Not Your Average T90 EEE

[Lawrence Sheperd]

So, a little bit different take on the EEE problem. And no, I’m not talking about sticky shutters, de-magnetized solenoids, or inoperable shutter mechanisms (although my camera has suffered all of the above at various times.)

My problem is that when I mount any of my many FD lens in “A” mode the camera immediately throws EEE. This happens when the EE coupling pin on the lens mount engages with the EE sensor on the camera body flange without even rotating the lens to lock it. In fact, with no lens mounted, I can depress the camera flange sensor with a pointed object and immediately cause the EEE error. The stop-down lever is NOT engaged. 

My question is are there any remedies for this or even ideas on why this may be happening? All other non-Program modes work fine including manual time value, manual aperture value, and manual stop-down aperture priority metering.

I’ve searched this site and the Internet in general, but only found one other person who had the same problem and unfortunately, there were no responses to his query. Hoping the FD mount users here might have an idea. Thanks much!

Larry. 

[gwhitegeog]

Hi Larry,

I have 5 x T-90s - 2 working and three others I am about to give to a technician to try to make one working body from the three! So I have a bit of experience. 

I have heard of this before, though not seen it on any of my cameras. I sounds to me like a mechanical problem with the EE sensor pin. A dismantle, clean and lubrication by a good technician may work, or have a dead donor body available for spares (about £25-40 on eBay) so s/he can cannibalise for parts. Where do you live? Do you have a good technician you can use? Gary

[Lawrence Sheperd]

Thanks for the reply, Gary. I live in wesstern North Carolina and we do have a good camera store in Asheville that specializes in film photography. They may have some leads as far as techs in the area that might be familiar with the Tank. I did apply a few drops of contact cleaner to the area around the mount where the pin goes through, but it did not help. 
 

I probably should pick up a second body, but it seems the chances of finding one in operable condition is getting less and less likely as time goes on. I’ll probably just revert back to my first model F1 and call it a day. 😎👍🏼

 

Edited April 12 by Lawrence Sheperd

[gwhitegeog]

Hi Larry,

The T-90 was a great camera but the shutter was its weak point - not engineered for the number of exposures that was typical or for a 35 year life! Many for sale now do have dead shutters. Some shutters can be resurrected with TLC but eventually they fail beyond repair and there are no spares (apart from other 'failed' shutter units!).

I live in Portugal and can get to Lisbon in 2 hours, where there is an excellent classic camera shop that specialises in film cameras. It's a Nikon specialist but they know a guy who can do Canons. He is about to look at three T-90 bodies for me: 1 works perfectly but has a cracked viewfinder glass, 2 is completely dead, 3 turns on but doesn't fire and has a failing LCD (another issue now after 35 years+). 

My Nikons of the 70s and 80s have fared better (in terms of shutters) though my old F1 and EF are still going strong. The T-90 was big and clunky but it had great technological innovations to set the pattern for EOS, etc. 

Best

Gary

 

 

[Lawrence Sheperd]

Yes, Gary, my EF (1977) is fairing better than either my F or F2. The silicon blue cells were far ahead of the cDs cells used by Nikon.  I can continue to enjoy the T90 in manual mode, at least for now. 
 

Regards,

Larry

[awahlster]

Curious why you are not asking this on the Canon FD forum where there a BUNCH of T-90 users?

[gwhitegeog]

Didn’t realise that…

[gwhitegeog]

Hi Larry, 

Yes, the Canon system was better in many ways: all Canon FD lenses made from 1971 work with all bodies right up to the end of the FD era, including shutter priority and program. Nikon was more of a faff, so they changed the system in ‘77. But for example the DP-3 head on the F2 or DP-12 has much better metering cells. I use the DP-3 on one of my F2 bodies which does not work with AI only lenses but works with the non-AI or AI lenses with rabbit ear connectors…

All Canon metering cells of that era (if I recall) were silicon. 
G

[Lawrence Sheperd]

9 hours ago, awahlster said:

Curious why you are not asking this on the Canon FD forum where there a BUNCH of T-90 users?

Isn’t this Gear & Equipment Discussion/DSLR & Film Cameras/Canon FD Mount? This was a technical question so I thought this was the appropriate forum. My apologies. 
 

Larry

[John Seaman]

5 minutes ago, Lawrence Sheperd said:

This was a technical question so I thought this was the appropriate forum.

Exactly right.

[awahlster]

Lawrence I think I saw it on the parent forum or maybe I had slipped on to Canon FD without realizing it.