F2 Viewfinder Misalignment?

[Chip]

I know this is slightly OT.

I recently ran my first roll of film through my father-in-law's F2. It's been unused and stored in very good conditions for at least 20 years.

When the prints came back, I noticed that what's on the print is an image of something "higher" than what I framed in the viewfinder. As a hypo: if I took a picture of a brick wall, and if the bottom row of bricks was row #4 and if the top row was row #10 as I framed it in the viewfinder, in the print, the bottom row would be row #6 and the top row would be row #12. (Hope that makes sense.)

End result is that I've cut off a lot of feet and have more headroom than I intended.

I have taken out and replaced the focus screen, but I wouldn't imagine that that would cause my problem.

Do viewfinders become misaligned over time, or when not used for an extended period?

Any way to fix on my own, or should I learn how to adjust my framing when shooting or take it to a repair shop?

I tried several internet searches and came up empty.

Thanks in advance.

[OsmosisStudios]

Probably the mirror that's out of alignment. You can send it to Nikon and see if they can fix it.

[Chip]

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

Probably the mirror that's out of alignment. You can send it to Nikon and see if they can fix it.

That makes sense. Thanks.

[Almond.Butterscotch]

OT thought for an OT thread:

They should have a film section here in the digitial photography school.

[spazoid1965]

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

Probably the mirror that's out of alignment. You can send it to Nikon and see if they can fix it.

Yep that's what it is. The mirror is going down too far. I'm not familiar with the F and F2. I know how to adjust the FT2. But it's not the same. Here's a nikon F2 repair manual you can downlown. But it will cost you $5.99.

https://store.payloadz.com/details/3...ir-Manual.html

[Chip]

Originally Posted by Almond.Butterscotch

OT thought for an OT thread:

They should have a film section here in the digitial photography school.

The more I learn about film, the more I agree with you.

Originally Posted by spazoid1965

Yep that's what it is. The mirror is going down too far. I'm not familiar with the F and F2. I know how to adjust the FT2. But it's not the same. Here's a nikon F2 repair manual you can downlown. But it will cost you $5.99.

https://store.payloadz.com/details/3...ir-Manual.html

That's helpful info. Thanks!

[Almond.Butterscotch]

Originally Posted by Chip

The more I learn about film, the more I agree with you.

There is www.apug.org for a community of film purists, but I've never tried to join; I might get baned with a pineapple or some such spikéd fruit for having soiled my hands with digital.