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on Sept 20, 2021 19:04:37 GMT
Last Edit: Sept 20, 2021 19:10:47 GMT by dday
Hello! Long time reader, first time poster.
I am in the process of trying to fix up a FX-103, and I noticed a weird problem. If the camera is used from "cold," Program Mode thinks that the lens' minimum aperture is the taking aperture and shoots at f/22 instead of opening up the aperture appropriately. However, the camera meter itself still reads the scene as if Program Mode was operating correctly -- it is just when the shutter is activated, the camera deems the aperture to be f/22 and then sets a corresponding shutter speed to that. What temporarily fixes this is to use AE mode to take a shot, and only then the Program mode will start firing correctly. However, the problem returns every time that the camera sits for a while. Any idea what could be causing this? How would the AE mode operate to "wake up" the Program mode? Thanks in advance for any assistance you could provide.
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on Sept 20, 2021 20:23:17 GMT
Posted: Sept 20, 2021 20:23:17 GMT
Hello dday , and Welcome to the forum! I pulled out a 103, and I'll admit it's been awhile, so maybe some questions might help to narrow down some possibilities... 1. Does the same behaviour happen with different lenses - assuming you'd have 2+ to try with? 2. Is the aperture set to the "Off" position when the camera's not in use, and between the periods where the issue occurs? 3. When using any AE mode, is the lens set to its minimum aperture? (f/16, f/22, etc.) 4. Does removing the lens alter the behaviour? As a refresher I pulled out the manual - available online - and there's several things to watch for in the viewfinder display to see whether the metering system is in an at-fault state. Not every possible combination of exposures settings will result in a successful firing, so for instance, if the green "P" at the top of the display is flashing/pulsing, some part of the auto settings are invalid and it can't calculate properly. Check the manual to see if there's a particular condition occurring that is actually meant to keep the camera from misfiring or 'wasting' a shot. There are probably a few mechanical or electronic things to look for, but it might be worth it to rule out the simpler things first. |
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on Sept 21, 2021 3:03:36 GMT
Posted: Sept 21, 2021 3:03:36 GMT
Thanks so much for your email. I took a good look at your suggestions. The phenomenon appears to be the same with several different C/Y lenses, and it doesn't seem to matter what the camera was set to when it sits. I've noticed that now after one PM shot, as with an AE shot, it starts to work ok in PM. It seems to be just that first shot after the camera sits. It's not a huge deal, but it would be nice if PM would work from the first shot on.
In any event, apart from its lack of mirror dampening, the FX-103 is a nice little machine. The VF brightness is very close to the Aria, if not equal.
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on Sept 21, 2021 19:49:52 GMT
Posted: Sept 21, 2021 19:49:52 GMT
It almost sounds like it's a conductivity issue and not necessarily a mechanical problem with the lens or the linkage. I wonder if it could be as simple as an issue with the battery contact on the plastic cap. Since the cap itself is made of nylon, it isn't conductive. The metal ring at the base can lose its shape enough that the 2 contact 'ears' that stick up to touch the internal contact ring aren't quite making solid or consistent contact. If either or both of those little tabs/ears are broken off then the problem can be complicated or provide no connectivity at all later on, so it might be worth looking at with a magnifier to see how they look.
Even if it looks good... If you have another cap that you can substitute, it might be an easy fix with a replacement if there's a physical problem with the cap. I've had tabs/ears that have gotten flattened by previous owners from over-tightening, or some that have lost one of the two ears, and it caused issues over time.
It might also be worthwhile to clean the metal contact rings with some white vinegar.
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on Sept 22, 2021 16:37:12 GMT
Posted: Sept 22, 2021 16:37:12 GMT
Program Mode thinks that the lens' minimum aperture is the taking aperture and shoots at f/22 instead of opening up the aperture appropriately. First thing to understand is the lens doesn't 'open up' to the working aperture as it starts out fully open - it closes down to the working aperture. So the problem is that the aperture closes all the way down and doesn't stop at the appropriate aperture. The mechanism that sets the aperture can become sticky and it sounds like that's your problem. It sticks after it has been sat for a while then frees up and starts to work. I've seen it happen once before. I don't have a 103 here to check and it's too long ago for me to remember the details but I think the mirror box needs to be removed to get at the mechanism so not an easy fix. |
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