35mm Viewfinder From Disposible Fuji Camera

thingiverse

This is an auxiliary viewfinder which shows the area photographed by a 35mm lens on a full frame digital camera or a 35mm film camera. Such viewfinders are needed on many interchangeable lens rangefinder cameras. This viewfinder only shows the view of a 35mm lens. I found this viewfinder to be brighter, smaller, and lighter than my similar Canon or Russian auxiliary viewfinders. Lenses: The viewfinder uses lenses recycled from a FujiFilm "Quicksnap" disposable 35mm camera as shown in the pictures. Note that this finder is designed for the specific lens set from this very common FujiFilm disposable camera. This camera may be available under different names, but I am only certain it works with the camera as pictured. This does NOT work with the "underwater" version of the FujiFilm Quicksnap (the one in the acrylic plastic case). I did not have to buy a new FujiFilm disposable - many camera shops will gladly give you these camera shells which are typically thrown out after the film has been developed. I had to disassemble the camera to get the viewfinder lenses. I do not recommend anyone try to disassemble a camera unless they know exactly what they are doing. If you do not understand this please do not print this project. Please read the safety note below before you disassemble any camera to get to the lenses. SAFETY NOTE: PROCEED AT YOUR OWN RISK, I am not responsible for any injury you sustain in improperly disassembling any camera. Seek help if you do not know how to disassemble the camera. Cameras may have sharp parts, parts that launch themselves with force when disassembled, and other hazards, so WEAR PROPER SAFETY EQUIPMENT (including eye protection) when disassembling any camera. Use common sense. SPECIAL SAFETY NOTE: Cameras with integral flash units have an internal capacitor that stores a very high voltage charge - these capacitors may be very dangerous and can give you a serious shock or burn, even many years after the camera's last use. For safety's sake I remove the camera's battery and safely discharge this capacitor with an insulated screwdriver or similar tool before I touch any part of the internal electronics. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO DISASSEMBLE ANY CAMERA WITH A FLASH UNIT IF YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND THIS AND HAVE THE SKILLS TO DO SO SAFELY! I found a tutorial on disassembling a clone of the Fuji Quicksnap on YouTube. NOT MY VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-RzSRfNTVA In the final moments of the video a relatively large cylindrical high voltage flash capacitor is shown behind the flash reflector. For safety, the two wire leads of this capacitor should be shorted out. I typically use the metal tip of a screwdriver with a substantial plastic handle to insulate me from the high voltage. If the capacitor is still holding a charge, there will be a substantial discharge arc, so be prepared. Make sure the discharge tool is well insulated. This should be done after the battery is removed and before the board is touched to remove it from the camera. Printing: The viewfinder shells are designed to be printed open side up. I used supports (only to the bed). If printed open side up, there is only a very small section that requires support (for the recess where the foot fits) so this does not take a lot of extra print time. The base foot is designed to be attached to the finder shell using your favorite superglue. I recommend that you affix this foot before installing the lenses. Make sure that the angular wedge of the foot faces forward (toward the large lens), and the 35mm printing on the foot points towards the eye lens (the small one). The shell of this finder (which holds the lenses) is designed to snap together without any kind of adhesive. Do not attempt to assemble the top and bottom shells together with cyanoacrylate "super glue" as the glue will vaporize and coat the lenses with a translucent film - ruining the finder. You might also want to blacken the inside with flat black paint. If you do, avoid the slots which hold the lenses and the features that snap fit together as these are well toleranced and may not work if painted.