An ant on the focusing screen - Nikon F100.

<p>Hi<br>

I have a problem with a Nikon F100. I have a little bug inside of the body and is 4-5mm long.<br>

After the wiki the bug is after the condensing lens, point 6 from this imagine. I don't know the name of that screen. <a rel="nofollow" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:SLR_cross_section.svg" target="_blank">http://en.wikipedia .org/wiki/ File:SLR_ cross_section. svg</a> <br>

The bug is after (inside of) the 1G780-020 screen, screen name from the F100 parts catalog. Here is the link with Nikon F100 parts. You can find this screen at page 11 (or fig. 10-1).<br /> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://europe1.nodevice.com/downloads/f516d865043e1b692234dd1c5c41585c/f100partslist.pdf" target="_blank">http://europe1. nodevice. com/downloads/ f516d865043e1b69 2234dd1c5c41585c /f100partslist. pdf</a> <br>

Can I take it out somehow that screen or to clean?<br>

I can post some macro images of the bug if it would help.<br>

I can't send the body to Nikon Service in my country, because they service only DSLRs. I live in Europe.<br>

Thank you so much.<br>

Any help will be welcome.</p>

<p>The focusing screen on the F100 is user replaceable. See Page 65 in the manual.</p>

<p>You need to remove the focusing screen, then blow out the inside of the camera and get all the dust, etc. off the condensing lens. The manual will tell you how to remove the screen.</p>

<p>Anthony</p>

<p><em>Shun</em><br>

Is not the focusing screen. That is easy to take it out.<br>

After the focusing screen is another screen 1G780-020 (please see the pdf F100 part catalog), with 5 points and a circle. The bug is between element 6 and 7 in the picture above from wikipedia.<br>

<em>Anthony</em><br>

I use Giottos blower. Nothing happend.<br>

Thank you. I will post in a few minutes a photo or two.</p>

<p>Here is the photo.</p><div></div>

<p>I <em>think </em> you can remove the display plate on the F100 from inside the mirror box. After removing the focusing screen, look for a little latch just behind the latch that releases the focusing screen. Press on it and it should release the display plate and then you can remove it.</p>

 

<p>Mircea, I am afraid that the ant is in an area that is not user serviceable. You need to send the camera in for repair.</p>

<p>Mircea:<br>

Shun is certainly correct that this is an area not meant for user servicing, and you shouldn't try this if you aren't experienced and confident of your ability to avoid damage and/or contamination of the SI display plate and pentaprism. I've repaired many cameras so I might have been too casual with my answer.<br>

Here, from the rich archives of Photo.net, is another reference to this exact issue. Caveat Emptor.<br>

http://www.photo.net/nikon-camera-forum/00KIj5</p>

<p>If it were me, I'd just leave it. It's not in a critical area. Repair cost might be more than you expect. You could give it a name and consider it your little buddy. How about, "Ant Jemima?"</p>

<p>Kent in SD</p>

<p>This is a bit far fetched but you might give it a try anyway - unscrew the eye piece and try again with the blower - maybe you can dislodge the ant and blow it to a less conspicuous place (or a more prominent one if you are unlucky).</p>

<p>At least I don't think I would be able to just leave the ant there and continue to use the camera. It would drive me nuts.</p>

<p>But the labor cost to take the F100 apart and clean will likely be over $100.</p>

<p>Shun--<br>

For me, a hundred bucks buys a lot sanity. And, I get a new shooting buddy. Anty Em? (Apologies to Dorothy.)</p>

<p>Kent in SD</p>

<p>Shun:<br>

You know of course that this is an easy fix, if you're familiar with working on camera internals. I've had the display plate in and out of an F100 in a few minutes. And I was taking my time. But I do expect Nikon would charge a <em>minimum</em> of $100. That's the kind of cost that makes it worthwhile learning how to do some of your own repairs.<br>

Dieter:<br>

Blowing through the eyepiece opening would likely dislodge the bug, but there is no place for the critter to escape the pentaprism housing without removing the display plate. It could lodge in other components under the camera top plate and cause more trouble later.<br>

Kent:<br>

For me, that little ant would get larger every time I looked through the viewfinder until it was the size of "Them!" (Apologies if you are not into 1950's horror movies).</p>

<p><em>Dieter</em><br>

I try. Nothing happed.<br>

<em>Rick</em><br>

I don't know. I see that little latch before, but I am afraid not to broke something. I have the catalog parts, but no manual service for F100.<br>

<em>Shun</em><br>

100$ is to expensive. At 200$ I can find another one to ebay. I forgot to say that I buy this F100 from ebay. And I will buy again. I trust some people from whom I purchased in the past. But it does not always have luck.<br /> </p>

<p>Thank you for your answers.</p>

<p>FWIW, Nikon Canada charged me (robbed me?) almost $300 to replace a focusing screen on my D40 a few months ago, so a nominal $100 charge may seem a bit presumptuous. Maybe it's different with repair facilities in the U.S.</p>

<p>Hi Mircea<br>

Are you sure its not a camera bug? There are small insects that live in camera equipment, especially bodies. Is it moving? There may be more in there so you may get it removed but there could be others to replace it. I dont know if they inhabit digital bodies but they certainly lived in film cameras. If you bought a second hand piece of equip recently, it could have come in that. The remedy is to put camera and lens in a sealed box with lens off, with a moth or insect strip. Leave it there for 48 hours and this should kill any infestation. Then get it removed.<br>

If you post a bug image, I can identify it for you.</p>

<p>Sorry, I missed the pic of the villain. It doesnt look like a camera bug but you may have different species in the northern hemisphere.</p>

<p>Peter,</p>

<p>"Camera bug"? Never heard of such a critter except the human variety. I did once get a flea in my Nikon 80-200mm zoom while shooting at horse show. Unfortunately, it decided to die and stick to the very center of the inside of the rear element. Not noticeable in images, but I had it removed anyway as I was afraid it would become food for fungus.</p>

<p>Mircea,</p>

<p>Perhaps try a shop vacuum cleaner? You never know.</p>

<p><em>Ronald</em><br>

Next time you could try to buy from ebay a focusing screen or a local store service and with a little help from people at photo.net you can resolve your problem. 300$ is huge. You can buy a used D40 for these money.<br>

<em>Robert</em><br>

Maybe Peter was referring to the body that was stored in a humid area and it has mites. It could be possible. The bug is inside of the body. I should try a vaccum clear first. If not, I have to disassemble the body (such as Rick said earlier ) or send it to Germany, at Nikon Service.<br>

Thank you again for help.</p>

<p>Be wary of a vacuum cleaner. The air being sucked into a vacuum is moving at a high rate of speed, such that the molecules therein develop a static charge and can fry the electronics. Ever been zapped by a shop vac hose? That's why.<br>

-Michael</p>

<p>Thank you all for your support and for your advice.<br>

I take Rick Donnelly advice and with a little afraid, I resolve the problem.<br>

I don't know what bug it was, with some little wings, about 5mm long.<br>

Happy Christmas and Happy New Year! :-)</p>