My F100 is OK :-)
14:02
I have cleaned the glass on viewfinder and checked focus screen as well as mirror. Than I went to the near by place. I visit very nice person who was offering his F100 for sale.
I compare my viewfinder with his. I also had a chance to compare it with Nikon D200 and Nikon F5 as he owns them all.
Result? Viewfinder of my F100 is perfect and I must admit the main reason why I though it is bit cloudy, was simple dirt and greasy glass covering viewfinder and probably also that I looked at it at night.
Comparing D200 viewfinder with F100 just insured me that my F100 has bigger view (expected as different size of sensor/film) and is as clean if not cleaner than D200. D200 has a bit higher contrast and feels to have little warmer color cast.
Summary: I proofed myself that my F100 is perfectly in order. Also get experience with Nikon Service and as last it showed me that I need to clean the basics first and than start looking around. I am glad I was able to compare my F100 to other one.
I have a D70s and F90 — both poor cousins to your D200 and F100 — but I find that the biggest thing to “hit” me when I compare the viewfinders is simply the size. The F90 (and my Nikon FG) just feel larger, more spacious, like a big loft. The D70s feels cramped, like a bachelor apartment where you feel claustrophobic if too much is going on.
Jordan,
the size of viewfinder is determined by sensor size, I believe and therefor for film cameras is always bigger.
I have no piece in my mind over my viewfinder. I guess I need to only compare it and now i know :-)