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Hi all, just looking to see if anyone has had any experiences with original Nikon F 35mm film cameras, and buying from the Japanese ebay marketplace?
I recently purchased a Nikon F from an ebay seller in Japan who had 100% positive feedback, who said the camera I was getting was "near mint" and in perfect working order. This was my first time buying from Japan, but I decided to take the chance as the price (even with import and duty tax to the UK) would still be a lot cheaper than getting a similar condition body with a lens in the UK. The service getting the camera was fantastic - it was posted the day after purchase, the import charges were easy to pay and the camera arrived very well packed. I was pleasantly surprised about how quick and smooth the whole process was.
However, now the bad news... The camera is a broken mess. It looks in fantastic condition, but the shutter speeds from 1/30ths to 1 second are not functioning correctly at all. The shutter times are way off (1/8th will keep the shutter open for more than a second, and at other speeds the shutter will open for random times after every pull of the film advance lever). The lever is also very rough to move and sticks at about 80% into its swing. How on earth anyone could not find these problems when testing the camera I really don't know. I will return the camera no problem as the seller thankfully has a 30 days returns policy.
So I ask... Was I just unlucky to get a bad camera? Or is it usually a lottery to find reliable sellers from Japanese ebay? Or perhaps I am expecting too much from these old Nikon Fs that have been around for over 50 years? I have heard they are "tanks", but clearly mine is not. I really want to buy a Nikon F again from another seller from Japan, but I'm scared I might get burned again. Does anyone have any experiences like mine, or perhaps had a better outcome?
Thanks!
I recently purchased a Nikon F from an ebay seller in Japan who had 100% positive feedback, who said the camera I was getting was "near mint" and in perfect working order. This was my first time buying from Japan, but I decided to take the chance as the price (even with import and duty tax to the UK) would still be a lot cheaper than getting a similar condition body with a lens in the UK. The service getting the camera was fantastic - it was posted the day after purchase, the import charges were easy to pay and the camera arrived very well packed. I was pleasantly surprised about how quick and smooth the whole process was.
However, now the bad news... The camera is a broken mess. It looks in fantastic condition, but the shutter speeds from 1/30ths to 1 second are not functioning correctly at all. The shutter times are way off (1/8th will keep the shutter open for more than a second, and at other speeds the shutter will open for random times after every pull of the film advance lever). The lever is also very rough to move and sticks at about 80% into its swing. How on earth anyone could not find these problems when testing the camera I really don't know. I will return the camera no problem as the seller thankfully has a 30 days returns policy.
So I ask... Was I just unlucky to get a bad camera? Or is it usually a lottery to find reliable sellers from Japanese ebay? Or perhaps I am expecting too much from these old Nikon Fs that have been around for over 50 years? I have heard they are "tanks", but clearly mine is not. I really want to buy a Nikon F again from another seller from Japan, but I'm scared I might get burned again. Does anyone have any experiences like mine, or perhaps had a better outcome?
Thanks!