Nikon F screen upgrade

S.H.

S.H.

Picture taker
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Sep 13, 2007
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Hello,

being the new caretaker of a Nikon F, I'd like to know the options regarding a brighter A or K type screen (mine has a type A with split screen, white markings, probably the original one) :
- I know F and F2 screens are the same, are later ones with red markings brighter?
- I read somewhere that a F4 screen can be used in a F (just have to swap the metal frames). Problem is, I do not see A or K types for F4 anywhere.
- I tried to swap the screen from my F3, but it is slightly larger and does not fit the F metal frame.

Any (bright :p ) ideas?
 
S.H. said:
- I know F and F2 screens are the same, are later ones with red markings brighter?
Click to expand...

No. Both the F and F2 take the same ("Nikon F") screens. Where Nikon added brighter screens they gave them different identifiers (letters or letter/number combinations), as they needed a separate entry in the correction factor table.

I don't think that "red dot" versions of the F screens exist, the F3 red dot screens only appeared when Nikon backported the (brighter) F4 screens to the F3, many years after Nikon had finished producing F/F2 spare parts. And having different brightness on the same screen type does not affect metering on the F3 as its meter cell is behind the mirror rather than in the finder - other than on all other F series cameras. If there should be a red dot on any of your F screens, it will not signify brightness (unless a previous owner marked his to alert him of this frame containing some alien screen - but then all bets are off regarding type and effect).

S.H. said:
- I read somewhere that a F4 screen can be used in a F (just have to swap the metal frames). Problem is, I do not see A or K types for F4 anywhere.
- I tried to swap the screen from my F3, but it is slightly larger and does not fit the F metal frame.
Click to expand...

F3 and F4 screens are exactly the same size, it is trivial to swap these between frames. Either can be a very tight fit in F screens - often it will work, but sometimes the glass can only be fit into the F frame if you grind down the edges to fit. Which is risky - the lens and actual screen are easily split. Personally I'd try with another frame first - it is likely that the glass will fit another, newer frame, and scratched F screens are cheap and easy to find.
 
Hey

Regarding the F4 screen swap, I've managed to replace an F4 screen (B) into an F or F2 frame before. It's simple as removing 4 screws and pushing the screen out the frame. The F4 screen will be a tight fit into the F frame (but it will fit!) so make sure to fully push it in when re-installing to maintain proper focus. The reason I did this was too be able to use manual focus lenses easily with the F4, but found the brighter screen in the F and F2's to be a lot useful when using lenses with small openings. The B screen doesn't have any focusing aids, just a pair of brackets in the middle for the F4's AF as a guide but I find it contrasty enough to get proper focus easily (just make sure you have the proper diopter if needed).

Here it is mounted in an F2 and WLF
535689_2788363325761_441264852_n.jpg


I filed the frame where the camera's locks go. My F uses the old flag meter which easily comes off and I found out that the notches where too short and shallow to allow the lock to fully engage.
600568_2788363245759_1773000842_n.jpg


Again, on the F2 without finder
60708_2788363165757_1329521437_n.jpg
 
Well, you have been more lucky than me as my F3 red dot screen did not fit the F frame. I'll try with another frame. I'd like to find a WLF and simple prism too, but that is another story.
 
I have no experience with an F3 screen but if they are supposed to be the same (dimensions?) as the F4 then I guess it may work, albeit with a little more force? Another thing I can share based on experience is that some screens have a plastic band around them, it's a thin, transparent band that goes around the perimeter of the screen. My screens that have these fit a lot tighter than those that do not have (not sure if it just came off or they really do not have it), so you might wanna check that out too.

My guess is that if all the pro-F series cameras have 100% viewfinders and have the same flange (which they do) then the dimensions of the screens must be the same, with only the frames varying between cameras... But that's just my guess.

As for the WLF, I got that from the same guy who sold me my F with a flag meter and its own WLF. Luck, I guess!
 
angelodal said:
I have no experience with an F3 screen but if they are supposed to be the same (dimensions?) as the F4 then I guess it may work, albeit with a little more force?
Click to expand...

