Topic: Nikon F2 viewfinder question

[Nigel]

I've bought myself a Nikon F2. I had an F3 for years, sold it and regretted it ever since.
I've been trying to only have cameras that work without batteries, hence the F2.

It came with a 50mm f1.4 non-AIS lens. All seems to be great but the image in the viewfinder is a bit blurry. Now my eyes are not great but comparing it with my OM1 there's a very noticable difference.

I've done all the obvious checks (well I think I have). The focusing screen is up the right way up and it seems to be sitting correctly, there's no diopter fitted and the prism seems to fit as it should. Unfortunately I don't have another lens to see if it's the camera or the lens. Are there any other checks I can do, or is testing it with another lens the next step? Any other suggestions would be much appreciated.

[Francois]

You can check infinity focus with some vellum on the film gate and then compare with the ground glass using a magnifier directly on it.

[Nigel]

You can check infinity focus with some vellum on the film gate and then compare with the ground glass using a magnifier directly on it.

I did think about that but I’m not sure it’s enough to tell. I think I might have to take it somewhere where I can try it with a different lens.

[Francois]

One thing you could do is reverse-collimate the lens first. That will give you perfect infinity. And then check with the viewfinder if everything is sharp.
If the lens collimates and the finder is out of focus, it means that either the groundglass needs to be shimmed or the prism needs adjustment. But my bet is on the groundglass.

Do you know what model GG you have? I know Nikon made something like 20 different models. Some are coarser than others.
Here are the various models available.

[Pete_R]

Different cameras don't always have the same eye point setting and the Nikon may just not suit your eyes. It would be worth trying a correction lens on the viewfinder but, unless you know what your eyes need, you'll have to experiment. If you wear glasses you could start by trying with glasses on and off to see what's best.

[Nigel]

François - I have type A.

I'm going to take it to Aperture in London tomorrow and try it with a different lens. It's a great place and I've not been there for some time. Thanks for the suggestions, I'll let you know the result.

[Nigel]

I went to Aperture in London yesterday and as so often is the case with these matters, Peter was right - it's my eyes!

The very helpful guys in the shop looked through the F2 and my OM1, where the OM1 is very clear to my eyes they both found the F2 clearer. Luckily they had a Nikon 0.5 diopter in stock, we tried that and suddenly the viewfinder was clear. £20 well spent.

It's really interesting how the 'base' setting for the OM1 and F2 must be different. Every day is a school day.

[EarlJam]

Per Sover Wong:

"Nikon finders are all set at -1, without any correction lens. Nikon correction lenses are not marked for their actual values, but actual values minus one, ie :

+1 is marked as 0
+1.5 is marked as 0.5
+2 is marked as +1
etc

There is no -1."

I never did find the "right" diopter for my eyes and the F2, although part of the focus issue I faced was more related to a dim viewfinder.

[Francois]

That's pretty curious... I wonder what the reasoning behind this was?

[Nigel]

Per Sover Wong:

"Nikon finders are all set at -1, without any correction lens. Nikon correction lenses are not marked for their actual values, but actual values minus one, ie :

+1 is marked as 0
+1.5 is marked as 0.5
+2 is marked as +1
etc

There is no -1."

I never did find the "right" diopter for my eyes and the F2, although part of the focus issue I faced was more related to a dim viewfinder.

That's really interesting and it makes perfect sense, thanks.