Testing an old Nikonos for watertightness

[tahomaphoto]

Me too but as long as you avoid Greece you should be OK

pentaxuser

Don't avoid Greece! Went there in May 2022 and loved it. Great food, not expensive!

 

[brenjoe]

An internet search in a short time brought up several sizes of O rings. I order bags of 10 to 25 of each size.

I've been searching, though I'm not finding much specifically for the Nikonos IV-A. I'm mostly seeing O-rings for the Nikonos V.

From what I understand, the O-ring on the back of the case is a unique shape, so I didn't expect standard O-rings to fit. Are you seeing ones specifically for the Nikonos IV-A?

Thanks for the help!

 

[Sirius Glass]

I've been searching, though I'm not finding much specifically for the Nikonos IV-A. I'm mostly seeing O-rings for the Nikonos V.

From what I understand, the O-ring on the back of the case is a unique shape, so I didn't expect standard O-rings to fit. Are you seeing ones specifically for the Nikonos IV-A?

Thanks for the help!

Nikonos V only, not IV-A.

 

[snusmumriken]

I happened across this video and thought of this thread. Dip in at about 45:50 to see how a watch is tested for waterproofness.

 

[maryjane]

Hi Everyone!

I've ordered a Nikonos V off ebay in 2020, it was in excellent condition and came with spare o rings and nikon grease. I've shot one roll of film underwater, meticoulosly planing every scene only to realise upon finishing that roll, that the film was not correctly attached and the roll was blank. However there were no leaks and I rinsed the camera with demineralised water and then dried, every time after bringing it out of the sea. I was pretty bummed about the fiasco with that roll and summer was just turning into autumn so I left my camera on my shelf until next summer. Next summer when I wanted to try again I noticed the shuttler leaver was stuck completely, even though it was fine when I used it last summer and I made sure to rinse everything thoughrouly each time. I was pretty bummed again and it took me quite some time (2 years) to find someone to even attempt to repair it (I live in Croatia in Europe). I finally found a guy in Zagreb recently and he fixed it and not for a small price either. I tried to shoot it again this weekend and upon bringing it out from the sea I noticed it leaked inside. It wasn't a huge leak, drops here and there inside. As I was shooting for work at the moment I couldn't ispect it into much detail but just rinsed it with water from the outside and dried the inside as much as I could. When I came home I remembered to check the battery compartnent and it had rust in it. Then I noticed that the battery compartment o ring was missing completely. I haven't removed it of course so it must have been the repair guy, and forgotten to put it back? Whaterver it is, I just feel I have 0 luck with this camera, it's been almost 4 years and I still don't have one film from it. I cleaned all the rust as much as I could, cleaned the inside and outside with paper towels and a bit of demineralised water to remove all the sea remains and blow dried it everywhere. Is there any hope to bring this camera back to life? What should I do? Is the leak into the battery compartment too big of a damage? I have a spare o ring and plan to grease and put it back in there... All help is greatly appreciated

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

Hi Everyone!

I've ordered a Nikonos V off ebay in 2020, it was in excellent condition and came with spare o rings and nikon grease. I've shot one roll of film underwater, meticoulosly planing every scene only to realise upon finishing that roll, that the film was not correctly attached and the roll was blank. However there were no leaks and I rinsed the camera with demineralised water and then dried, every time after bringing it out of the sea. I was pretty bummed about the fiasco with that roll and summer was just turning into autumn so I left my camera on my shelf until next summer. Next summer when I wanted to try again I noticed the shuttler leaver was stuck completely, even though it was fine when I used it last summer and I made sure to rinse everything thoughrouly each time. I was pretty bummed again and it took me quite some time (2 years) to find someone to even attempt to repair it (I live in Croatia in Europe). I finally found a guy in Zagreb recently and he fixed it and not for a small price either. I tried to shoot it again this weekend and upon bringing it out from the sea I noticed it leaked inside. It wasn't a huge leak, drops here and there inside. As I was shooting for work at the moment I couldn't ispect it into much detail but just rinsed it with water from the outside and dried the inside as much as I could. When I came home I remembered to check the battery compartnent and it had rust in it. Then I noticed that the battery compartment o ring was missing completely. I haven't removed it of course so it must have been the repair guy, and forgotten to put it back? Whaterver it is, I just feel I have 0 luck with this camera, it's been almost 4 years and I still don't have one film from it. I cleaned all the rust as much as I could, cleaned the inside and outside with paper towels and a bit of demineralised water to remove all the sea remains and blow dried it everywhere. Is there any hope to bring this camera back to life? What should I do? Is the leak into the battery compartment too big of a damage? I have a spare o ring and plan to grease and put it back in there... All help is greatly appreciated

Why did you wash it inside? Wouldn't the water get into the electronics? How could you dry that ?

