisting and turning to make up for the years of neglect!

Getting there! Getting there slowly, but getting there! The jumpiness is very minimal now.