Nikon N90s - Detaching and Re-attaching Film Pressure Plate

When the new door arrived from Nikon, it didn't contain the film pressure plate. (See the blog entitled: Nikon N90s Film Door Problem – Rubberized Coating ... ) Nor did the package contain directions. I've documented these direction below (with pictures) of how to detach and re-attach the film pressure plate.

Disclaimer: Do not attempt to complete these directions if you are uncomfortable with carrying them out or the source (namely this blog). Also, I take no responsibility for the accuracy of anything printed on this blog. It's simply an attempt to share what worked for me and I cannot be held accountable for any errors in these directions. Nor, will I take responsibility for mistakes made on your part. So, proceed only if you understand that you are taking FULL RESPONSIBILITY for your own actions if you decide to attempt to complete this procedure from a non-technical and non-NIKON approved source. Thank you for understanding.

Follow these steps at your own risk:

Step 1: After opening the film door, press down on the "hinge pin" (1), slightly tilt "the door" out (2), and up (3) to take the door off.

Figure 1

Note: Before proceeding, peek under the pressure plate to ensure that the prongs reflect the exact representation in Figures 2 and 3 below - who knows, perhaps some cameras were installed differently - I never assume anything (you know, Murphy's law and all). The key is that the prong with the 90 degree turn is represented by the "B" in Figure 2 below - it is the key to understanding how the assembly works. None of these movements requires any struggle - if it does, you are not doing it correctly! So proceed with care. And, be very careful not to scratch the film plate.

Step 2: (Involves three distinct moves on the film pressure plate... so study these movements carefully before proceeding. No tools are required.) Looking at Figure 2, lift side 1 straight up - the two spring prongs will come off their respective posts and should slip over the heads of the posts - you can use your forefinger and second finger to help slide the prongs off their respective posts. Then - holding the edges with your thumb and forefinger - rotate the entire film pressure plate clockwise 90 degrees. This will cause spring prong A to dislodge. Finally, slide the entire film pressure plate to the right and prong B will dislodge freeing the entire film pressure plate assembly. It's actually pretty cool the way this is designed. I've also included a picture of the this assembly turned "upside down" (Figure 3) so that you can understand why these movements free up the assembly - study it carefully.

Figure 2


Figure 3

Step 3: With the new film door positioned in the same way as the film door that you took the film pressure plate off, reverse the steps above. The last step in disassembly now becomes the first step in assembly and so on. For the last step, you'll need to push the two spring prongs down so that they slide under the post heads - you can use your forefinger and second finger to assist with this. I found the assembly easier to do, perhaps because I knew what I was doing after removing it.

Nikon N90s Film Door Problem – Rubberized Coating Comes Off

On earlier productions of the *Nikon N90s camera, the rubberized coating on the film door will come off – sooner or later. For me, it was later. I don’t use it as often as a professional, so it saw much less use comparably speaking. (FYI: I purchased the camera in late 1994, but didn't notice the problem until early 2008).

The initial stage of this breakdown can be seen – or better yet, felt – as it turns into a glue-like substance that is notoriously sticky. So sticky, that I had to put tape on the film door in order to use it. I didn’t want this sticky substance getting transferred to other parts of the camera, esp. the lens - I'm quite sure this substance would have ruined the lens should it have gotten on it.

After searching the internet via the Google search engine, I found several older articles (although I found none from Nikon) that explained the same problem I was experiencing. One article indicated that Nikon was sending out new backs to anyone who was experiencing this problem with the N90s film door - but provided no specific directions for how to do this. At this point in time (2008), I began wondering whether Nikon was still honoring the sending out of new backs.

I went on Nikon’s web-page and called their Service and Repair Support number (1-800-645-6678). http://support.nikontech.com/cgi-bin/nikonusa.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=238&p_created=1031157067

The representative had me create a Nikon user account and I logged the problem through their on-line support interface. Initially, the representative had no knowledge of this problem and directed that I follow the standard procedure in order to have the film door sent to them. He explained that if it turned out to be their problem, it wouldn’t cost me anything.

Then, a short while later, he e-mailed me back with this updated information:

“If you have a Nikon N90 or N90s with a peeling back, you can contact our Nikon Parts dept. at (310) 414-8107. They are available from 7am to 3pm Pacific time on weekdays. If you have the data-back version for the N90 or N90s it will have to come to our Nikon service facility because parts would have to be taken out of it and installed onto a new back.”

Since I didn’t have the data-back version, I called the California number and spoke with a technical representative (Tony). He explained that they didn’t have any film doors for the N90s in-house and would have to order it from Japan. It eventually arrived (approximately 4 weeks later) at no charge to me!






The only thing left to do, was to remove the film pressure plate from the old film door and attach it to the new one - something I've never done. The technical representative tried to explain to me over the phone what do to, but I would have liked to have seen pictures with an explanation. I didn't find anything on the Interent to do this procedure. So, I wrote one myself for your benefit. Please reference: Nikon N90s - Detaching and Re-attaching Film Press...

*Note: The defect in this coating in no way is representative of the quality of the rest of this fine camera. I have taken beautiful pictures (as so many others have) with the Nikon N90s camera and although digital cameras seem to be replacing film camers, this camera takes excellent quality film pictures!