Nikon sp viewfinder in low light, how well is it with a clean viewfinder?

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Imakebadphotos

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Hello. I'm currently using a nikon sp and I love it! But when I'm in low light situations, focusing is a pain. I used gels in the viewfinder and it is fantastic in the daylight but at night, its a different story. Will having the viewfinder clean and serviced make a difference in low light? How well does a clean SP rangefinder work in low light situations? Thanks.
 
I had an SP with the same problem. Cleaning may help, but it may not. Cleaning didn't improve the rangefinder patch in mine. I eventually gave up on it because I also have an S2 with an excellent rangefinder patch. The S2 is so much easier to focus than my old SP. I don't miss it.
 
Imakebadphotos said:
Hello. I'm currently using a nikon sp and I love it! But when I'm in low light situations, focusing is a pain. I used gels in the viewfinder and it is fantastic in the daylight but at night, its a different story. Will having the viewfinder clean and serviced make a difference in low light? How well does a clean SP rangefinder work in low light situations? Thanks.
Click to expand...

Mine has been recently cleaned by DAG. but I have not yet pursued using at night or very low light.
 
Imakebadphotos said:
Hello. I'm currently using a nikon sp and I love it! But when I'm in low light situations, focusing is a pain. I used gels in the viewfinder and it is fantastic in the daylight but at night, its a different story. Will having the viewfinder clean and serviced make a difference in low light? How well does a clean SP rangefinder work in low light situations? Thanks.
Click to expand...

there is no way to accurately predict how well a particular SP finder will clean up. Some turn out very well, others not.

One strategy is to switch finders from one SP to another, so your SP of choice has a nice finder.
 
Probably the most reliable Nikon RF camera is the S2... and still there are some with focusing patch issues.

Experience has taught me to look directly through the center of the finder, with the lens all the way back to infinity. My S3 (whose system was cleaned by DAG) is a bit tricky to focus indoors, but not outdoors; I have an SP in his hands and I expect it to be the same (good outdoors, a bit tricky indoors under artificial lighting). At night? Hmmm... Like Stephen said above, probably with a transplant.

Still, they're great cameras to shoot! :) Good luck with yours! I'd have it cleaned. It won't hurt either way.
 
hap said:
Mine has been recently cleaned by DAG. but I have not yet pursued using at night or very low light.
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I intend to seen my SP to DAG as soon I get my S3 back from a CLA. At night in a cityscape the sp viewfinder works rather well but indoors, its alot more difficult to focus. Hopefully a cleaning in the viewfinder will help.
 
Peter Jennings said:
I had an SP with the same problem. Cleaning may help, but it may not. Cleaning didn't improve the rangefinder patch in mine. I eventually gave up on it because I also have an S2 with an excellent rangefinder patch. The S2 is so much easier to focus than my old SP. I don't miss it.
Click to expand...

I hope my sending in my SP for cleaning will help. I dabbled with a S2 but I just like the multiple frame lines the SP offers.
 
CameraQuest said:
there is no way to accurately predict how well a particular SP finder will clean up. Some turn out very well, others not.

One strategy is to switch finders from one SP to another, so your SP of choice has a nice finder.
Click to expand...

Yeah that would be a good option, to bad its difficult to find a junk SP thats affordable. Hopefully getting the rangefinder patch cleaned will help. But I will keep my eye out for another SP. Thanks.
 
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