david_waugh3 Posted June 22, 2009 Share Posted June 22, 2009 <p>I have recently acquired a 'new' FM2n but cannot get any LED's to light up. I am not a Nikon newbie (having owned an F3, FA and some FE2's) but quite possibly am doing something completely stupid :-) Have tried three sets of batteries, have cleaned the contacts, shutter speed isn't on bulb, shutter cocked etc. I have also searched the net to no avail, so sorry if this has been addressed before. Does anyone have any ideas? Many thanks in advance.<br> </p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave_petley2 Posted June 22, 2009 Share Posted June 22, 2009 <p>Pull your advance leaver out a bit and that should turn your meter on. (you know the leaver the one that advances the film)</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richard_cochran Posted June 22, 2009 Share Posted June 22, 2009 <p>Pulling the wind lever out turns the meter on with an FM, but not an FM2n. For the FM2n, you've got to pull the wind lever out and depress the shutter button slightly. Of course, making sure you've got good batteries, and making sure they're inserted the correct way is a good idea. The "battery check" for an FM/FM2n is to turn on the meter and see that the LEDs light up.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david_waugh3 Posted June 23, 2009 Author Share Posted June 23, 2009 <p>Tried that :-) Thanks anyway. Any other ideas anyone? Thanks.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
User_276104 Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 <p>Does the FM2n's meter stay off until the frame counter reaches 1, like the FE2? I tried to search for that info but didn't come up with anything.</p> <p>Even if that's the case, I suppose you've been firing & winding the camera enough to be in the regular frame count range while trying to figure this out.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
breogan_gomez Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 I have the FM2n and I never had any problem with the meter. When it arrived I put the bateries and never had to change them in more than 10 years (I am a casual photographer). <p> The only thing I can think of is that, sometimes, bateries or bateries cavity have a protective plastic to avoid contact meanwhile the camera is storage. <p> You can look throught this very informative web page, there are several pages devoted to the FM2n and, may be, there is a reference to your problem. http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/nikonfmseries/fm2n/fm2manual/index.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_levine Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 <p>Try the batteries in another camera to be sure they are good. Also make sure the batteries are turned in the right direction.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john_cox7 Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 <p>David,<br> I had the same problem with a late model FM2N, purchased in what could be described as reasonably "used" condition. <br> After many new batteries, which all worked perfectly in other FM's and FM2N's, I found that the battery compartment screw-in lid had a tendency to short circuit the connection if it were screwed in tight by using a coin in the slot to tighten it.<br> Leaving it just finger tight maintained the electrical contact. A MD-12, now attached to the camera, stopped the possibility of the battery lid from becoming undone and thus, the consequence of losing it.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david_waugh3 Posted June 23, 2009 Author Share Posted June 23, 2009 <p>Thank you everyone - some great ideas but no luck unfortunately. Looks like it is something more sinister :-( At least I can still shoot and meter from experience.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doccamera Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 <p>David, I have repaired hundreds of Nikon FM2n bodies for event companies during the pre-digital age. You should remove the three bottom cover screws, lift off the bottom cover and examine the battery compartment. Don't worry, nothing should fall out and there are no secret springs or strange connections to worry about. There is a blue and black wire that should be firmly soldered to the small tab on the battery compartment near the front of the camera. Check these wires for disconnect, poorly soldered or corrosion on or around them. These would cause your meter not to work assuming the three wires on the TC lever switch are also fine. The TC lever switch is under the top cover and takes a little more to remove for inspection , but by no means is it difficult. The FM2n is one of the best built cameras for easy repair ever made, Unlike most which are an engineer's dream, and a technician's nightmare.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raymond W Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 <p>My FM2n does have this contact problem affecting its metering. I need to turn the aperture ring of the attached lens back and forth (from smallest aperture to greatest apperture) multiple times to make it work again. I need to do thing from time to time (once every few months) or else the meter does funny things, including not lit up.<br> HTH</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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