Nikon F4 focus screen question

zk-cessnaguy

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Is it possible to fit the F3 screen optics into an F4 housing? I can get a F3 K screen that I would like to adapt to an old F4 B screen I have lying around.
Is this possible? Has anyone done it successfully?
 

jochen

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Hello,
the F 3 screens fit, the size is the same, but it is not guaranteed that the focus will be correct. Some say it will be, some say not exactly.
 
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When will this finally be dead. Do a search, please. Using an F3 screen in a F4 will result in focus errors. It is possible to exchange the acrylic screen by splitting the condenser and remounting, but the tolerances *may not be correct*. At the tolerances needed for say a 300mm f/2.8 at the level screen are close enough that if its off a teeny weeny bit, its off enough on film to make a difference. Besides, really, if you can't find a K screen for a F4 you're not looking very hard.
 
OP
OP

zk-cessnaguy

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No need to be snarky, mate.

I am aware the F3 screen is not an exact fit in the F4. That is why I was thinking of rebuilding an F4 one.

Regarding sourcing an F4 screen, they are not that common down here and I don't want to pay KEH's rediculous shipping rates.

But honestly, if you don't have anything helpful to say, then don't say anything, OK?
 

fstop

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What is KEH charging?
I just shipped a box to Papakura , Priority Mail International Flat Rate box, was $13.95 USD.
International First Class mail is only $10.31.
 
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OP

zk-cessnaguy

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Joined
Mar 8, 2009
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137
Location
Auckland, Ne
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What is KEH charging?
I just shipped a box to Papakura , Priority Mail International Flat Rate box, was $13.95 USD.
International First Class mail is only $10.31.

From the KEH website shopping cart checkout:

FedEx International Economy $59.95
UPS Worldwide Express $64.90
International Mail $59.95

Note, this is USD not NZD so it's about 25% more in local currency...
 

Chris Nielsen

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May 11, 2008
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I have always used USPS when ordering from KEH, however it always seems to take them forever to get around to actually putting it in the post, 3 weeks most times. Perhaps the reason they have jacked the postal price up is to encourage us to use Fedex!!!!
 
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Ahh mate, chill out, married a Kiwi so I understand your need for the #8 baling wire.

Maybe if you took the time to actually read my post you'd have found my answer helpful, but perhaps that's why I feel compelled to repeat it. If you did bother to do a search you'd probably come across more than a few posts where I got deep into it, and my clear advice in the post that by removing the acrylic screen from the F3 and mating that to the F4 condenser you'd have something that might get you close. Maybe not to what Nikon intended but maybe close enough for a Kiwi. My snippy snip was because this Internet Legend has been going on since before the internet was a twinkle in Al Gore's eye, and every time this topic comes up somebody chimes in that just because the F4 screens and F3 screens are close they are interchangeable, and the legend rolls on.
But, I know being a Kiwi you'll try it, I just thought that by giving a bit of hard earned advice I could save you a bit of angst and soft images. So go for it! Go get a DW-4 for the F3 or a DW-21 for the F4 or even a DG-2, swap the screens, do some film and see for yourself.

I've rebuilt both F4 and F3 screens by taking apart the condenser from the acrylic screen for cleaning, but there is a very small gap between them created by a small lip on the screen. I don't have the precision tools to measure the difference between the lip of the screens F4 vs F3 but I've long suspected this is the difference that causes the error, which is why when the F4 came out Nikon was very clear that the screens were not interchangeable. The original F and the F2 had identical screens and thus were completely and totally interchangeable. Even the F3 screens could be used in the F2 as long as you installed them in a different orientation, the frame fits in opposite, its a bit tight but correct and true in focus. I think this past cross usage perhaps gave some the idea that they could swap them and thus the mis-information begins. I have seen and adjusted an F3 that had a F4 screen installed, it gave focussing errors and a previous repairman had adjusted the mirror as a way to compensate but it only worked at certain distances and when the original F3 screen was put back in the focus was off again, this time due to the mirror not being set true. Easy fix: setting the mirror back in alignment using the Original and proper screen.

So, if you do find what I have to say helpful, go have a Tui or two and relax a bit mate. Its all good.
 
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