Nikon Screen Tester Camera
by David Barth, 1998>
The Nikon Screen Camera is a specialty item that was supplied to authorized Nikon dealers so they could provide
a method for customers to try different eyepiece diopters and focusing screens without having to remove and replace
eyepieces and screens in a camera. The Screen Camera enabled the customer to quickly change screens and eyepiece
diopters to find the most desirable of them. Screen Cameras have no serial numbers.
The Nikon Screen Camera has a wheel on the back that accommodates nine eyepieces. The dealer could screw in up to
nine eyepieces having different diopters. The customer could switch from one diopter to another simply by turning
the wheel so that a different eyepiece lines up with the camera prism. By looking through the eyepiece, the
customer would see what he or she would see through an actual camera with that eyepiece and the lens mounted on
the unit.
The Nikon Screen Camera really isn't a camera. It cannot be loaded with film. It has a fixed mirror that
transmits the image from the lens up to the fixed prism. Below the prism, where the focusing screen would lie, is
a slot that accommodates one of two screen holders that were supplied with the Screen Camera.
Each screen holder can have up to nine screens inserted into it. Interestingly, standard Nikon screens will not
fit into the holders. Along with the unit, Nikon supplied all of the screens that were available at the time. I
have heard that there were 16 different screens. These screens are tapped at two corners to accept small flat-head
bolts, similar to those that attach the lens mount, that fix the screen to the rails of the holder.
Since each screen holder can hold up to nine screens, and Nikon provided two holders for each Screen Camera,
eighteen screens can be mounted. A screen holder is simply inserted into the slot on the side of the
Screen Camera. A spring-loaded catch inside the camera clicks into a detent between each screen so that the screen
will be properly centered below the prism. This catch does not have a release, and moving the screen holder causes
it to move out of a detent.
The screen holders will only accommodate Nikon F or F2 screens, not those for any other Nikon. The Nikon F/F2 screen
is rectangular, with no protrusions. Screens for other Nikon cameras are either of a different size or have a ridge
that prevents them from being inserted into the screen holder.
The Screen Camera has a standard Nikon F mount that allows any Nikon lens to be mounted, except for certain fish-eye
lenses that require the mirror to be locked up. The camera does not have mirror lock-up, depth-of-field preview, or
self-timer features. It does have a built-in pistol grip so that the camera can be held in one hand and screens and
eyepieces can be selected with the other. These photos show a Nikkor 50mm f1.4 lens mounted.