***Help***Breaking prism on my nikon SP

[lam616]

The prism glass element on my SP (little element inside the little window next to "Nikon" logo) is broken which makes me very difficult on focusing through the rangefinder🙁 and thus taking pictures.

I have been looking for a repalcement part for that specific element on various website but failed. Any brother(s) here who has/knows where I can find a cracked-down SP with good condition prism glass element as a replacement?

Please Help~:bang:

Kind regards,
William

 

[lam616]

Thanks Jon,

Yes, exactly. The triangle prism is broken. There is a visible fault when looking though the small window. I have bought it to a local technician (in Hong Kong). He advised unless you have a replacement for that particularly prism unit, it is not possible to fix it. Thats why i have trying to ask for help from any brothers (or sisters) here to see if they have any cracked down SP with good glasses.

Regards
William

 

[Sonnar Brian]

Is the prism the same size as that used in the other Nikon RF's? I'm betting the S3 used the same prism, and probably the S2 as well. Once a part works, Nikon tends to stick with it. I used screws from a 1970's 135/2.8 F-Mount to replace those in a 1950 LTM Nikkor 5cm F2.

I've also glued the cracked prism in a Canon 7 before. Worked, but you could see the seam.

 

[lam616]

True. Thats also i want to ask. Are the triangle prism on other nikon RF fix with SP's such as S2 or S3. If so, it will be less costly to buy a vintage S2 to replace the prism rather than buying a vintage SP which is much expensive.

Jon,
Yes. The repair guy did suggest stick the crack with glue which could improve the focusing performance but he cannot guarantee after paying 150 repairing cost.

Will

 

[BillBingham2]

Will,

Where are you located?

I do not have parts but a few ideas.

B2

 

[maddoc]

Would that help ?

http://www.edmundoptics.com/products/displayproduct.cfm?productID=2055

 

[lam616]

Bill,

I am in hong kong. why?

 

[lam616]

maddoc,

Thanks. Do you know that exact measurements of the prism of the SP?

Regards
William

 

[maddoc]

I don't know the exact dimensions but can you measure these ? It is the only resource for optical parts besides Sigma Koki that came to my mind.

 

[Highway 61]

Apart from a heavy nick which would have at least broken the front plate flat window or left traces on the top cover metal I have no idea what could get that prism broken.

It's probably just separated over time (the cement has dried up). So, gluing it back with UV-curing cement should be possible.

Sometimes that prism gets very dirty on its rear side because of grease having quite outgassed there and so you can have the feeling it's broken while it's actually not. As a result focusing becomes very difficult.

After having taken several Nikon RFs apart I can tell for sure that it's the same as on the Nikon S2.

I wonder if a prism off a Nikon S wouldn't do it as well once installed. Afterall it's just a neutral prism, a smaller prism would do it, the trick would be to use shims to glue a slightly smaller prism in the original housing.

IIRC that prism is glued onto a metal frame and the frame is hold with some very small set screws which adjust it for correct alignment.

 

[MikeL]

I don't know the exact dimensions but can you measure these ? It is the only resource for optical parts besides Sigma Koki that came to my mind.

I get research optics from this company, Melles Griot:

https://cvimellesgriot.com/Products/Prism.aspx

Not cheap, but high quality.

 

[t6un]

If it's a simple 45 degree triangular prism, any old russian RF has one inside. In a pinch you could even replace it with a small front surface mirror.
If there is a big crack, it would make sense to reglue it with an optical cement, but if only a small chip of glass is missing i would simply cover the fault with the black paint. That would probably save you from the hardest part of the work - readjusting the prism after it's been removed from the assembly.

 

[lam616]

Oh, I just want to make it clear.....Prism on S2 is same as the one on SP? If so, I can get one cheaper to fix my SP.

 

[Highway 61]

Again I would first check that what is thought to be a crack when looking at the prism through the front plate window isn't sticky greasy black dirt on the rear side of the prism.

Ditto with the idea of taking one prism off a Russian RF body in case it's actually broken.

 

[lam616]

According to my local repair guy (he is already one of the best repair guys in HK), the prism is highly likely broken. Thats why i need a replacement prism for it.

I also attach a picture i just took by my iphone for your reference:


My SP broken prism by lam616, on Flickr

 

[BillBingham2]

Bill,

I am in hong kong. why?

If you were over in the states I would suggest you reach out to Mr. Smith down in Florida. Very often repair people who specialize in one type or manufacturer of camera have spare parts or bodies to cannibalize for parts. An S2 with a broken shutter might be a transplant donor for a prism or perhaps a lens mount.

I do not know anything about Hong Kong other than you are a bit south of Japan so sending it over to a specialist might be an option. As you as sending it for repair and getting it back there should be no duty/taxes to pay as it travels either direction.

If you go the way of a donor S2 that is working I bet you could sell the sick prism and otherwise working S2 here to recover some of your cost.

B2

 

[Highway 61]

Looks broken indeed.

I don't know who would buy a SP with such a problem. I once sold a SP off which I had cleanly removed the secondary 28/35 finder and blanked out the matching windows because its Z-shaped prism was broken, but the camera remained perfectly usable with 50-135 lenses, and the main VF and RF were perfect.

Go for asking a skilled repairman to cannibalize a Russian RF camera if they can't find a genuine Nikon part, it must work with no problem. Once the replacement prism is installed it's only a matter of time consuming to have it adjusted horizontally and vertically with custom made shims.

 

[Stefcuoz]

William... you have contact me on ebay for sp parts, on ebay i'm nipponkogakutokyo
Wish to make you a serious offer, will trades your SP with one of mine SP's + cash.
Apologize me but i have lost your mail.
if my offer interesting you rewrite me please... i not intend to repair your SP...need me sparing parts.
waiting for your mail.
Steve.

 

[lam616]

Could it be that one ...???

I bought an SP from a store in Tokyo several years ago with exactly the same problem. I didn't notice it in the store, but did as soon as I got it home. I returned the camera for a full refund the next day. From memory, it was an SP from the first "reissue" batch (the ones with serial no's starting from 623**** with Nikon F type self timer etc.). I kept an eye out for it but never saw it on the shelf in that shop again. I always wondered what became of it...

Jon,

My serial no. starts with 621****.

Will

 

[lam616]

If you were over in the states I would suggest you reach out to Mr. Smith down in Florida. Very often repair people who specialize in one type or manufacturer of camera have spare parts or bodies to cannibalize for parts. An S2 with a broken shutter might be a transplant donor for a prism or perhaps a lens mount.

I do not know anything about Hong Kong other than you are a bit south of Japan so sending it over to a specialist might be an option. As you as sending it for repair and getting it back there should be no duty/taxes to pay as it travels either direction.

If you go the way of a donor S2 that is working I bet you could sell the sick prism and otherwise working S2 here to recover some of your cost.

B2

Hi All,

Does any one can confirm me whether prism on S2 same as prism on SP? I got a good friend who has a prism from S2 but not sure if this work on SP before sending this to my repair guy who will charge me for the checking anyway.

Anyone?

Regards
Will