Augh! My F2's prism is broken!

[Poohblah]

I have no clue what happened. I was out shooting when all of the sudden, the aperture ring became difficult to turn. So I popped off the lens and put it back on to realize that the pin on the prism would not drop into the notch on the prong. Somehow, something in the prism had become bent or something and the pin was now a few more mm away from the body than it was before, and so it won't drop into the notch.

Suggestions/help please?

 

[epatsellis]

How handy are you? comfortable with lots (and I mean lots) of tiny bits lying on a bench and confident you can reassemble it? If you're up to it, I have the service manual for the DP1 as well as the adjustment procedures.

 

[elekm]

So is the prism broken? As in cracked? Or is it a mechanical problem with the aperture pin?

 

[John_Nikon_F]

Mike,

Sounds like it's a mechanical issue with the pantogram mechanism behind the nameplate. Decent DP-1's aren't too expensive, if the OP doesn't feel comfortable tearing into the mechanism to see why the pin won't engage. My FTn finder doesn't like the triangular coupling shoes used on some of the older non-AI Nikkors. Could be an alignment problem, since the only lens I've tried that has one, is my 35f2 Nikkor-O, which, at one time, in my infinite wisdom, I converted to said coupling shoe. Probably didn't get it aligned properly when I did the conversion.

-J

 

[Poohblah]

I feel fine taking apart the prism. Besides, I didn't pay much for this camera, and I have another 35mm Nikon to use.

 

[Poohblah]

I just realized what happened. I dropped my camera a few days ago and it landed on the top of the prism. I checked it out to make sure it was working and it seemed fine. I guess some parts inside must have shifted/bent and once I took off the lens, all the tension on the bent parts was released. So now it seems that the prism is beyond repair. I think I'm going to go for an FM with a working meter, as that seems to be cheaper than buying a working DP-1.

 

[Steve Smith]

I feel fine taking apart the prism.

That's the easy bit. Putting it back together is the difficult bit!



Steve (owner of many spare parts which used to be broken cameras).

 

[Arvee]

I had the same thing happen to my F2. I opened it up and straightened the linkage at the front of the prism and it works fine. Didn't take more than 1/2 hour to complete the repair.

-Fred

 

[Mike Kennedy]

Will the prism that's for sale in the APUG classified section fit your camera?

 

[Poohblah]

Will the prism that's for sale in the APUG classified section fit your camera?

I'm not sure which prism you're referring to. Can you point it out?

 

[Mike Kennedy]

Prism.

Would this work? Being sold by Dave in APUG classified.

 

[mikebarger]

No, that is for an F

 

[Ralph Javins]

Good morning, Poohblah;

Now is your opportunity. You can get a DP-12 and convert your simple F2 into an F2AS!

 

[removed-user-1]

Definitely agree with others here; repair the coupling pin yourself, or replace the damaged prism with another prism. KEH usually has some available. Maybe you could get a DP-12 and convert your camera to an F2AS, or an eye-level prism, the DE-1, which solves the meter coupling problem quite nicely by having none in the first place... I have an old F with the FTN prism, and I've had to do a couple repairs over the years, including straightening out the coupling pin and cleaning the inside of the eyepiece. Not that hard, really, just takes a little patience.

 

[nicefor88]

If the camera felt on the prism there might be additional problems coming soon!
Replace it or get a FM like you said.