bob_mcbob

There is no foam residue on the focusing screen, it's more like the foam rubbed off the surface in patches... let's see about a couple of photos. These are fairly small (150k in total), so I hope everyone can see them properly.<br><br>

First, from outside (through the lens mount):<br><br><center>

<img src="http://www.pbase.com/image/18162320/original.jpg"></center>

<br><br>

And from through the viewfinder (without a lens on... it's bloody impossible to focus on it with a lens mounted):<br><br><center>

<img src="http://www.pbase.com/image/18162319/original.jpg"></center>

Yes, it does have some sentimental value (it's my father's camera). The damage to the focusing screen isn't bad enough that the camera can't be used, but it is a major annoyance. I was thinking about buying an A-1 anyway (mainly for aperture priority AE), and I might do that now.

I was cleaning my lenses today, and I decided to brush/blow some dust

off the mirror (no harm there). Unfortunately, the mirror foam

disintegrated, and went all over the focusing screen. Some of it

appears to have removed the etching (or whatever it is) on the

surface, so I see shiny spots from outside, and darkened spots in the

viewfinder. It's not bad enough that I can't use the camera, but it

is very, very annoying. I'm not certain if the AE-1's focusing screen

is even replaceable, not that I could find a new one anyway. I can't

think of any way to fix this problem, either... So, am I screwed?

Obviously I'll have to get the foam replaced (is it possible to do

this yourself?), and probably live with the focusing screen problem.