Hairline in viewfinder, is this normal?

[Arch Stanton]

I just noticed there is a hairline in the viewfinder of my D50 (pictured below). Is this normal?

http://img236.imageshack.us/img236/5049/line1ac.jpg

[coldrain]

No, that is not normal, and neither is the gap in the circle.
This is what it is supposed to look like:
http://dpnow.com/images/Nikon=d50-viewfinder.gif

Ah, according to Eric it can be normal, but then it should not be always there. The gap you see in the circle is still not normal though, I think.

[erichlund]

I just noticed there is a hairline in the viewfinder of my D50 (pictured below). Is this normal?

http://img236.imageshack.us/img236/5049/line1ac.jpg
Go to your manual and look up viewfinder in the index. Under one of the listed pages, you will probably find this same statement that is in my D200 manual and also on page 8 of the D70 manual:

"Owing to characteristics of this type of viewfinder display, you may notice fine lines radiating outwards from the selected focus area, or that the display in the viewfinder turns red when the selected focus area is highlighted. These phenomena are normal and do not indicate a malfunction."

So, yes, it is normal. It will probably only appear at certain combinations of lens and aperture.

[bscull]

My D50 does the same.

[erichlund]

Also, you have to go to page 120 of the D50 manual to find the reference. The wording is slightly different, because the put it in the troubleshooting table, but they are talking about the same thing. I'm guessing the fine lines are actually the wires carrying the signals to the leds in the focusing screen.

[Ray Schnoor]

Go to your manual and look up viewfinder in the index. Under one of the listed pages, you will probably find this same statement that is in my D200 manual and also on page 8 of the D70 manual:

"Owing to characteristics of this type of viewfinder display, you may notice fine lines radiating outwards from the selected focus area, or that the display in the viewfinder turns red when the selected focus area is highlighted. These phenomena are normal and do not indicate a malfunction."

So, yes, it is normal. It will probably only appear at certain combinations of lens and aperture.
It shows up on my D70 also.

Ray.

[Bullitt]

Shows up in my D50 also so I would guess it is normal, not that many cameras can have the same characteristic that is abnormal...

[Arch Stanton]

I'm guessing the fine lines are actually the wires carrying the signals to the leds in the focusing screen.

Yes, this is what I heard as well. Thanks for clearing that up.

The gap you see in the circle is still not normal though, I think.

Sorry, the gap is an error in the image.