What is the metal shim behind the Nikon D3200 viewfinder, and does the camera need it?
Asked 5/6/2014
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I opened the viewfinder/focusing screen area on my Nikon D3200 and found two loose pieces: a plastic square and a thin metallic piece that looks like copper. The metal piece was wedged between the plastic square and the viewfinder assembly. What is this metal part, and is it required for the camera to work properly?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
12y ago
2 Answers
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Thanks for adding the picture, it's a bit hard to tell exactly which part you're referring to, but will give it a go.
As best I can tell we're looking from the lens-mount into the camera, and you've detached the focussing screen from where it normally sits (i.e. normally parallel with the base of the camera). At the bottom is the Reflex mirror, which is semi-transparent.
Between the mirror and the focussing screen may be the piece of metal you're referring to? I don't know the D3200 but it could either be a mechanism to hold the focussing screen in place (it may be interchangeable on this camera?) or perhaps part of the spring for the reflex screen.
Above the focussing screen will be the viewfinder optics, which is probably a lens, pentamirror and the viewfinder lens.
The Digital Single-Lens-Reflex Camera page on wikipedia has a good diagram to show the main common components in most DSLRs.
Originally by user889. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user889
12y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
The metal piece is most likely a copper shim in the viewfinder/focusing screen assembly. Its job is to space or align the focusing screen/viewfinder components correctly. That matters because the optical viewfinder must match the camera’s actual focus plane as closely as possible.
The camera may still power on and take photos without it, but if the shim is missing or installed incorrectly, the viewfinder focus indication can be inaccurate even if the image sensor records the shot correctly. In other words, what looks in focus through the viewfinder may not truly match the camera’s calibrated focus position.
So yes, it is an important part of proper operation of the viewfinder assembly and should be put back in the correct place. If you’re unsure of its orientation or placement, it’s best to consult a service manual or have a repair technician reinstall it to avoid misalignment or damage to the focusing screen area.
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