Vickko
Veteran
Any amateur lens makers or telescope makers in Ottawa or Canada?
I need to repolish a plano surface onto my modified SBOOI prism.
I am looking for lens polishing supplies and information.
Is it likely that I can get all my necessary materials at Home Hardware or Canadian Tire?
Where are good places, in Canada, preferably Ottawa, to buy lens polishing supplies?
Thanks
Vick
I need to repolish a plano surface onto my modified SBOOI prism.
I am looking for lens polishing supplies and information.
Is it likely that I can get all my necessary materials at Home Hardware or Canadian Tire?
Where are good places, in Canada, preferably Ottawa, to buy lens polishing supplies?
Thanks
Vick
Vickko
Veteran
Wow, remember the days when being a photographer meant being a chemist, as you should do your own development?
Well, imagine if you also "made your own optics".
For those who don't know, I bought the housing of a Nikkor 5m Brightline finder. Typically, this item is worth $2K if complete. My finder was missing its entire front optics.
See these two ebay auctions to get an idea:
1. Item number:190484845353 - my finder.
2. fully kitted - Item number:230567786121
The seller is a m*ron - the kit might be worth $8K because it is complete. This is the only time I've ever seen the complete kit.
So, trying to transplant lenses from other Nikkor and Leica brightline finders hasn't worked. But, I now, after disassembling the Leica SBOOI, I now know the optical design of the Nikkor unit. The beauty of the design is that it is just plano windows, except for the mirrored surface that projects the brightlines. And so obvious that it should be plano, as the finder is 1:1 magnfication - no lensing is done !
And, for the shear fun of it, I've been modifying an SBOOI optical head to fit the Nikkor (as I await other finders to try; their "in the mail"). And, I am trying to achieve this "at home".
I cut 3 mm off the flat end of the SBOOI optical head, with a tungsten hacksaw blade. I was amazed that it worked at all. I'm now trying to repolish the optical flat onto the prism.
Now, this is, and isn't, black magic. There is a history of home telescope making. Just that I've never done it. And it is ironic that I used to work at Leitz Midland, where there were entire shop floors dedicated to polishing prisms. I'm trying to repolish the flat, in my kitchen (thank god my family has "gone away" this weekend).
So, what are my findings?
-this is fun. And you learn a lot
- hardware stores have far too few neat stuff. Can only get emery paper to 440. Need much finer.
- why don't people make things any more? Ottawa has a telescope store (Focus Scientific), but only deal with "ready made". What happen to those, that appreciate the joy of making your own mirror and telescope?
- trial and error can be frustrating.
- I can get the prism flat (but with oh so horrible scratches)
- I can get better flat finishes, with fewer scratches
- I can't get a good polish yet. Maybe I'm using the wrong compound (car polishing compound)
- I have cerium oxide "in the mail" - thank god for ebay and mail order
....Vick
Well, imagine if you also "made your own optics".
For those who don't know, I bought the housing of a Nikkor 5m Brightline finder. Typically, this item is worth $2K if complete. My finder was missing its entire front optics.
See these two ebay auctions to get an idea:
1. Item number:190484845353 - my finder.
2. fully kitted - Item number:230567786121
The seller is a m*ron - the kit might be worth $8K because it is complete. This is the only time I've ever seen the complete kit.
So, trying to transplant lenses from other Nikkor and Leica brightline finders hasn't worked. But, I now, after disassembling the Leica SBOOI, I now know the optical design of the Nikkor unit. The beauty of the design is that it is just plano windows, except for the mirrored surface that projects the brightlines. And so obvious that it should be plano, as the finder is 1:1 magnfication - no lensing is done !
And, for the shear fun of it, I've been modifying an SBOOI optical head to fit the Nikkor (as I await other finders to try; their "in the mail"). And, I am trying to achieve this "at home".
I cut 3 mm off the flat end of the SBOOI optical head, with a tungsten hacksaw blade. I was amazed that it worked at all. I'm now trying to repolish the optical flat onto the prism.
Now, this is, and isn't, black magic. There is a history of home telescope making. Just that I've never done it. And it is ironic that I used to work at Leitz Midland, where there were entire shop floors dedicated to polishing prisms. I'm trying to repolish the flat, in my kitchen (thank god my family has "gone away" this weekend).
So, what are my findings?
-this is fun. And you learn a lot
- hardware stores have far too few neat stuff. Can only get emery paper to 440. Need much finer.
- why don't people make things any more? Ottawa has a telescope store (Focus Scientific), but only deal with "ready made". What happen to those, that appreciate the joy of making your own mirror and telescope?
- trial and error can be frustrating.
- I can get the prism flat (but with oh so horrible scratches)
- I can get better flat finishes, with fewer scratches
- I can't get a good polish yet. Maybe I'm using the wrong compound (car polishing compound)
- I have cerium oxide "in the mail" - thank god for ebay and mail order
....Vick
Benjamin Marks
Veteran
Awesome. Can't wait to hear about the results. Good for you Vick. - Ben Marks
I've used 3M polishing Sheets made for refinishing Fiber Optic Connectors to take some of the scratches out of a formerly Opaque Summicron.
Some compaines make polishing wheels for dremels, for finishing surfaces. I have not tried them, but it is "on the list" of things to do.
Some compaines make polishing wheels for dremels, for finishing surfaces. I have not tried them, but it is "on the list" of things to do.
Vickko
Veteran
Update - I've used 2000 grit emery cloth with fantastic results. It is the same as "Summar cleaning marks" grade, but is perfectly usable.
Vick
Vick
Vickko
Veteran
SUCCESS !!!!!
I have restored my Nikkor 5cm brightline finder.
Highlights:
1. brightline frame image is faint - but likely is because I wear glasses and can't get my eye close enough
2. but, brightlines are visible
3. frame size is the same as my Leica SBOOI
4. image is clear
5. front optics are from a re-worked SBOOI
I am feeling very very happy right now.
Vick
I have restored my Nikkor 5cm brightline finder.
Highlights:
1. brightline frame image is faint - but likely is because I wear glasses and can't get my eye close enough
2. but, brightlines are visible
3. frame size is the same as my Leica SBOOI
4. image is clear
5. front optics are from a re-worked SBOOI
I am feeling very very happy right now.
Vick
Last edited:
Vickko
Veteran
I'm even happier. I wasn't really satisfied with the image of the brightline frame with the SBOOI, so I took apart a new Cosina 50mm BL finder.
Well guess what, the optics of the Cosina finder fit the Nikkor 5cm BL finder precisely.
Now I have a Nikkor 5cm BL finder, restored with perfect imaging.
Wow oh wow.
Vick
Well guess what, the optics of the Cosina finder fit the Nikkor 5cm BL finder precisely.
Now I have a Nikkor 5cm BL finder, restored with perfect imaging.
Wow oh wow.
Vick
Wow indeed! I'm going to pick up some of the emery cloth.
Finder, camera , and lens look great.
Finder, camera , and lens look great.