 

[Sirius Glass]

Hi Everyone!

I've ordered a Nikonos V off ebay in 2020, it was in excellent condition and came with spare o rings and nikon grease. I've shot one roll of film underwater, meticoulosly planing every scene only to realise upon finishing that roll, that the film was not correctly attached and the roll was blank. However there were no leaks and I rinsed the camera with demineralised water and then dried, every time after bringing it out of the sea. I was pretty bummed about the fiasco with that roll and summer was just turning into autumn so I left my camera on my shelf until next summer. Next summer when I wanted to try again I noticed the shuttler leaver was stuck completely, even though it was fine when I used it last summer and I made sure to rinse everything thoughrouly each time. I was pretty bummed again and it took me quite some time (2 years) to find someone to even attempt to repair it (I live in Croatia in Europe). I finally found a guy in Zagreb recently and he fixed it and not for a small price either. I tried to shoot it again this weekend and upon bringing it out from the sea I noticed it leaked inside. It wasn't a huge leak, drops here and there inside. As I was shooting for work at the moment I couldn't ispect it into much detail but just rinsed it with water from the outside and dried the inside as much as I could. When I came home I remembered to check the battery compartnent and it had rust in it. Then I noticed that the battery compartment o ring was missing completely. I haven't removed it of course so it must have been the repair guy, and forgotten to put it back? Whaterver it is, I just feel I have 0 luck with this camera, it's been almost 4 years and I still don't have one film from it. I cleaned all the rust as much as I could, cleaned the inside and outside with paper towels and a bit of demineralised water to remove all the sea remains and blow dried it everywhere. Is there any hope to bring this camera back to life? What should I do? Is the leak into the battery compartment too big of a damage? I have a spare o ring and plan to grease and put it back in there... All help is greatly appreciated

I only use my Nikonos V for rainy weather or under waterfalls since my days of scuba diving are over. I replace the seals when they become still or flattened.

Welcome to APUG Photrio!!​

 

[maryjane]

Why did you wash it inside? Wouldn't the water get into the electronics? How could you dry that ?

Hi! I'm talking about the back opening where the film goes. I didn't wet it there really (but it was already super wet haha) I just used a damp paper towel and then a dry one and then a blow drier because it was full of sea and salt remains from the sea got everywhere.. I got instructed from other nikonos owners to sort of rinse it that way gently. Was that wrong to do? Also the battery compartment was rusted completely and I couldn't remove all the rust without dampening a cotton tip a little (used demineralised water cause water where I live is hard). Then dried everything with a blow drier for a long time. It all looks clean and dry now but I don't know what could be happening inside.. Should I even bother with this camera anymore?

 

[ericB&W]

I've bought last week a Nikonos IV , not for underwater but just to use in rain or snow and because i am interested to test the 35 mm lens after reading so many positive reviews about it .
I'm looking for an o ring set but the only one i found on ebay they sell for 80 eu, seems to much,
more the half the price i paid the camera with 35mm, both in perfect shape.
Unfortunately the IV is quite rare compared to Nikonos V or previous models, so the rings set cost a lot .
Anyway i think thar for terrestrial usage the actual rings should be ok.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

I've bought last week a Nikonos IV , not for underwater but just to use in rain or snow and because i am interested to test the 35 mm lens after reading so many positive reviews about it .
I'm looking for an o ring set but the only one i found on ebay they sell for 80 eu, seems to much,
more the half the price i paid the camera with 35mm, both in perfect shape.
Unfortunately the IV is quite rare compared to Nikonos V or previous models, so the rings set cost a lot .
Anyway i think thar for terrestrial usage the actual rings should be ok.

Pop the rings off and clean them off carefully from any dirt. Clean out the groves also where the rings go. Apply a light layer of "o" ring grease to the rings. What i would do is put a dab of grease between my thumbs and forefingers of both hands. Then run the ring through and around spreading the grease completed around just to shine them up with a very light layer. There should not be any globs left on the rings. The grease doesn't waterproof the camera; the rings do. Then carefully reinsert the rings. The grease is just to insure there is good contact between the rubber and metal and they slip into the groove easily and properly. As long as the rings are not damaged, cut, or distorted, you ought to be OK.

