Nikon DP-12 condition question

[Shaban101]

Hi all. This is actually my first post here so please bear with me.

I recently acquired a Nikon F2 with a DP-12 prism. However the condition of the prism has me worried - see attached picture. The actual view through the eyepiece is fine except for a few specks of dust, but looking at the prism from the underside reveals what I assume is either fungus or desilvering, but fungus more likely. The camera is otherwise in good shape, allegedly recently serviced.

Edit: Added a slightly clearer picture of the offending area.

Any suggestions? Should I look into repair options? Thanks.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Someone with experience with that prism will come along soon and answer your question. But, by the way ...

Welcome to APUG Photrio!!​

 

[BrianShaw]

I’ve never heard of a shop repairing a viewfinder but can’t say that there isn’t one. If the view through the viewfinder is okay I’d use as is. Replacing would be easy but costly. There are many on eBay, for instance. If you have DIY genes then maybe this would be worth reviewing to see if there’s any hope for a repair.

NIKON F2AS Photomic Finder DP-12 Camera Repair Manual, Parts List - Paper or PDF | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for NIKON F2AS Photomic Finder DP-12 Camera Repair Manual, Parts List - Paper or PDF at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

 

[BrianShaw]

I assume that you’ve done this already, and if not…

nikon dp-12 repair - Google Search

 

[Sirius Glass]

It looks as though the prism is missing. If so, it is not useful as it is. Return it.

 

[Shaban101]

Thanks. I dont’t think I’d stand a chance trying any repairs myself. Actually the prism is there, as I said the view through the DP-12 and into the focusing screen is normal, both with and without a lens mounted. The only thing I’m worried about is this weird strip of mirror with stuff on it that’s visible in the picture. My F3 with an HP prism looks absolutely normal and unremarkable by comparison…

 

[mshchem]

No good.

 

[reddesert]

I don't have a DP-12 prism. I do have a DP-1 prism, so I took it off and looked at it.

When you look at the prism from the underside you should see four images of a rectangular clear-ish area. I believe these are actually four images of the same area. If you look at the curvy damaged boundary of the paint, it's the same set of curves (sometimes inverted), and the same black dot present over one of the "peaks" in the curvy boundary. That's why I think these are four images of the same place.

I think this is a clear area that allows the image of the metering display to be projected into the eyepiece.

It looks to me like paint that is on the outside of the prism to protect against stray light, except in this clear area, is chipping away from the edges. I don't know whether this also involves desilvering or if it's in an area that you would see when looking through the finder. Prisms have a sort of hall-of-mirrors effect so that what you think you are looking at, is not always where you think it is.

I don't really know if there's any fungus inside the finder or if those are reflections of dust, etc.

The DP-12 is the F2AS prism I believe. I guess I would say, if you paid a lot for it you should return it since it's clearly imperfect, and if not, maybe keep it since it's apparently usable.