Nikon F F2 prism guard - alternatives?

R

Robert Lai

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This weekend I took out my long neglected Nikon F2A and started shooting with it. I bought it from a fellow RFF member here, and it has been fully overhauled by Authorized Photo Service of Morton Grove, IL. I never shot the F2 before, as I always used my F3 when I wanted to shoot an SLR. Now that the F3 is sold, I haven't touched the Nikon gear until now. I have been shooting my unmetered LTM cameras in the meantime. Well, it was a joy to have such a sensitive and responsive meter in a camera again.

I also have a Nikon F with plain prism (also overhauled last year by APS). My experience with the F2A lead me to look at an FTN finder. Sover Wong will overhaul these, so I bought one from KEH with a view to having Sover work it over (rhymes).

Now the problem - finding the prism guards at a reasonable price is difficult. The usual culprits on ebay want $60-80 for one!

For now, I'll probably make one up out of cardstock, for shipping to Sover. (Sover doesn't have any either). I do have a prism guard for the plain prism of my F2 to use as a model.

Any other ideas? How about people who are familiar with 3D printing? How expensive is it to set up to print a bunch of these small plastic boxes up for folks who would like a prism guard?
 
Watch auction sites for dead Photomic finders and buy one that has the guard. Alternately, find a friend with a milling machine and carve one out of plastic. Wouldn't be as pretty but would be functional. Joe
 
What for? A few layers of bubble wrap will be enough protection for shipping - if you fear that the prism might get scratched, add a first layer of lens cleaning microfibre tissue.
 
I never worried about it with years using a Nikkormat (no hotshoe). I've seen a few prisms with dents over the years but the vast majority still worked fine.

I fully understand the concern about being careful with stuff. In side I still go ape5hit on my oldest as he presses buttons way too hard, so I think I know where you are coming from. Why the worry?

B2
 
For those of you who are not familiar with the removable prisms, once you remove the prism the glass on the bottom of the prism is fully exposed and vulnerable to damage -scratches or impact. The prism guard is merely a plastic cap to cover the exposed glass surface. I was looking for a guard mainly for protection while the prism finder is mailed from US - UK - US round trip to Sover Wong.
 
OOOOH, that sort of prism guard. Well worth the $10.

For the trip I'd use like five sheets of lens cleaning paper (dry stuff) followed by a paper towel folded around the prism neatly and a rubber band around the paper towel. Perhaps a small piece of stiff paper (like a 3x5 flash card) over the bottom of the prism between the paper towel and the rubber band. Bubble wrap her, packing tape.........

Nikon made a lot of them years ago so they might be on EvilBay too.

You might want to pick up two when you order as you never know when you will find a speed finder or such.

Sorry for my confusion.

B2
 
There are none available at KEH, but there are three listed on ebay: for $45.00 or $50.00 each!!!!!
Anyone with one thumb per hand could easily make their own for far less than that with five-minute epoxy and a Dremmel tool.
 
Check the Nikon forum called Nikonians.org. I used to hang out there a few years back and they had reasonable prices from most members. I think you need to post five times to get access to their sale sub-forum. Used to be really good folks, not sure about now.

Another thing to check is sales of like waist level finders to see if any of them have one. I sold one with mine years back.

Good luck.

B2
 
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