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MJewell78 · 08-16-2009, 04:26 PM

My father recently gave me his old Super and it has some issues. First off, the mirror is in the up position and while I can manually pull it down, it returns to the up position upon release. The shutter release and the DOF preview lever are unresponsive. I changed the batteries for brand new ones and got no change. Any help in fixing this wonderful camera would be much appreciated.

Wheatfield · 08-17-2009, 06:37 AM - **1 Like**

Grab the lens in one hand and smack the base of the camera into the palm of your hand a few times.
Then try winding/releasing the shutter.

Nesster · 08-17-2009, 06:41 AM

I had a Nikon FE freeze up just like this... it has a metal shutter, gently encouraging it to open solved the issue.

titrisol · 08-17-2009, 07:23 AM

Looks like your camera has a gunked up part somewhere
so letś start by the eaiest... how do the light seals look?
if those are gummy then you better change them, maybe the mirror bumper foam is sticky and the mirror sticks to it?

Otherwise most of the camera elements are mechanical + electrical so the recommendations of exercizing the camera hold true.

wlachan · 08-17-2009, 01:04 PM

The mirror box mehanisms probably need to be relubed.

MJewell78 · 08-17-2009, 02:32 PM

Originally posted by Wheatfield

Grab the lens in one hand and smack the base of the camera into the palm of your hand a few times.
Then try winding/releasing the shutter.

You are awesome! worked like a charm.... except that my hand hurts now... Thanks again!

KungPOW · 08-17-2009, 05:58 PM

Originally posted by Wheatfield

Grab the lens in one hand and smack the base of the camera into the palm of your hand a few times.
Then try winding/releasing the shutter.

Wheatfield's school of "smack it 'till it works"

Classic!

frank · 08-17-2009, 06:53 PM

Originally posted by Wheatfield

Grab the lens in one hand and smack the base of the camera into the palm of your hand a few times.
Then try winding/releasing the shutter.

Hmm, I tried this trick w/ my Program Plus w/o any luck

So I opened it up, but didn't know where to check so to make it work. Well, now I got a lot spare parts and don't really want (or know how) to put them back ...

Wheatfield · 08-17-2009, 07:40 PM

Originally posted by frank

Hmm, I tried this trick w/ my Program Plus w/o any luck

So I opened it up, but didn't know where to check so to make it work. Well, now I got a lot spare parts and don't really want (or know how) to put them back ...

You didn't hit it hard enough.

frank · 08-17-2009, 08:07 PM

Originally posted by Wheatfield

You didn't hit it hard enough.

Okay, but the problem w/ mine was different. The shutter stuck at the bottom, inside the body and wouldn't come out

I tried to hit it on my hand with the camera top, you know, try to shake it loose, but failed.

Actually the shutter was stuck half way before I pulled it down (by using both hand from front and back of the camera), and it just disappeared

That leads me to the hit and shake trial...

It's a good learning experience opening it up anyway, and quite fun to look at all the parts all over the table. Now I just put every little part into a plastic bag, maybe I can use some parts in the future

Blue · 08-17-2009, 09:38 PM

Originally posted by Wheatfield

You didn't hit it hard enough.

Now we know the "true" story behind the 645 that took the dive off of the building.

lorne-ranger · 08-31-2009, 08:46 PM

HI,Frank,just posted about same problem and referred here.I have same issue,mirror up,shutter closed.Tried the bash didnt work,did you get yours working.
Thank you Steve

frank · 08-31-2009, 09:00 PM

Originally posted by lorne-ranger

HI,Frank,just posted about same problem and referred here.I have same issue,mirror up,shutter closed.Tried the bash didnt work,did you get yours working.
Thank you Steve

Nah, I gave up already. The camera has been taken apart already. But the problem w/ mine was different: the shutter was hidden blow in the base, just disappeared. 'Cause I pushed too hard when I tried to push it down

Hope you won't make the same mistake when you try the following tricks:

1. Make sure you have fresh batteries installed correctly
2. Set the mode dial to 1/125x or B (not really a must, but better so in my experience)
3. Open up the back door, put your finger tip lightly on the shutter (those hinges visible from the back) and push it gently down. Normally this would fix the problem
4. If not, then you try Wheatfield's trick again, and hit it HARDER

Good luck.

Ninerref · 09-03-2009, 09:39 AM

I actually had this same issue the other day. One thing I learned about the mirror being locked in the up position is that it could still be pulled down as previously noted. What I did though was to gently pull it down to verify that it was not stuck, then smacked it as previously suggested. Then if it didn't come down I gently pulled the mirror fully down again and went back to the beating of my hand. Making sure that there is no material for it to actually stick to once loose will help as well. I think my issue what that I tried taking a test shot with out film and forgot to take the cap off. This messed with the light meter that died with the battery. Just my .02 or more cents on this issue.

Gerbermiester · 12-04-2014, 03:55 PM

BAHAHA! My ME Super exhibited the same symptoms after finishing up a roll of Portra 400. I swapped batteries, flicked the apeture lever, opened up the bottom and poked around for an hour. No avail.
I tried what I will now call "the Wheatfeild method" and presto, we're in business.

While not as technical as other photographic methods such as the "Brenizer method", or the "Westhoff method", the "Wheatfield method" gets results!

08-16-2009, 04:26 PM	#1
MJewell78 New Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Shelby Township, MI Photos: Gallery Posts: 18	Super Program issues My father recently gave me his old Super and it has some issues. First off, the mirror is in the up position and while I can manually pull it down, it returns to the up position upon release. The shutter release and the DOF preview lever are unresponsive. I changed the batteries for brand new ones and got no change. Any help in fixing this wonderful camera would be much appreciated.

