Alpsman
Well-known
Sometimes the threaded ring is missing in a Nikon F or Nikon F2 viewfinder eyepiece. This wouldn't be a problem if you didn't need corrective lenses to see the screen clearly.
I made a replacement threaded ring out of brass and glued it in. Works wonderfully, the correction lens can be screwed back in.
For anyone who wants to recreate it:
The ring is 3 mm long.
The thread is a metric M19 x 0.75, core drill = 18,2 mm
and the outer diameter is 20.6mm; depending on how brutally the old insert was ripped out.
Measure beforehand!!
Have fun replicating it: Dieter
I made a replacement threaded ring out of brass and glued it in. Works wonderfully, the correction lens can be screwed back in.
For anyone who wants to recreate it:
The ring is 3 mm long.
The thread is a metric M19 x 0.75, core drill = 18,2 mm
and the outer diameter is 20.6mm; depending on how brutally the old insert was ripped out.
Measure beforehand!!
Have fun replicating it: Dieter
Last edited:
supersonics1996
Newbie
Hi Dieter,
This is amazing! It took me almost two hours trying to figure out why none of my eyepieces from my F, F3HP or FM3A fit on my F2AS. Had no idea there was a thread ring missing in my finder! I have a few questions I'm hoping you can help with.
1. If I were to source a parts finder do you know how hard/easy it is to remove the thread ring and put in on my F2AS? And does the thread ring unscrew left just like the view finder?
2. Where did you find your ring? Did you have to make it yourself or can I find something to start with at a hardware store?
Really appreciate your post!
-LJ
This is amazing! It took me almost two hours trying to figure out why none of my eyepieces from my F, F3HP or FM3A fit on my F2AS. Had no idea there was a thread ring missing in my finder! I have a few questions I'm hoping you can help with.
1. If I were to source a parts finder do you know how hard/easy it is to remove the thread ring and put in on my F2AS? And does the thread ring unscrew left just like the view finder?
2. Where did you find your ring? Did you have to make it yourself or can I find something to start with at a hardware store?
Really appreciate your post!
-LJ
Alpsman
Well-known
Hi there LJ!
1: There are two different sizes of diameters of the eyepieces.
F, F2, FM have a 19 mm thread.
the F3HP (I think) have 21mm diameter.
Ya can force the 21mm eyepiece into the hole of the eyepiece-case. But not often and it is - brutal and not guaranteed to stay there.
2.: find a cheap damaged viewfinder of the same type as yours. Remove half of the leather carefully on both viewfinders. On the left and on the right of the eyepiece there are two tiny screws. Unscrew them and exchange the complete rectangular part. If yer lucky, the leather will stick again, otherwise use a little bit of glue and glue the leather back.
I dunno how the DP-11 and DP-12 (F2AS) are built, but the screws on the DP1 and on the DP3 are in a slightly different location. So to be on the safe side, try to find a DP-12.
3.: If ya cant find a crashed DP-12, take any viewfinder, check if the screws are in the same location.
Because the DP-3 / DP-12 have a shutter, the screws are located in a different position than the DP-1 / DP-11.
If the screws are in a different position, remove the leather, tke a water pump plier or similar,
grab the protruding part of the threaded ring (about 1 mm) v e r y c a r e f u l l y and unscrew it from the eyepiece lens case
(If you don't have the dexterity of a watchmaker, it's better not to do it.)
and screw the threaded ring into your good viewfinder. (yes, there is a thread in the eyepiece case)
4.: I made the ring by myself.
Find a friend with a lathe (one like me), take a piece of brass, drill a 18,2 mm hole, cut a M 19 x 0,75 thread with a tap or cut it with the lathe, machine the outer diameter to a size that fits snuggly into the eyepiece case an secure it with a tiny drop of glue or take a two-component adhesive. Let it dry, srew in the eyepiece correction lens and smile.
The problem is not to machine the ring, it is a simple part, the problem is to machine it to the fitting outer diameter.
I measured 20,3 mm, but that does not fit, because the abused hole in the eyepiece lens case was not exactly round. So i cut it down to 20,2 mm and it slips in.
If the machined diameter is to small, the ring sits to loose and you need a thick adhesive (two komponent adhesive) to glue it in.
5.: Here is the repair manual for the DP-1, but ya can see how this whole thing is built together.
The part you need is 191A Eyepiece ring
6.: I hope you understand my english.
7.: any further questions -> ask.
