Nikon FA jammed: Technical Problem

[pkan...@tinet.ie]

I am looking for some help with the following problem I had with my Nikon FA
attached to an MD15 motordrive: After taking a photograph the other day using
the motorwinder's shutter release (on "S" for single shot), the camera's
mirror went up, and after that the camera just froze. Nothing happened and
the camera seems to be jammed in between throwing the mirror up, and
releasing the shutter. I have been trying every possible way to release the
shutter, but it hasn't worked. Took de motorwinder off, and tried to manually
wind the film, but as the shutter hasn't released, that didn't work. I have
exchanged the two button cell batteries for new ones, no result. I have
exchanged the 6 AA penlight batteries in the winder, no result. I think, the
problem was that the batteries of the winder were almost empty, and it didn't
have enough power to trigger the shutter release.

The camera is jammed now, and I have no idea how to manually release or bypass
the shutter mechanism. Before I start sending the camera off to a Nikon
specialist, and spend a lot of money on that, I thought I'd better try the
forum, to find out if other people have experienced the same problem and know
of an easy way to fix it. If there is no easy way, I will just have to send it
off then, I suppose... :-{

Paul Kanters
Ireland

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[Belton1]

You could try to take off the bottom of the camera and see it you can trip the
shutter mechanically. How ever, you might bugger the thing up worse than it is.
Send it off to a repair guy who know what to do.

[SElli73713]

pkan...@tinet.ie writes:
> the camera seems to be jammed in between throwing the mirror up,
> and releasing the shutter. I have been trying every possible way to
> release the shutter, but it hasn't worked.

If you haven't tried this already, switch the shutter speed dial to the M250
(Mechanical, 1/250 sec) position. This shutter speed is all-mechanical to
provide a working shutter if the battery dies. The shutter and mirror should
release immediately. Most of the time this works for me. If it doesn't, I'd
say a trip to the shop is in order.

-- steve

[Colyn Goodson]

You might also try pressing the rewind button as you manually advance
the shutter..