"blurry" viewfinder image on my nikon f4 - can someone help?

[kevmad]

hi!
ive owned and used my nikon f4 for quite a while, but somehow im not very happy with its viewfinder (the standard version, dp20 i believe): unless i look through it with my eye aligned PERFECTLY it gives me a pretty blurry and distorted picture (i dont wear glasses and my eyes are fine, i have also set the cameras diopter to match my eyesight), which makes it very difficult to focus manually (i dont use autofocus lenses). otherwise the camera is in great working order, the prism seems to be in perfect condition and the focusing screen (standard one, with two circles and the autofocus bracket) is clear and unmarked. its cant really be the lenses i use either, since trying them on my d1x i also own, or other cameras, enables me to focus just fine, and to see
everything nice and sharp, just the way it should be.
any ideas?
thanks!
Kevin

 

[clogz]

Have you ever taken the focusing screen out for a clean-up and not put back in properly? This happened to me with my Oly OM2 once.
Good luck
Hans

 

[chriscrawfordphoto]

The F4 has an eyepiece correction adjustment to correct for your vision...someone's changed it on you.

 

[Suffolkbear]

You do not state your age but you can be assured that your vision has deteriorated over time. You should also be aware that LCD displays do fail. The view finder optics can be jarred and then require re-setting. All adjustments that are mechanical can be disturbed by shock or faulty manufacture.

If the camera checks out OK, then you have warning signs.

 

[Rol_Lei Nut]

Looks like all likely grounds have been covered:
1) Focussing screen not properly seated
2) Diopter adjestment incorrect/changed
3) mechanical damage/elements out of place in the viewfinder.

The mirror rest adjustment problem I had with a Nikon F at one point led to inaccurate focussing, but not to a blurry viewfinder.
Dirt or fungus *could* be suspects, though I assume you would have noticed signs...

 

[kevmad]

thanks for the replies, but i had already ruled out the diopter setting and my eyesight (which i assure u is perfectly fine). i just double checked the focusing screen, which appears to be in the right place, it has no marks, scratches or anything. lcd displays were never the issue, they work fine.
the problem isnt that i cant get sharp negatives, but that its difficult to actually see a sharp image in the finder (its possible, if i move me head/eye around).
it sounds like the most likely thing is some kind of invisible misalignment inside the viewfinder... any tipps on that?

 

[fotch]

What focusing screen do you have?

 

[kevmad]

the standard one.

 

[canuhead]

possible the diopter may have dropped out alignment or shifted. no way you should be having this problem if the screen is sitting in the frame properly. My money is on the screen though. drop it down and reseat it and check again.

 

[nyoung]

A long time ago, I had an FE2 on which a spring that dampened the reflex mirror rebound had come loose. The result was that the mirror didn't return all the way to its proper position and viewfinder image was blurred.

 

[ic-racer]

Am I understanding this correctly. The best you can get the image with the diopter adjustment does not give a sharp enough image to see the focus screen clearly? Unless the diopter adjustment is at the extreme "+" or "-" you should be able to adjust to a sharp image. If not, something is severely wrong with the viewfinder optical system.

 

[kevmad]

i CAN (and have) set the diopter so i get a sharp aperture readout and sharp frame edges (and ofc a sharp image), but only if my eye is looking through the viewfinder at the PERFECT angle, heigth...

the mirror doesnt seem to be the problem either, i can slowly turn on the mirror lock up while looking through the finder, and the resulting blur is A LOT worse than what i mean.

i took the screen out again, and checked its position. appears to be fine.

 

[Sirius Glass]

kevmad,

This may require a visit to a camera repairman to diagnose and repair/readjust.

Steve

 

[canuhead]

Just took a look through my F4 and the only way I could see this problem developing is if the diopters have been dislodged. If the mirror and screen are fine then this can be the only source. Try looking into the viewfinder eyepiece from an angle and run through the range of diopter settings. You should be able to see it rack in and out. Should look the same from either the left or right side.

taking a wild stab, did you just get bifocals or progressive lenses recently ?

 

[kevmad]

thanks for all the help guys! is there anybody here from berlin(germany) who knows a good place i could go to to get the finder fixed?

 

[RalphLambrecht]

thanks for all the help guys! is there anybody here from berlin(germany) who knows a good place i could go to to get the finder fixed?

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