Problem with film lever and capture button on 35mm camera?
I have a photography project due very soon and my camera won't let me take any pictures.
I loaded the film, but when I went to take a picture the capture button wouldn't press and the lever wouldn't go back, it would only go halfway and stop. I thought that perhaps I needed new batteries so I went out and bought some, but it still won't let me take any pictures. The button still won't press and the lever still won't go back. Wtf?
It's a Nikon fm10. Can anyone tell me what's wrong?
Added (1). Wow Johnny Martyr, way to be an a**hole. You're real cool.
No idea bro, go find the service to fix it
Your film advance lever and the batteries have nothing to do with each other unless you have a power advance, which you don't.
The shutter release won't work because the film is not advancing properly.
Seek professional help with the film advance.
"Wtf" is the "capture button?!"
There's no such thing as a "film lever" or "capture button" on a 35mm camera (or any camera.) You are referring to the "advance lever" and the "shutter release." Correct vocabulary will help you understand how your camera works as well as keep you from sounding uneducated.
Batteries have nothing to do with how the film in the FM10 advances. That is the whole point of this model. It can be used without batteries if you do not need to use the built-in meter.
It sounds like the shutter or advance are jammed. Take the film out and try advancing and firing again. If this still doesn't work, the camera is defective and needs to be repaired. This will probably cost around $150 if it is not under warranty.
In the meantime, without film in the camera, I would suggest trying to work the advance lever back and forth in combination with hitting the shutter release. Also try rolling the take-up reel with your finger. One of these efforts might unlock the shutter or advance or it may do nothing.
If when you open your camera, you see that the shutter is open (there's a big rectangular hole under where the film just was) then I would simply suggest letting the camera sit over night and not touching it. The shutter may release on its own and then work fine again. (This happened to my Voigtlander Bessa R2 which is the exact same shutter and advance as the FM10, both of which are built by Cosina.)
If anything happens where the camera starts working again, this is only temporary and you can probably finish your project but should start looking for a new camera or having this one serviced.
Your school should have cameras to borrow or I'm sure you could borrow a classmate's.