8.: PS: I also made a hard to find or extremly expensive eyepiece correction lens out of brass and cheap glasses.
Greetings from Austria: Dieter
Last edited:
PNWJohn
Newbie
Is my ring missing?
I have not been able to screw in my eyepiece... I have not used the camera in years but it is always safely in a case.
PNWJohn
Newbie
PNWJohn
Newbie
Hi - can you have a look at my post. I am having the same issue. Thanks in advance.
John
PNWJohn
Newbie
Alpsman
Well-known
Good Morning John!
From more than 5000 miles straight away, I would say that:
the threaded ring on your viewfinder has been torn off
and that the threaded ring on the viewfinder is on your eye correction lens.
I've posted a few pictures for you to compare.
The eyepiece from the side, ya can - I hope so - clearly see the fine thread (M19 x 0,75 mm) on the outer side.
The thread in the ocular from the viewfinder
one can clearly see a metal thread.
between the red dotted line is the metal threaded ring which should be normally in the viewfinder.
otherwise it has been brutally removed.
When the metal ring in the viewfinder is missing, then there is only plastic left.
You can cut that with a knife easily to test if it is a metal ring with a raped thread or if it is the plastic part where the metal ring is completely missing.
Sometimes some "Specialists" screw in a larger eyepiece from a F3 HP with force.
But a far as I can see on your pictures, the metal ring is missing, thats why the correction lens falls into it.
And it looks like the metal ring stucks on your eyepiece . . .
It would of course be easier and more reliable to judge if I had it in my hand. But sending the things that far would be financially insane.
And with my camera, I only realized after about 25 years that this ring was missing from the viewfinder.
PNWJohn
Newbie
Thank you for this detailed information. When I saw your earlier post, I knew you would see what is going on.
Do you think I could get the threaded ring on the eye correction lens unscrewed and glue it back in the viewfinder?
John
Do you think I could get the threaded ring on the eye correction lens unscrewed and glue it back in the viewfinder?
John
Alpsman
Well-known
Good evening John! (at least here it is evening)
That depends on how tightly the ring is screwed onto the correction lens.
How good/bad your sensitivity is and what tools you have available.
FURTHERMORE: Is the screwed-in lens really a correction lens or is it a ring with protective glass without refraction.
IF it was a flat glass lens and it broke, it wouldn't be a big loss. If it says +1, +2 or -1 -2 it is a lens with refraction. If there is no number or a 0 on it, it is just a protective glass.
BECAUSE what should be left is the outer ring which we want to glue back into the viewfinder.
ALSO, I can only tell you what I would do or try.
SO: I would get two pairs of pliers, combination pliers or water pump pliers. It is important that the part of the pliers with the knurled radius corresponds as closely as possible to the radius of the lens so that the pressure is distributed as evenly as possible around the circumference. You may want to add a thin leather strip or rubber strip (bicycle tube, wide rubber ring) or attach it directly to the pliers with adhesive tape.
Take a deep breath, one last coffee and one last cigarette . . .
Take the corrective lens with one pliers and the ring with the other pliers, CAREFULLY press the pliers together and turn them at the same time. Don't press the pliers together with all your might, just enough so that they slip!! Press a little harder so that the pliers no longer slip, as soon as the pliers or one of them starts to slip, grip firmly.
Do all this with A LOT OF FEELING
I repeat:
WITH A WHOLE LOT OF FEELING.
It's best to practice this on raw eggs first ;-)
If you're lucky, you'll be able to pull the two parts apart without damaging them and you'll be able to smoke a cigarette as a reward.
IF it absolutely won't come apart, we can sacrifice the lens so that the outer ring remains. (Because that's what it's all about)
To do this, remove the glass, take a small saw or a triangular file and saw or file a notch into the inner ring so that you can fiddle out the split ring with pointed pliers. You may want to saw or file the inside of the ring in two opposite places. You can also take a Dremel and mill the inner ring...
But that would be my absolutely very last attempt. Especially if it is a correction lens and not only a plain glass. Before that, I would think again about whether there might be another possibility.
That's all I can think of at the moment.
I hope you have no accidents: Dieter
Alpsman
Well-known
Addendum:
Another option would be to look on eBay for a damaged or non-functioning viewfinder of the same type where the ring is still in good condition. To replace it, you just have to carefully remove the leather covering. The part with the ring is attached with just two small screws and can be easily replaced.
Another option would be to look on eBay for a damaged or non-functioning viewfinder of the same type where the ring is still in good condition. To replace it, you just have to carefully remove the leather covering. The part with the ring is attached with just two small screws and can be easily replaced.
