Cleaning a Nikonos II viewfinder?

[Cale Arthur]

Anyone have any experience with this? Have a bit of haze that i'd like to eradicate. It's not super-irritating, but it's enough of a bother to have it gone, if possible.

Looking at the service manual, it appears to not be quite as simple as a 'pop the top' style repair, rather a through-the-front assembly, front glass held in by a gasket (unless i'm reading it wrong). This is an 'on land' camera only (i'm not much of a swimmer 🙂) - if i need to replace said gasket after cleaning, is there an alternative part that i can purchase somewhere?

Any/all suggestions welcome, and thanks!

 

[charjohncarter]

Don't try it. I thought about it about 15 years ago and it really hasn't gotten worse. But I did strip a screw.

 

[BillBingham2]

Cale,

Contact Bob here....

http://www.southern-nikonos.com/

He will help you even if you want to mess it up yourself. Great guy. I used him when I got screwed a few years back on a Nikonos III from Evil Bay.

They are wonderful cameras with a rocking 35/2.5, same formula as the RF lens.

B2 (;->

 

[ornate_wrasse]

I could not agree more. Bob Warkentin is the man to go to. An interesting guy to talk to on the phone, too. He used to do regular maintenance on my Nik V.

If it has anything to with a Nikonos, Bob will have the answer.

Ellen

 

[f16sunshine]

Funny coincidence. I just picked up a II yesterday. I plan to use mine mostly during high risk of water damage rather than for underwater. It has been brought to my attention that the lens is optimized for underwater focus. Is this true? Is there special care to take when focussing on land? My VF s hazy also. I'm leavng it alone.

 

[BillBingham2]

The 35 and the 80 both work above and below the water line. The 15 and 28 are below the water only. Another option is the look into the Sports Finder (plastic) much easier to use in the rain than the optical.

B2 (;->

 

[f16sunshine]

Thanks B2. I have an optical acc finder I was going to give a try.

 

[peterm1]

I am about to say something that will horrify most people - I know because it horrified me. I have a Leica M4P with a foggy viewfinder. Apparently its a known issue - something inside outgasses a chemical causing this in this model of camera. I was advised on a forum (probably this one) that the correct means of cleaning it (after of course the top plate is removed) is to use toothpaste on the inside of the glass!

I spoke to my "camera guy" and he confirmed that this is what the tehcnicians do. I ordered the flexi spanner things needed to remove the topplate and will probaly try it this weekend. If you do not trust me then ask around I know it sounds not just strnage but bizzare.

 

[ornate_wrasse]

I was advised on a forum (probably this one) that the correct means of cleaning it (after of course the top plate is removed) is to use toothpaste on the inside of the glass!

This doesn't sound so bizarre to me. When I bought a new mask for scubadiving, I was told to use toothpaste to remove the coating that is placed on the mask to protect it.

That toothpaste sounds like powerful stuff 😀

Ellen

 

[Cale Arthur]

Ok, thanks everyone.. I've thought about reaching out to Bob at SN, and may do that. Eventually, i think this one would benefit from a full rebuild, though i always feel like asking a professional cam tech about how to perform repairs is like asking the Colonel for the 11th spice.. 🙂

I believe that there's an on-land 28mm for the Nikonos, but they're not easy to find. The 35 that mine came with is all i could ever need, really. Super lens, apparently slightly modified from the RF version.

 

[BillBingham2]

I think the great ones are a lot more open with help as they know that in the end if there's a real issue you probably will come to them.

There are several O-Rings that can only be gotten to by a full CLA in the III, not sure about the II. Also you need to know if you will ever use the camera underwater vs in the rain. Underwater need the whole 9 yards, in the rain, not so much. For what it's worth tell Bob I sent you his way as the best Nikonos guy out there.

B2 (;->