Re: [APML]: Nikon F / magnifier viewfinder

[BBarnibus@aol.com]

The Astro-Photography Mailing List
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In a message dated 9/20/98 7:13:38 PM Mountain Daylight Time,
schwartz@fast.net writes:

<< I am very interested in hearing more about how you built these makeshift 6x
 and 15x magnifiers.  Where do you get these loupes?  I assume they're like
 slide viewers?  Does the peak fit directly into the finder socket?
 You still need a focus screen, right?  >>
SNIP.
I found a 15 X loupe at the camera store.  It is used to magnify a slide or
print, not the kind used to just view a slide.  You take off the original
finder leaving a squarish hole.  The loupe was already kinda square and with a
little filing it fit nicely into the F view finder.  I slowly filed down the
bottom until it magnified the "grain" on the view finder screen which I think
is where the actual focus takes place.  I put a couple of layers of black
electrical tape over the clear base to keep the light out and make it fit
tighter in the F.  It only cost $7, about an hour with a file and it works
great.
                 Bernie in Denver