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08-17-2009, 06:37 AM - 1 Like	#2
Wheatfield Moderator Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: The wheatfields of Canada Posts: 15,991	Grab the lens in one hand and smack the base of the camera into the palm of your hand a few times. Then try winding/releasing the shutter.

08-17-2009, 06:41 AM	#3
Nesster Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: NJ USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 13,072	I had a Nikon FE freeze up just like this... it has a metal shutter, gently encouraging it to open solved the issue.

08-17-2009, 07:23 AM	#4
titrisol Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: In the most populated state... state of denial Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,854	Looks like your camera has a gunked up part somewhere so letś start by the eaiest... how do the light seals look? if those are gummy then you better change them, maybe the mirror bumper foam is sticky and the mirror sticks to it? Otherwise most of the camera elements are mechanical + electrical so the recommendations of exercizing the camera hold true.

08-17-2009, 01:04 PM	#5
wlachan Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Canada Photos: Albums Posts: 2,625	The mirror box mehanisms probably need to be relubed.

08-17-2009, 02:32 PM	#6
MJewell78 New Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Shelby Township, MI Photos: Gallery Posts: 18 Original Poster	Originally posted by Wheatfield Grab the lens in one hand and smack the base of the camera into the palm of your hand a few times. Then try winding/releasing the shutter. You are awesome! worked like a charm.... except that my hand hurts now... Thanks again!

08-17-2009, 05:58 PM	#7
KungPOW Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Vancouver, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,699	Originally posted by Wheatfield Grab the lens in one hand and smack the base of the camera into the palm of your hand a few times. Then try winding/releasing the shutter. Wheatfield's school of "smack it 'till it works" Classic!

08-17-2009, 06:53 PM	#8
frank Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Singapore Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,202	Originally posted by Wheatfield Grab the lens in one hand and smack the base of the camera into the palm of your hand a few times. Then try winding/releasing the shutter. Hmm, I tried this trick w/ my Program Plus w/o any luck So I opened it up, but didn't know where to check so to make it work. Well, now I got a lot spare parts and don't really want (or know how) to put them back ...

08-17-2009, 07:40 PM	#9
Wheatfield Moderator Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: The wheatfields of Canada Posts: 15,991	Originally posted by frank Hmm, I tried this trick w/ my Program Plus w/o any luck So I opened it up, but didn't know where to check so to make it work. Well, now I got a lot spare parts and don't really want (or know how) to put them back ... You didn't hit it hard enough.

08-17-2009, 08:07 PM	#10
frank Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Singapore Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,202	Originally posted by Wheatfield You didn't hit it hard enough. Okay, but the problem w/ mine was different. The shutter stuck at the bottom, inside the body and wouldn't come out I tried to hit it on my hand with the camera top, you know, try to shake it loose, but failed. Actually the shutter was stuck half way before I pulled it down (by using both hand from front and back of the camera), and it just disappeared That leads me to the hit and shake trial... It's a good learning experience opening it up anyway, and quite fun to look at all the parts all over the table. Now I just put every little part into a plastic bag, maybe I can use some parts in the future

08-17-2009, 09:38 PM	#11
Blue Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Florida Hill Country Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,377	Originally posted by Wheatfield You didn't hit it hard enough. Now we know the "true" story behind the 645 that took the dive off of the building.

08-31-2009, 08:46 PM	#12
lorne-ranger Inactive Account Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: lorne,nsw.australia Posts: 14	HI,Frank,just posted about same problem and referred here.I have same issue,mirror up,shutter closed.Tried the bash didnt work,did you get yours working. Thank you Steve

08-31-2009, 09:00 PM	#13
frank Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Singapore Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,202	Originally posted by lorne-ranger HI,Frank,just posted about same problem and referred here.I have same issue,mirror up,shutter closed.Tried the bash didnt work,did you get yours working. Thank you Steve Nah, I gave up already. The camera has been taken apart already. But the problem w/ mine was different: the shutter was hidden blow in the base, just disappeared. 'Cause I pushed too hard when I tried to push it down Hope you won't make the same mistake when you try the following tricks: 1. Make sure you have fresh batteries installed correctly 2. Set the mode dial to 1/125x or B (not really a must, but better so in my experience) 3. Open up the back door, put your finger tip lightly on the shutter (those hinges visible from the back) and push it gently down. Normally this would fix the problem 4. If not, then you try Wheatfield's trick again, and hit it HARDER Good luck.

09-03-2009, 09:39 AM	#14
Ninerref Inactive Account Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Concord, NC Posts: 11	I actually had this same issue the other day. One thing I learned about the mirror being locked in the up position is that it could still be pulled down as previously noted. What I did though was to gently pull it down to verify that it was not stuck, then smacked it as previously suggested. Then if it didn't come down I gently pulled the mirror fully down again and went back to the beating of my hand. Making sure that there is no material for it to actually stick to once loose will help as well. I think my issue what that I tried taking a test shot with out film and forgot to take the cap off. This messed with the light meter that died with the battery. Just my .02 or more cents on this issue.

12-04-2014, 03:55 PM	#15
Gerbermiester Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: British Columbia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 377	BAHAHA! My ME Super exhibited the same symptoms after finishing up a roll of Portra 400. I swapped batteries, flicked the apeture lever, opened up the bottom and poked around for an hour. No avail. I tried what I will now call "the Wheatfeild method" and presto, we're in business. While not as technical as other photographic methods such as the "Brenizer method", or the "Westhoff method", the "Wheatfield method" gets results!

Super Program issues

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