 

[ericB&W]

Pop the rings off and clean them off carefully from any dirt. Clean out the groves also where the rings go. Apply a light layer of "o" ring grease to the rings. What i would do is put a dab of grease between my thumbs and forefingers of both hands. Then run the ring through and around spreading the grease completed around just to shine them up with a very light layer. There should not be any globs left on the rings. The grease doesn't waterproof the camera; the rings do. Then carefully reinsert the rings. The grease is just to insure there is good contact between the rubber and metal and they slip into the groove easily and properly. As long as the rings are not damaged, cut, or distorted, you ought to be OK.

Are not cut or heavily damaged, the lens ring and the battery and syncro flash attachement ring
are in good state, the back ring seem a little flat in the corners zone but when i close the
camera back i feel a certain resistance in closing the door so should mean that the seal
makes his work .

 

[eli griggs]

Are not cut or heavily damaged, the lens ring and the battery and syncro flash attachement ring
are in good state, the back ring seem a little flat in the corners zone but when i close the
camera back i feel a certain resistance in closing the door so should mean that the seal
makes his work .

Resistance only means that 'something' is acting as a barrier, intended or no, no that the entirety of the "O" ring is in good enough condition.

Replace that O ring for certitude.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Pop the rings off and clean them off carefully from any dirt. Clean out the groves also where the rings go. Apply a light layer of "o" ring grease to the rings. What i would do is put a dab of grease between my thumbs and forefingers of both hands. Then run the ring through and around spreading the grease completed around just to shine them up with a very light layer. There should not be any globs left on the rings. The grease doesn't waterproof the camera; the rings do. Then carefully reinsert the rings. The grease is just to insure there is good contact between the rubber and metal and they slip into the groove easily and properly. As long as the rings are not damaged, cut, or distorted, you ought to be OK.

Reusing o-rings is penny-wise and ton foolish. Especially when one can buy bags of single sized or specific model assortments for not much money.

 

[ki_]

Just to clarify: if you do not intend shooting any Nikonos underwater, you do not need to replace no o ring on it at all. It should withstand normal rain without issues.

But, if you want to take it underwater, you need to get the camera pressure checked, or even better the o rings serviced.

This is also true, if you submerge it only a few centimeters.

The reason why, is, the o ring gets pushed into the inner groove/gap by the pressure of the water from the outside. If the pressure is low, the squeeze could be insufficient and water might sneak around the o ring, especially if it is worn or not fitting properly or to hard/stiff.

So, if your o ring withstands 10 cm of water depth it should be fine for 50 m as well. The first centimeters are the critical part. Except you replaced it with an o ring, that is too soft.

What normally fails, when the pressure raises above 6 atmospheres (50 m), is the structure of the case. The thing will just become bend and the o rings won’t have a chance to seal the increasing gaps anymore.

So, checking watertightness in a bucket of fresh water with the batteries removed is a good idea. At best, take distilled water.

I did some research and was able to replace the main o rings of my Nikonos V - internal and user serviceable. You can find the results of my research at my instagram account: agua.de.plata https://www.instagram.com/agua.de.plata?igsh=YjkwZjZqdmJyaHZy&utm_source=qr

You will also find some information about the Nikonos III there. My upcoming project will be, to determine how to replace the nik III’s internal o rings.

Be aware, that those cameras don‘t get cheaper any more. If you are able to replace those o rings and get them properly sealed, it will even increase their value.

 

[ki_]

I finally wrote down my findings about the Nikonos V and IV‘s o ring dimensions, both the user serviceable and the internal ones.
I also found out, that you can replace the Nikonos IV‘s door seal with a standard o ring.
Post about the Nikonos IV:

Internal and Door O Ring Replacement for Nikonos IV-A – 木 online

And about the Nikonos V:

Internal O Ring Replacement for Nikonos V – 木 online

I provided detailed instructions of how to disassemble the Nik V, the Nikonos IV is pretty similar.

 

[beardsofbeards]

Welcome to Photrio from the moderation team.
We see you have started a thread on your Open Source project re: servicing a Nikonos V.
Rather than duplicate the information, we are including the link to that thread here: https://www.photrio.com/forum/threads/nikonos-v-open-source-service-project.207237/

Wish me luck!!

Good Luck!