Canon F-1N Shutter Problems

<p>I recently picked up an F-1N after a long time away from the FD system - the camera looks great and I got it for a really good deal. The problem is that it seems to work only on aperture priority mode. (The camera has an AE prism and a Winder FN attached). Whenever I switch the shutter speed dial to any speed other than the "A" setting, the shutter fires at a very erratic speed (1/2000 sounds like 1/30 or 1/15, etc.) With the lens set at "A," and the shutter set at any setting other than "A," the camera refuses to fire at all - the meter needle shoots up to 32 as long as the shutter button is pressed. </p>

<p>When set on aperture priority mode, the camera fires and meters normally. </p>

<p>The weird thing is that when I take out the battery, the camera's mechanical shutter functions perfectly at the usual 1/2000-1/60 + flash and B settings. It's only when the battery is in the camera that it locks up and fires erratically. I changed the battery twice, just to make sure it wasn't a power issue, but it still does the same thing.</p>

<p>What do you think is going on? The camera was previously owned by a gentleman who evidently took very good care of it, but hadn't used it for the past 10 years or so.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Are you trying to shoot with the lens set to A all the time? Because this setting (shutter priority) works only with the drive or winder. So the behavior when the lens set to A seems OK. Are you sure that aperture priority works correctly? Have checked with the back open to "see" what speed the camera chooses? I have had two F-1N with failed circuit board and with similar with yours behavior.</p>

<p>If the circuit board does fail, will the mechanical speeds still work properly when the battery is taken out?</p>

<p>Giovanni,</p>

<p>The camera works fine when set to aperture priority and any aperture is selected (other than "A," of course). The camera selects the appropriate shutter speeds and fires as normal; I checked this with the back open and listening by ear as well. When set to manual mode (aperture and shutter dial both off "A") or shutter priority (aperture on "A", shutter speed dial at any speed), the shutter fires erratically or doesn't fire at all. The power winder has fresh batteries in it as well - it winds as normal when aperture priority is selected, but "sticks" along with the shutter when set at the other modes mentioned above.</p>

<p>You mentioned that you had other F-1Ns with circuit board problems that caused this. Does this mean the camera will be difficult or impossible to repair? How did you fix the problems you had?</p>

<p>If the circuit board is not working then it usually impractical, though not necessarily impossible, to repair. My Canon New F-1 had some problems with the circuit board and my repair person told me the only solution was to replace it with another, but the cost of that is the same as just buying a whole new camera. At least this was my experience.</p>