Nikon F eye level prism issue

davela · Nov 5, 2011

I have a non metered Nikon F eye level prism that seems to be very slightly loose in its housing (slight rattle if you shake it). It looks and works well otherwise. Does anyone know how "normal" this is (or not). My guess is that there is an adjustment somewhere internally to correct this - perhaps some preloaded springs or whatever.

davela · Nov 5, 2011

Thanks for the tip raizans. I have a local guy here that should be able to take care of it.

John Koehrer · Nov 5, 2011

Just had the prism from my F2 apart, it's retained by a couple of springs. No sign of foam at all.

brucemuir · Nov 5, 2011

Looks like the F eyelevel uses a combo of springs and foam

The entire manual is available online if you want it.
Use google as I dont have a direct url

davela · Nov 5, 2011

Bruce,

Cool diagram, thanks. I'll pour a cup of coffee and study it a while! (I love these old school exploded views).

Right now the prism is in the hands of my tech who also told me that he thinks there is a mechanical preload that needs setting. It seems that there is a spring AND foam.

I don' know what it is about these eye level prisms and the original F, but I've been enchanted with them and the Nikon F from the day I went to press events with my dad back in the early 70's and met all the seasoned still-photo guys who swore by this setup (my dad worked for ABC television back then).

Mark Crabtree · Nov 5, 2011

davela said:
I don' know what it is about these eye level prisms and the original F, but I've been enchanted with them and the Nikon F from the day I went to press events with my dad back in the early 70's and met all the seasoned still-photo guys who swore by this setup (my dad worked for ABC television back then).

I'm nuts for that camera setup, especially black, but I just got a very pretty chrome one also. It has the same simple and functional appeal to me as a Leica M2. And that was a classic combo too. Wide on the Leica and long on the Nikon.

Bob-D659 · Nov 5, 2011

Here.

http://arcticwolfs.net/

brucemuir · Nov 5, 2011

Thanks Bob!
I just looked and couldn't find it right off.

davela · Nov 5, 2011

bob and bruce, thanks for the info - very useful manuals

davela · Nov 5, 2011

Studying the F repair manual my guess is that raizans (see second post on the thread) is right. A deterioration of the part called the "Prism support sponge" would be consistent with the direction of play in the loose prism motion - which is parallel to the the optical axis of the camera (viewing direction).

Nikon F eye level prism issue

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