NIkon F5 issue help!

tnewell

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Hi everyone,
I recently got an F5 - everything seemed to be working correctly when i got it - shutter firing, motor running etc , all in seemingly good nick. However i rented a 35mm lens to try out a couple of rolls of film and in the viewfinder all i am seeing is a rectangle with a circle in it? I don't know if this is because it's a manual lens on an auto camera? It's locked and sealed in place...I'm new to the camera so thought i'd ask if it's something obvious that i'm doing wrong. any help very appreciated. It's basically like looking at a dime sized view through the finder.
 
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tnewell

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ok, so i've just taken the viewfinder apart. There's no glass in the top of the viewfinder. Is this the issue? I'm assuming so.....
 

MattKing

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If the viewing screen isn't sitting on top of the mirror in the mirror box, check the ground/floor where you were when you changed lenses. The viewing screen fell out.
 

Christiaan Phleger

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The screen cannot fall out thru the lens mount. It just can't. Likely there was not a screen when it was sold to you.
 
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Chan Tran

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The problem is that a used type E focusing screen would cost half of the F5 so basically the OP got screwed.
 

Kino

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Chan Tran said:
The problem is that a used type E focusing screen would cost half of the F5 so basically the OP got screwed.
Click to expand...

You can buy a "repair" F5 body with prism, focus screen, body cap and data back at about the same price if you look a bit.
 

gone

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How about a G3 focus screen? $25 sounds a lot better, might work for you, especially for low light shooting or w/ long lenses.

Nikon | F5-G3 Type-G3 Focusing Screen - Pre-Owned | Used

Most orders over $49 ship free! Shop for F5-G3 Type-G3 Focusing Screen - Pre-Owned at SAMY'S CAMERA, the West Coast's leading camera store.
www.samys.com
 

MattKing

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Christiaan Phleger said:
The screen cannot fall out thru the lens mount. It just can't. Likely there was not a screen when it was sold to you.
Click to expand...

I read the original post as saying that the camera worked fine when the OP received it. Was I wrong in interpreting that as meaning that the view in the viewfinder was problem free when the camera was received?
And on the subject of the potential for the screen to fall out, you are of course correct, because the screens don't get changed through the mirror box with the F5, they get changed by removing the viewfinder and lifting them out of the body.
 

Christiaan Phleger

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Yes, and the camera can function correctly without the screen, and as the OP mentions he only noticed when he mounted the lens, so likely he tested it with a body cap on (or none if standard auction site procedure lol).

I personally enjoy the J screen for the F5, and I would avoid the G series unless there is a specific need for them. I use a G3 and G4 for a 400 2.8, 500 4 or 600 5.6 often with converters. I dislike the exposure adjustments required.
 

Chan Tran

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He can take a picture with it though. It still AF fine but if he uses CW or Matrix metering it may be off.
 
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