I don't suppose excessive pushing is advisable, the very corners of the frame will be rough or filled with paint - too tight a fit and the screen will rest on that dirt , slightly out of focus. It may be a tight fit, but it should drop into place of its own.
 
angelodal said:
Another thing I can share based on experience is that some screens have a plastic band around them, it's a thin, transparent band that goes around the perimeter of the screen.
Click to expand...

Yes, mine is like that. I did not want to force and end up with badly calibrated focus.
 
Well, if it really doesn't fit, then I guess it won't. Be careful!

In case you're wondering what the plastic band I'm talking about looks like, here are some pictures of it.
600712_2788687373862_2144564097_n.jpg


16516_2788687413863_684078256_n.jpg
 
S.H. said:
Yes, mine is like that. I did not want to force and end up with badly calibrated focus.
Click to expand...

I've removed it on some screens of mine (unintentionally tho, it came off while I was cleaning the screen and removed it from the frame) and it did not harm the screen or anything. Just take caution before you do anything. :)
 
S.H. said:
Well, you have been more lucky than me as my F3 red dot screen did not fit the F frame.
Click to expand...

This is because you tried to fit the F3 screen into an early F screen frame (with white lettering). On those, the frame window is a bit smaller (more metal on both sides).

F3 and F4 screens can be installed in F and F2 screens frames with yellow or red lettering only (known as the "Type 4" and "Type 5" screens).

If you don't have a later "Type 4" or "Type 5" F/F2 screen frame (with yellow or red lettering) the best solution is to get a "red dot" F3 screen and file the frame lips down, then you can directly install the F3 screen on an F of F2 camera without any other hassle - easy, and with no risk. And no need to swap the screen from one frame to another. I read that you have such a screen, so why don't you want to do this ?

The best documentation page about those screens is here.

The plastic tape around the screen edges has nothing to do with those compatibility problems.

"Red dot" F3 screens are identical to F4 screens (but for their frame shape). I recently installed a "red dot" F3 screen, type "R" on my F2 - very nice.
 
Highway 61 said:
I read that you have such a screen, so why don't you want to do this ?
Click to expand...

Simply because I wanted to be able to use my F3 with the older screen (I don't have another screen). Thank you very much for all the details, I'll find a solution as soon as I feel better. I'm a bit ill this week, I need to clear my head.
 
Then you need to buy a cheap yellow lettering or red lettering F/F2 screen off eBay, and swap the screens from one frame into the other.

This is the only solution for you if you still want to use the original F3 screen frame in the F3.
Well, almost : buying another . F3 screen and filing down the lips of one of the F3 screens frames would leave you with two bright screens, one being usable in the F, the other in the F3.
There is an actual brightness difference between the . screen and the regular one, so the price is worth every penny IMO.
 
Well, between two coughing fits I remembered that I have a spare metal frame for a F3 screen (used the ground glass for my Visoflex). So I filed one for the F.

Now I have a nice red dot K screen in my F :cool:, and I can still swap screens to use the F3 if need be. And I'll keep an eye open to another red dot screen (you are right, they are very nice).

thanks again.
 
F4 screens, other than the standard ones, are apparently pretty scarce. A 'P' F4 screen just went on the auction site for upwards of $80. I wanted it but not that dang bad.

Kenny
 
F3 screens should fit an F (I have done it many times), given you have to put them into the F frame. But mine is a very early F, so maybe some small difference arise with evolutionary models. If not I would suspect something else is amiss that may not be original or is messed up.
 
Kenj8246 said:
F4 screens, other than the standard ones, are apparently pretty scarce. A 'P' F4 screen just went on the auction site for upwards of $80.
Click to expand...

This might be due to the screen model. For whatever reason "P" screens have always demanded higher prices, probably because they're said to have been the mythic photoreporters' choice.

To each is own - I don't like the 45° split image and I hate microprisms, so for me the best of the best Nikon screen will always be the "R" one.
 
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