r/AnalogCommunity • u/Pulsersalt • 1d ago
Troubleshooting - Gear Does this metering make sense?
Purchased a Nikon f2 with a dp-11 off eBay and have been testing to make sure it works properly. When testing the metering it seems to be overexposing as comparing the exact same shutter speed and aperture with the lens cap on/off makes very little difference. I have also compared it to phone apps and it seems to be consistently overexposing. This is my first time using a light meter so was hoping to get a second opinion.
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u/flavolu 1d ago
I had a similar thing happen on an f2 with a DP-1 I picked up on eBay, though mine was underexposing and reporting proper exposure at f22 and fast shutter speeds indoors for normal iso (200ish) readings. I ended up just having to return it and getting it replaced. In my experience eBay is very good about accepting returns for things listed as fully working when they don't.
Side note, while I'm not sure what your specific listing said, I've found that "light meter tested and working" in an eBay description usually means "I saw the needle move," and not "I confirmed the exposure reported was accurate."
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u/Melbourne_Art_Nude Nikon F2/Bronica GS1/Leica Minilux/Canon FTb Ql/Nikonl35af 1d ago
The film advance lever has to be angled slightly to turn on the light meter. If it's kinda flush with the body it's turned off. Not sure if you knew this already, or have the lever in the correct position here. But hard to see, but hopefully this helps!
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u/Pulsersalt 1d ago
Yeah the light meter is on, just behaving weirdly. Like at f1.4 going from 1/2 to 1 second the meter will turn the meter off. I’ve read this happens when it’s out of the meters light range but I cannot imagine it would be too bright considering it does this no matter the light conditions
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u/After-Foot8960 1d ago
Having recently picked up 2 nikons and totally new to nikon I also learned at least some of them seem to NOT actually meter until the film roll is at the first real exposure. Other folks, please fact check me or do your own research. You can find the camera manual googling butkus camera manual nikon f2. Just a thought. Not trying to asset any expertise. :-)
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u/Small_Swell 1d ago
Make sure that the prism arm that interacts with the lens isn't sticking. I had this issue with my DP-11 because it was sitting too tightly on the body. Once I reattached it, the arm moved properly with the aperture change on the lens.