Nikon SP rangefinder prism assembly repair

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k2adir

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I have two nikon SP cameras with the same problem...

They both have a fungus looking black mark in the prism.

I have talked with several repairmen and they all said we cannot take apart the assembly.

I'm capable to repair nikon S rangefinders but I don't know how to handle this type of a problem.

Here are several pictures of what the problem looks like.

https://imgur.com/a/7lkbvbE

Do you guys know anyone that can do such a repair in the US or EU?

If you have any resources about this repair, please share it with me. I can take apart the assembly with a guide

thanks
 
k2adir said:
I sent them an email in English, while ago. They did not reply me
Click to expand...

Separation in the main prism.... ouch. You probably didn't hear back from Kanto because they cannot do the repair. I don't know of any repair shop that can, unfortunately.

The SP rangefinder is a sealed unit which makes pulling it apart to repair nigh on impossible.

4367538388_eeecdf0cdb_o.jpg
 
The sp finder is very complex
I guess it’s possible to remove just the front prism assembly
There are set screws and it is cemented in place
If you are lucky enough to repair the prism
It still needs to be reinstalled and aligned properly
When I asked dag about this ( he does it for Leica m )
The answer was that he has jigsand fixtures - special tools
To perform this repair on Leica m prisms that would not work
For the Nikon
I don’t know if there is anyone repairing them for Nikon
I tried to find someone to repair the sp finder and was not successful
 
Thanks for all the replies! I sent an email to dave, the Japanese store didn't reply me yet. I talked with few other repairmen around the world and they said they couldn't do it.

One of those folks repair cameras like blad 1000/1600, 200/2000 series, alpa and such. Uncommon stuff. Hearing even he cannot do was a bummer

EDIT: dave's inbox is full and my email gets rejected...
 
Is the spot on the focusing prism or on the beamsplitter within the viewfinder itself? In spite of all the techs who say they can't do the repair, I am one of those who thinks that since mortal people built the things, they can be repaired. I fixed my Leica M4 with a picket knife, cheap jewelers screwdriver, channel locks and a press in our Seabee machine shop. In Fallujah, Iraq. You may try outside the camera repair sphere and look to folks who repair binoculars, erecting rangefinder optics, scopes, microscopes. I know the US Navy used to have a rating, several actually, of folks who would just repair and calibrate optical gear. There used to be a specialty within the photographer field of camera repair. My old chief was one of them.
It can be done with enough persistence.
Phil Forrest
 
Phil_F_NM said:
Is the spot on the focusing prism or on the beamsplitter within the viewfinder itself? In spite of all the techs who say they can't do the repair, I am one of those who thinks that since mortal people built the things, they can be repaired. I fixed my Leica M4 with a picket knife, cheap jewelers screwdriver, channel locks and a press in our Seabee machine shop. In Fallujah, Iraq. You may try outside the camera repair sphere and look to folks who repair binoculars, erecting rangefinder optics, scopes, microscopes. I know the US Navy used to have a rating, several actually, of folks who would just repair and calibrate optical gear. There used to be a specialty within the photographer field of camera repair. My old chief was one of them.
It can be done with enough persistence.
Phil Forrest
Click to expand...

If this is the glass assembly

The lens mount facing to you

[ / ----- (---- = more glass stuff going on)

^
the 1st glass piece

The problem is on the glass that is positioned like this "/".
The markings or whatever is on that glass piece.

Other pieces are fine

This is the case on my "better" SP, not entirely sure on the other one right now.
 
Phil_F_NM said:
In spite of all the techs who say they can't do the repair, I am one of those who thinks that since mortal people built the things, they can be repaired.
Click to expand...

I think when a tech says "it can't be repaired", what they're really saying is "its too much hassle and effort for what could reasonably charge for the work".

Phil_F_NM said:
It can be done with enough persistence.
Click to expand...

Sure. How much persistence is needed is the key. Unfortunately the amount of persistence required is more than techs like DAG and Kanto are willing to invest.

Easiest just use the SP as a non-focus coupling body dedicated to wide angle lenses. Or find a junk body with a decent finder and swap the finders.
 
Phil_F_NM said:
It can be done with enough persistence.
Click to expand...

From what I see on the pictures and understand this is delaminating of the half-mirrored surfaces trapped (cemented) within the main beamsplitter prism unit. So this unit must be dissassembled with solvent, the sick surfaces must be cleaned, some half-mirroring layers must be put on the elements again (silver or gold powder layer, vacuum machine...) and the elements must be cemented together again with precise alignment.

Some people in the UK used to perform such repairs on decemented Leica M3 beamsplitters but I don't know whether they still do it now.

FWIW : http://www.angelfire.com/biz/Leica/

Finding a beater SP with a decent VF/RF unit and performing a transplant would be the best option, sure.
 
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