PNWJohn
Newbie
You are incredibly helpful and funny.
it is marked 0 so no correction - just glass.
I will report back and let you know how it goes!
Thanks,
John
it is marked 0 so no correction - just glass.
I will report back and let you know how it goes!
Thanks,
John
Alpsman
Well-known
Wrap one or two layers of tape around each of the rings to make the surface more grippy.
Everything is allowed if it works.
When we win, no one will ask us how we did it ;-)
The most important thing is, not to add to much force to the pliers, those rings are very thin.
Everything is allowed if it works.
When we win, no one will ask us how we did it ;-)
The most important thing is, not to add to much force to the pliers, those rings are very thin.
PNWJohn
Newbie
Got it... will try that.
PNWJohn
Newbie
Dieter,
I gave it a try. I was unable to get it to budge. They appear to be one and very happy together.
I tried joining the FB Nikon F2 group but am waiting to get approved.
You would think that ring should be available as I am sure others have had this issue
.
I found this Nikon Finder Eyepiece for F2, DP-1 & DP-2 Finders | eBay
I sent a question to the seller if it would fit a DP-3. Says it is for F2, DP-1 & DP-2.
I checked ebay for a viewfinder - mine is a DP-3. I do see some but they are pricey.
Thanks for your help.
John
I gave it a try. I was unable to get it to budge. They appear to be one and very happy together.
I tried joining the FB Nikon F2 group but am waiting to get approved.
You would think that ring should be available as I am sure others have had this issue
.
I found this Nikon Finder Eyepiece for F2, DP-1 & DP-2 Finders | eBay
I sent a question to the seller if it would fit a DP-3. Says it is for F2, DP-1 & DP-2.
I checked ebay for a viewfinder - mine is a DP-3. I do see some but they are pricey.
Thanks for your help.
John
Alpsman
Well-known
Good morning John!
I'm sorry to hear that this connection is permanent. Some people screw these parts together very tightly and then damage is inevitable. This also happens often with filters that are permanently attached to the lens.
The whole part is built a little differently on a DP-3 because the DP-3 has the shutter built in and the screws are therefore in a different place. So if you have a DP-3, you have to use a DP-3 as a spare part donor.
If you didn't live so far away, I would have liked to try it myself.
I wish you luck in finding a DP-3 viewfinder.
Maybe you can find someone with a small lathe, this threaded ring is very easy to make. I gave the dimensions in the opening thread.
I'm sorry to hear that this connection is permanent. Some people screw these parts together very tightly and then damage is inevitable. This also happens often with filters that are permanently attached to the lens.
The whole part is built a little differently on a DP-3 because the DP-3 has the shutter built in and the screws are therefore in a different place. So if you have a DP-3, you have to use a DP-3 as a spare part donor.
If you didn't live so far away, I would have liked to try it myself.
I wish you luck in finding a DP-3 viewfinder.
Maybe you can find someone with a small lathe, this threaded ring is very easy to make. I gave the dimensions in the opening thread.
PNWJohn
Newbie
Thanks Dieter. Greatly appreciated.
John
John
Alpsman
Well-known
Not everyone is blessed with a lathe.
But some have a 3D-printer or access to one or have a friend with a printer or a friend who have a friend . . . . .
For those I have made a "repair kit" for the torn out threaded ring.
www.printables.com
Yes I know - it is made of plastic, but better than nothing.
I've made the testprint with PLA and the ring fits on the eyepiece correction lens and the ring with outer diameter of 20,3 mm (printed 20,23mm) fits my damaged viewfinder.
I wish you clear and sharp vision at all times: Dieter
But some have a 3D-printer or access to one or have a friend with a printer or a friend who have a friend . . . . .
For those I have made a "repair kit" for the torn out threaded ring.
Nikon F & F2 Reparatur ausgerissener Gewindering; Nikon F & F2 repair torn thread ring Augenkorrekturlinse eyepiece correction by blechbude | Download free STL model | Printables.com
Nikon F & F2 Reparatur ausgerissener Gewindering; Nikon F & F2 repair torn thread ring Augenkorrekturlinse eyepiece | Download free 3D printable STL models
www.printables.com
I've made the testprint with PLA and the ring fits on the eyepiece correction lens and the ring with outer diameter of 20,3 mm (printed 20,23mm) fits my damaged viewfinder.
I wish you clear and sharp vision at all times: Dieter