Nikon DP-11 viewfinder broken - Can it be repaired?

[Johnny Boy]

Hello Forum!

I have been using my father's Nikon F2 with DP-11 viewfinder for the past 5 years. After a 6 months hiatus, I took my camera out for a street shooting a week ago, but as soon as I took the camera out of the case, the viewfinder plastic cover (where it says "Nikon" in white) immediately snapped into 3 pieces.

I took the DP-11 apart to see what had happened, and I could just get the plastic cover glued or fixed. But when I unscrewed it, I found out a very bad news: in the past 6 months, the camera must have fallen or something, but I can see a big shock on the top of the viewfinder that broke the metal inside. I am not sure if this has an impact on the function of the viewfinder yet, it seems alright to me and to appropriately adjust the controls, but that's not so great.... I am attaching pictures of the damage.

Any wisdom about whether this can be repaired and how to repair it myself (if possible), or if there's a quick fix for that, would be greatly appreciated.

 

[darkosaric]

Welcome to the forum . You can buy and use some other finder, any finder from original F or F2 will do. Some finder are pretty expensive, but some you can get for 20-30$.

Regards,

 

[BradS]

In the third photo, it appears that the cast aluminum case is broken. If that is the case, then it is very much not feasible to repair it....at least not properly. You can easily buy another DP-11 or DP-1 on ebay for not a lot of money. Someone here might even have one they would not mind parting with. However, finding one with an accurate meter might be more difficult and expensive. Good luck and welcome!

 

[Johnny Boy]

Thank you so much for your answers! Well that's what I thought, this damage seems beyond repair... But I am still not sure if that affected the function of the viewfinder, I did not see anything not working as it should yet. I'll give it a film and test it.

I did consider buying a new one, but I was shocked by the price they sell on ebay currently (all are above $100, and oftentimes, as expensive as the camera+viewfinder). Is there another website specific to such purchases? I will write on the "wanted to buy" forum here to see if I'm lucky!

 

[beemermark]

Pretty sure yours is a DP-1. Much cheaper than the later ones.

 

[shutterfinger]

If the finder test good with film I would JB Weld the cracks in the aluminum after straightening them as best one can without any disassembly, glue the plastic pieces together then assemble and call it done.
DP1 service manual and adjustment procedure are available at http://arcticwolfs.net/ but no info on the DP11.

 

[Johnny Boy]

Thank you guys very much! My viewfinder is the DP-11. I'll let you know how the test film came out!

 

[John Koehrer]

There is a category on the bay "camera repair parts" or in this case "Nikon repair parts" that may put you onto a new used cover
or dead meter for repair.

 

[Johnny Boy]

There is a category on the bay "camera repair parts" or in this case "Nikon repair parts" that may put you onto a new used cover
or dead meter for repair.

Hi John,

Thanks, that'd s great suggestion I had no idea there was a specific rubric for that. Thanks so much for the tip, I'll def post there!

 

[mshchem]

Just get over to Ebay or KEH and find a nice camera and finder. I recommend upgrading to a mint F5 as it's probably cheaper than a mint F2A.

Maybe you and your family will need to cut back on your food budget. .

I've only had one minor failure with a F2 since 1973. Things are built like a tank, but even tanks wear out.

 

[Johnny Boy]

Just get over to Ebay or KEH and find a nice camera and finder. I recommend upgrading to a mint F5 as it's probably cheaper than a mint F2A.

Maybe you and your family will need to cut back on your food budget. .

I've only had one minor failure with a F2 since 1973. Things are built like a tank, but even tanks wear out.

Hi! Thanks for the advice, I'm not sure that's what will consider doing though, I'm not sure we're there yet with that camera! I'll keep you guys posted with the troubleshooting.

 

[mshchem]

Hi! Thanks for the advice, I'm not sure that's what will consider doing though, I'm not sure we're there yet with that camera! I'll keep you guys posted with the troubleshooting.

I know a guy who super glued the mirror back in a Hassleblad! Never surrender! I had a Nikon F plain prism that had completely lost the outer cover. Someone had covered the pentaprism with metal tape, ugly, sure, but my friend still uses it from time to time.