denver814
Newbie
I am looking for a baseplate for my Nikon SP. My father must have bumped or dropped it and dented the corner of the baseplate. It does not effect the operation, but I thought I would replace it if possible.
denver814
Newbie
Yes, it is the removable back, beacuse as you say, the baseplate is riveted to the back.
Dez
Bodger Extraordinaire
Unfortunately the Nikon RF backs seem to be made of much thinner stock than was used on the F's, and they are very prone to getting dented. I have been looking for a better back for my SP for a few years now, without success.
If you are a bit brave, it is possible to bang out many of these dents. The back lock can be dismantled fairly easily if the dent is in that part of the baseplate, but watch carefully where all the bits go. When putting it back together it looks as if you have too many washers, but you really don't.
I find it useful to carve the end of a wooden peg to the correct shape of the area that has been dented, and very gently hammer it out. Use a solid but non-scratching support under the part being worked. Too hard will scrape the chrome; too soft will result in a bulge. I have never been able to get the baseplate dead flat when doing this, and the matte chrome surface does not do a good job of hiding small imperfections, but you can at least come very close. If the dent is under the area where the back is rivetted onto the baseplate, you may be out of luck, as it is often impossible to get at the areas you need to. Dents tend to occur in this area due to the same cosmic forces that cause toast to hit the floor butter side down.
Good luck!
Cheers,
Dez
denver814
Newbie
Thanks for the help. I think I will try to dismantle the lock and smooth the dent.
denver814
Newbie
DEZ: I have studied the back lock. It seems that something goes in the two small holes and then that unscrews and then it comes apart?