NSC repair prices?

kaixiang · 14th February 2009

Hi,

I bought a F4S recently and the split prism focusing screen is off (I'm praying AF is accurate). Anyone visited NSC for calibration? How much would it cost?

azzurri · 14th February 2009

You can give them a call to ask for a rough quotation.

Before you do that, you may want to check if the focusing screen was placed correctly. Shoot a roll to test it out first. In the test roll, shoot half using AF and another half manually and compare the difference.

If you realise that you can manually focus it properly and it is the AF that is giving you problems, you may want to consider whether to send it in for repairs. This is partly due to the F4 being not really that great for auto focusing.

fatigue · 14th February 2009

Try to check the diopter setting first.
(taken from mir)
This knob enables near- or far-sighted photographers to adjust eyepiece diopter within a continuous range of from -3 to +1. Pull the knob and rotate it to either direction until focused image appears sharp, then push back.

kaixiang · 16th February 2009

Thanks for the replies.

I'm pretty sure its the focusing screen thats off because when I focus at infinity the split prism image doesn't line up. It has been placed correctly. It should be possible to calibrate it myself? Anyone knows which screw to turn? Is it risky?

fatigue · 17th February 2009

Make sure it's not the lens, not the focusing screen, not the diopter adjustment.

If you are really sure, you need to remove the top cover to make the adjustment. It's the mechanism that moves the lens behind the prism.
Screws are hidden under the cover of the knobs. You must be really careful not to damage the cover.

Better send to NSC (or somebody who knows) if you're not confident.

kaixiang · 17th February 2009

Lens works fine on my other camera so its ok. Its also not the diopter because the diopter makes the image clearer/blurer and doesnt affect the split prism alignment. I'll be developing my first roll of film from the camera later and praying that AF is working working. If thats the case I'll just learn to depend on the electronic rangefinder and AF indicator.

I've located the screw you're talking about I think but I'm not sure whether its the one that calibrates AF or MF. haha. If its anything like the D40/60 there should be one for each but I can't seem to locate the other one. I really hope the photos turn out well because the reason I bought this was the freeze focus function and the electronic rangefinder which works with MF lens.

Thanks for your help =)

fatigue · 17th February 2009

One more thing, before you touch the prism head.
1.Mount the lens
2. Aim to a very far subject
3. Set the focus to infinity
4. Remove the prism head
5. Use magnifier to check the split focusing screen

I'm sure you know what this procedure is all about

kaixiang · 18th February 2009

How that you mention it, I've confirmed that it is another part of the problem. Using the distance scale as a gauge, AF has a little far focus problem and MF has a big far focus problem. So if I adjust the prism assembly a little and the focusing screen a little, that should fix everything.

Thanks again for this suggestion.

14th February 2009	#1
kaixiang Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Bukit Batok, Singapore Posts: 118	NSC repair prices? Hi, I bought a F4S recently and the split prism focusing screen is off (I'm praying AF is accurate). Anyone visited NSC for calibration? How much would it cost?

14th February 2009	#2
azzurri Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 1,038	Re: NSC repair prices? You can give them a call to ask for a rough quotation. Before you do that, you may want to check if the focusing screen was placed correctly. Shoot a roll to test it out first. In the test roll, shoot half using AF and another half manually and compare the difference. If you realise that you can manually focus it properly and it is the AF that is giving you problems, you may want to consider whether to send it in for repairs. This is partly due to the F4 being not really that great for auto focusing.

14th February 2009	#3
fatigue Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Blk92 Bedok North Ave4 Posts: 1,198	Re: NSC repair prices? Try to check the diopter setting first. (taken from mir) This knob enables near- or far-sighted photographers to adjust eyepiece diopter within a continuous range of from -3 to +1. Pull the knob and rotate it to either direction until focused image appears sharp, then push back. __________________ 9815-1974 camera/lens repairman http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/showthread.php?t=344970

16th February 2009	#4
kaixiang Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Bukit Batok, Singapore Posts: 118	Re: NSC repair prices? Thanks for the replies. I'm pretty sure its the focusing screen thats off because when I focus at infinity the split prism image doesn't line up. It has been placed correctly. It should be possible to calibrate it myself? Anyone knows which screw to turn? Is it risky?

17th February 2009	#5
fatigue Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Blk92 Bedok North Ave4 Posts: 1,198	Re: NSC repair prices? Make sure it's not the lens, not the focusing screen, not the diopter adjustment. If you are really sure, you need to remove the top cover to make the adjustment. It's the mechanism that moves the lens behind the prism. Screws are hidden under the cover of the knobs. You must be really careful not to damage the cover. Better send to NSC (or somebody who knows) if you're not confident. __________________ 9815-1974 camera/lens repairman http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/showthread.php?t=344970

17th February 2009	#6
kaixiang Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Bukit Batok, Singapore Posts: 118	Re: NSC repair prices? Lens works fine on my other camera so its ok. Its also not the diopter because the diopter makes the image clearer/blurer and doesnt affect the split prism alignment. I'll be developing my first roll of film from the camera later and praying that AF is working working. If thats the case I'll just learn to depend on the electronic rangefinder and AF indicator. I've located the screw you're talking about I think but I'm not sure whether its the one that calibrates AF or MF. haha. If its anything like the D40/60 there should be one for each but I can't seem to locate the other one. I really hope the photos turn out well because the reason I bought this was the freeze focus function and the electronic rangefinder which works with MF lens. Thanks for your help =)

17th February 2009	#7
fatigue Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Blk92 Bedok North Ave4 Posts: 1,198	Re: NSC repair prices? One more thing, before you touch the prism head. 1.Mount the lens 2. Aim to a very far subject 3. Set the focus to infinity 4. Remove the prism head 5. Use magnifier to check the split focusing screen I'm sure you know what this procedure is all about __________________ 9815-1974 camera/lens repairman http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/showthread.php?t=344970

18th February 2009	#8
kaixiang Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Bukit Batok, Singapore Posts: 118	Re: NSC repair prices? How that you mention it, I've confirmed that it is another part of the problem. Using the distance scale as a gauge, AF has a little far focus problem and MF has a big far focus problem. So if I adjust the prism assembly a little and the focusing screen a little, that should fix everything. Thanks again for this suggestion.