Nizo Professional won't meter anything from F1.8 to 2.8

[bexley]

So, I'm on my third eBay'd Nizo Professional and it seems to have a problem too. Of course, like the other two, it was listed as perfectly functional from a seller with great feedback.

 

The subject line pretty much says everything. The meter seems to be working fine and reading light correctly, except in low light it refuses to open the aperture past 2.8. Even with the lens cap on.

 

The only way I can get it to 1.8 on auto-exposure is when I first turn on the camera with the lens cap on. Once I remove the lens cap and expose the meter to light, putting it back on won't even make it open to 1.8. It seems to stop between F4 and 2.8 and then creep slowly to 2.8, but no further.

 

Is this a problem anyone has heard of before? And is it one of those many Nizo problems that don't have clear-cut solutions? I really don't feel like returning my third Nizo in three weeks. Starting to ponder a Bauer instead.

 

Side-note: One of the battery contacts was heavily corroded. I cleaned it up as best I could and all the functions of the camera are working well, so I more or less ruled this out as a possible cause for the meter issue.

[bexley]

Upon further testing it does open to 1.8 with the lens cap on, but it takes a few minutes.

 

So, the photocell's charge from being exposed to light doesn't deplete as it should once there's no more light. A fixable problem?

Edited September 10, 2009 by bexley

[supereight]

The only way I can get it to 1.8 on auto-exposure is when I first turn on the camera with the lens cap on. Once I remove the lens cap and expose the meter to light, putting it back on won't even make it open to 1.8. It seems to stop between F4 and 2.8 and then creep slowly to 2.8, but no further.

 

This problem is often seen and is simply due to age. My Nizo professional also shows this behaviour since last year. Anyway pictures taken in bright light are perfect. I had a telephone call with a Nizo/Bauer specialist and he told me there is very likely no need to change the light meter but to clean the "wings" of the aperture opening. They just can not open fully or need time.

 

I strongly recommend to give the cam a maintenance. Keep in mind this cam from beginning 70s !

A good maintenance with calibrating, lubricating and cleaning the f-stop should be aroung US$300,-

Buying another old cameras will not give you satisfaction. Take your good Nizo and give it a small maintenance - you will save a lot of money and finally be happy for every cent you spent for a fresh maintained cam.

 

best regards

Reinhard

Edited September 22, 2009 by Reinhard Herberigs