Cracked pentaprism: Should I be worried?

[mooseontheloose]

Well, in my latest series of disasters in Europe, my Nikon FE (with 50mm 1.8 lens) fell off the bench I was sitting at onto some concrete. It wasn't a big fall, and it didn't appear to affect the lens in any way other than what feels like a little grit when I focus the lens at times. However, when I tried using the camera I noticed that the meter was no longer working. Looking closer, inside the viewfinder, it looks "cracked" in the bottom left-hand corner (see photo below). I took off the lens and looked at the mirror and focusing screen (and took it out) but couldn't see any damage that way. So I'm guessing that somehow, internally, the pentaprism cracked when the camera fell. Is this assumption correct? Should I be worried? The meter doesn't work but the shutter still does - shutter sounds correct at the various speeds I tried it at.

The problem is I am currently travelling through Europe - just arrived in Paris today and will head off to London on Saturday...part of me would like to replace the camera just in case, since its not that expensive and I brought it along to shoot some very dear (both in terms of availability and price) Kodak HIE, but am now hesitant to do so in case the camera is not working (although it seems to me that it is). If I was in Japan, no problem - FEs (and equivalents) are cheap, easy to find, and in good condition mechanically, but I'm not sure if the same is true about Paris and London. I'm going to check out second hand shops tomorrow, plus see if I can get the roll that's currently in it developed quickly, but I don't know what the turn around will be like.

Anyway, the basic question is, should I be worried about the damage? Or is all I need to worry about is the inconvenience of using a handheld meter for the remainder of my trip?


(taken with my iPhone, trying to get the light to illuminate the crack in the lower left-hand corner)

 

[Jerevan]

I would indeed try to find another camera - in London I guess it would possible to find one - I have no experience with Paris, but I guess there wouldn't be a problem there either, provided you can figure out where to go. Mr CAD in London for example, there are probably others around.

Perhaps someone on APUG has a spare camera? I have access to a bunch of stuff, but I am in the wrong place (Sweden).

EDIT: No idea if this is of use to you:

http://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Camera_and_photography_shops#Paris

 

[Kirks518]

There's one on London Craigslist for 70 pounds - http://london.craigslist.co.uk/pho/5181563679.html

On a side-note - I'm amazed at all the non-camera ads on London CL's photo & video section, not to mention the cocaine for sale....

 

[Ricardo Miranda]

Hi Rachelle

I would say that £70 is about right for a black FE in good condition.
I know someone with a chrome Fe at Spitalfields market on Sunday, but it isn't in the best condition.
I do have a black FE in nice condition that I can lend to you on Sunday and I might be persuaded to let it go for cheap.

 

[Ricardo Miranda]

Or if you prefer something a bit heavier, a Nikon EL2. Or lighter like one of my dozen EMs.

 

[Xmas]

Or an FG...

 

[mooseontheloose]

So everyone's suggesting a new camera then...

I'm going to take a look today in Paris, see what I can find, and I'll let you know how things go.

Cheers.

 

[Alex Muir]

There are lots of camera shops in Boulevard Beaumarchais in Paris, but I have to say I found them quite expensive for used equipment compared to UK prices. There is a shop called Aperture in London which is very good, and also Camera World who have some good deals on used stuff. Grays of Westminster is the Nikon specialist in London, but perhaps not the best place if you just want a user FE.
Alex.

 

[Xmas]

Try the infinity stop on a very distant item like tower more than a km away. If it is ok the chassis shell is unlikely to be distorted, a hand meter ok.

Depends on the damage to the meter how expensive the repair might be but most repair people will have cannibalised parts for that, especially in Ja.

 

[Xmas]

There are lots of camera shops in Boulevard Beaumarchais in Paris, but I have to say I found them quite expensive for used equipment compared to UK prices. There is a shop called Aperture in London which is very good, and also Camera World who have some good deals on used stuff. Grays of Westminster is the Nikon specialist in London, but perhaps not the best place if you just want a user FE.
Alex.

Looks like only FE2
http://www.graysofwestminster.co.uk/products/secondhand.php?cat1=1&pg=1

 

[mooseontheloose]

Thanks guys. I spent the morning browsing the shops but they are a FAR cry from Japanese camera shops. The worst part was all the dust accumulated on the shelves, the cameras, the lenses. One store had cameras piled on top of one another, including a beautiful Mamiya 6 (which I am currently using) but the lack of respect in its display did not garner any confidence. I did not find any FEs or FE2s, although I did find a really nice FM3A, but the price was way too much.

I guess I'll just have to shoot medium format for the rest of my trip here in Paris (only 2 days more) - its a shame I couldn't use any HIE here, but I guess that's more for London, eh? I do have some Rollei IR in 120, but it will mean using a tripod, which is not necessarily a bad thing, just a bit inconvenient.

 

[Xmas]

Kensel cemetery is nice.