Had a vintage Nikon F shutter spring snap right in my hands

I was working on a clean F body from 1971, trying to adjust the slow speed escapement. The tiny mainspring for the second curtain just gave out with a sharp ping. I had to order a custom replacement from a guy in Germany who still makes them, cost me 80 euros and took three weeks. Anyone know a better source for old F series springs in the US?

2 comments

2 Comments

victorb514d ago

That sound is the worst feeling, like a tiny part of camera history just died. Had a similar thing happen with an F2 mirror damper spring, just turned to dust. Sourcing those tiny parts is a real hunt. Your German contact might actually be the best bet, even with the wait. Did the new spring fit perfectly, or did it need some tweaking to get right?

the_dakota3d ago

It's like the world's worst scavenger hunt for old tech.