"Brent" wrote in message
...
How do I know if the meter is not working properly?



The Photomic Ftn meter uses a wiper blade over a coil. This wears out in
time. If you are lucky, a faulty meter MAY just need cleaning as the wiper
was also prone to getting dirty and 'jerking' over its arc instead of making
a smooth transition. If you are unlucky, you are REALLY SOL as there are no
replacement rehostats, wipers or any other parts for this meter.

I loved my old Nikon Photomic Ftn and shot with it for years. I bought it
in 1971 and sold it last year. The leather hard case (which was unused, new
in box) brought almost as much as the camera cost new.

BTW. The meter needs mercury batteries that are no longer available in the
US. Replacements using different technology can be had, but they are
expensive and short lived. The meter can be recalibrated to use the higher
voltage batteries available now, but exposure compensation works fine and is
free.

I have absolutly no idea how many hundreds of thousand of shutter actuations
that old war horse had, but it was only worked over by Nikon once in the
time I had it. maybe 10 years ago. CLA and speed adjustments were all the
thing needed.

Tom