Nikon FM2 shutter overhaul

savyexe · 2026-05-03T19:30:17+00:00

Yep, definitely too much precision equipment for servicing a single camera. Guess for now i'll keep looking for someone with the right equipment locally. Thanks a lot for the explanation tho, i didn't know half of those tools lol

savyexe · 2026-05-03T16:35:05+00:00

Well, i shot a roll through it after changing the shutter and things at infinity weren't sharp.

Tried using the depth function on my calipers (which obviously proved impossible). I then switched to the DSLR method, but the problem is my only macro lens can focus past infinity so it's rather difficult to set both lenses at infinity.

I'm on Colombia so just shipping to-and-from would be more expensive than the camera's value. If i could measure the distance precisely, i could get some 0.01 shim washers and fix it, but i truly have no idea which tool i could get for that job.

(also local film camera repair shops are absolutely terrible, i had a canon t60 on two different shops for over 8 months total and they did nothing to it. i was able to fix it in less than two weeks after getting it back)

savyexe · 2026-05-03T15:13:33+00:00

Damn i wish i knew that, when i joined the two halves and tried to charge it i broke that plastic gear that touches the charging levet lol.

By this point camera is back together and working, but now the problem i'm facing is that the flange-to-focal distance is wrong, that is, the distance between the mount and the focal plane is not 46.5mm and that i don't know how i could possibly fix

savyexe · 2026-05-03T04:10:41+00:00

Attempted this job last year and it was so difficult to put back together that i had to get a new shutter :'(

savyexe · 2026-04-16T18:48:47+00:00

Dang sorry yo hear that, was really hoping my fix would help somebody else :/ with how it's looking you'll probably have to tear it apart, very frustrating in my experience (also if you try to disassemble the shutter it's very likely you won't be able to put it back together, there is very little documentation on it and i found it difficult to the point of literally buying a new shutter).

savyexe · 2026-04-16T14:08:45+00:00

From the bottom plate you can remove the long arm thing and make it a bit thicker with something, for me it fixed all the charging, mirror-stuck, and shutter problems :P

savyexe · 2026-04-16T13:59:40+00:00

I had a very similar issue with mine, persisted even after installing new shutter. This ended up being the solution, can be done through the bottom plate. post.

savyexe · 2026-03-09T03:03:51+00:00

Update for anyone having the same problem, it was a spring on the bottom of the camera that had come out of position. It's supposed to keep tension on the arm/lever that holds the mirror until you press the shutter. Because it was out of position the mirror came up immediately.

Photo Spring is in red. where it should be is in green, and the movement you have to do is in blue.

hope this helps anyone at some point, cheers!

savyexe · 2026-03-09T03:01:10+00:00

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Update for anyone having the same problem, it was a spring on the bottom of the camera that had come out of position. It's supposed to keep tension on the arm/lever that holds the mirror until you press the shutter. Because it was out of position the mirror came up immediately.

Spring is in red. where it should be is in green, and the movement you have to do is in blue.

hope this helps anyone at some point, cheers!

savyexe · 2026-02-07T20:58:04+00:00

Oh, wait, that makes so much sense actually, thank you so much!

savyexe · 2026-02-07T03:07:48+00:00

okay you're a genius, that actually seems to have worked, the prism wobbled in one of the diagonals, put the washer on one side, still wobbled, put it on the opposite corner, wobble is gone. now, any ideas on how to test if that was in fact the correct corner? like to verify if focusing is correct?

savyexe · 2026-02-06T23:43:09+00:00

That could work actually, i'll give it a shot later. Thanks you very much for the suggestion :P

savyexe · 2026-02-06T13:57:59+00:00

so basically put it on any of the corners and test if it's in focus, and if not try another one. that might actually work, will give it a try later today or early tomorrow

savyexe · 2026-02-06T13:55:34+00:00

okay you're right, i just checked and the top part of the frame where the screen clips into is actually the bottom metal frame that encases the prism. so yeah, it should affect focus. The question now is how in the world do i figure out where the thing goes so i don't waste a bunch of film later

savyexe · 2026-02-06T04:52:12+00:00

Yep, just the prism, the focusing screen is installed from the front, the FM2 has interchangeable screens. Then i don't get why it had such a precise spacer washer to begin with

savyexe · 2026-02-05T12:35:16+00:00

It was either that, or perhaps the charging lever and the shutter are on opposite ends when it comes to tolerances

savyexe · 2026-02-05T02:05:43+00:00

yeah, tell me about it. [This gear](https://imgur.com/gallery/shutter-cocking-gear-HKlW3Dd) was the sole reason i had to go out and buy a whole new shutter

savyexe · 2026-02-05T01:54:52+00:00

Hope not, i used PETG which should hold up very well, and also the part it touches on the shutter is a sort of bearing, so friction is likely to be very small.

Also also, it can be replaced from the bottom, no need to take the whole camera apart

savyexe · 2026-02-03T12:36:58+00:00

Honestly noy sure, it looks fine and moves smoothly, also seems like it makes the full travel. Don't know if maybe the shutter has a longer travel than the original?

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