Just bought a bargin Hasselblad NC 2 finder...

TooManyShots · Aug 1, 2016

I have been searching on Ebay for some Hasselblad bargins. I couldn't resist this one. A NC 2 finder for $18 shipped. I decided to buy it at the last hour and emailed the seller with questions. I guess I emailed him a bit late and he didn't respond to me yet. I was only the bidder and bid on it at the last minute. His description wasn't that detailed and he does not seem to be specializing in selling photography gear. Just a typical seller selling vintage things on Ebay. Judging by this photo, do you think the prism inside is still good?

http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/eYUAAOSwqBJXVvln/s-l1600.jpg

Theo Sulphate · Aug 2, 2016

I see a few spots and maybe slight scratches or "cleaning marks", but I think it's very good. For $18 it is amazing. I think it'll work just fine for you. Let us know.

AgX · Aug 2, 2016

Could that brownish part show desilvering?

Poisson Du Jour · Aug 2, 2016

On enlargement, it is scratched and spotty and what looks to be hazed (?). In normal use it should not be necessary to clean the underside glass, and the cleaning effort on this one leaves a lot to be desired if it was a pro user. There are some terrible, brutally used versions circulating, and still more in minty condition. But for $18, you probably did land a bargain. BTW, I think the NC 2 was one of the 'finders that was not made by Hasselblad, but in Germany (Novoflex??).

Theo Sulphate · Aug 2, 2016

AgX said:
Could that brownish part show desilvering?

I couldn't tell from the photo what the brown tone was - because it had a straight edge rather than being irregular, I thought it was just due the way light was being reflected internally.

TooManyShots · Aug 2, 2016

Here is the original posting.... with more photos...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-Has...3QVl99zbdK%2FWF2jnhqw%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

BrianShaw · Aug 2, 2016

Why worry now; why not wait and try it. I have a 90 degree of the same vintage. It has some delamination but works great. Stop worrying. You got a great deal!

Sirius Glass · Aug 2, 2016

At that price, it is worth at least that. Buy it and give it a shot, you will probably be pleased.

Luis-F-S · Aug 2, 2016

They all had a crappy paint job on the black and scratched easily. I paid over $400 for mine new and doesn't look much better after 30 years. So how does the image look when you put it on the camera? That's all that matters.

TooManyShots · Aug 3, 2016

Well, let's hope he isn't some deadbeat seller because he didn't reply to my email that I sent out 2 days ago. The item has not been shipped out yet....

TooManyShots · Aug 5, 2016

Just got it about 30 minutes ago. The optic and the mirror are flawless with couple of specks. That's about it. No scratches or separations. The paint can be retouched or even repainted. Just need a rubber eye cup for it since I wear glasses.

AgX · Aug 6, 2016

That brown area thus is an image of part of the housing?

BrianShaw · Aug 6, 2016

Now don't you regret investing in unnecessary anxiety?

TooManyShots · Aug 6, 2016

AgX said:
That brown area thus is an image of part of the housing?

The prism is clean. I mean CLEAN. I did remove the rear part of the prism housing and to wipe down the underside of the viewfinder optic. It has some light haze. And the prism was manufactured in 1974, date has been stamped inside the prism. The brown part could be from the reflection of something. The viewfinder optic has some dust and grit around the edges. I cleaned that up with some rubbing alcohol. Few hours ago I light sanded the paint off and to strip it down to its grayish paint base. Then, I spray painted two coats of gloss black paint. Waiting to dry right now. The NC2 definitely improved the way I shoot with my 553 elx. It did add another pound to the kit. Is just better than using the waist level finder alone. And I could see the entire frame too AND can focus using the center prism on the focusing screen. Before with the waist level finder, is either/or. You need the magnifier to focus but it won't let you see the entire frame. If you want to see the entire frame, you have to flip down the magnifier.

When the paint is dried, I can post photos of the kit....

TooManyShots · Aug 6, 2016

BrianShaw said:
Now don't you regret investing in unnecessary anxiety?

Well, with ebay, you never know. If the paint and the housing were in better shape, the NC2 can go for as much as $100. The mirror and the optic are in MINT condition...

BrianShaw · Aug 6, 2016

You got a great deal. If you find replacement eye rubber let us know. Mine is hard and I wear glasses too.

TooManyShots · Aug 6, 2016

BrianShaw said:
You got a great deal. If you find replacement eye rubber let us know. Mine is hard and I wear glasses too.

Here are some photos...I am not pro when comes to paint job. Is better than before.

lucarellicastaldirace080616_0408 by vracing, on Flickr

lucarellicastaldirace080616_0411 by vracing, on Flickr

lucarellicastaldirace080616_0412 by vracing, on Flickr

lucarellicastaldirace080616_0413 by vracing, on Flickr

lucarellicastaldirace080616_0418 by vracing, on Flickr

For the eye cup issue, I used a large rubber band (something rubber I could find). And to cut it to fit around the viewfinder circle. There is an outer ring slightly larger than the actual viewfinder. In between these 2 pieces, there is a slot. I just fit the cut out rubber band into the slot. Then, I wrap around some black electric tape around it.

Nokton48 · Aug 6, 2016

I use the rubber eyecups from the Kiev meter prism.
Not easy to find but fit like they were made for the NC-2's

Theo Sulphate · Aug 6, 2016

You might also like the rapid focusing handle; it makes focusing those old C lenses so much easier and enjoyable:

BTW, nice job with the paint!

Just bought a bargin Hasselblad NC 2 finder...

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