Question Re: The Nikon MA-20 Slide Mount Adapter

[Charles V]

Would anyone on deck owning the subject slide mount adaper check to see
whether the two plastic side lever arms makes actual contact with both sides
of a standard cardboard slide mount?

The levers within my adapter do not have enough inherent tension to make
actual contact with the slide mount and thereby do not exert any downward
pressure on the sides of the slide mount. The only downward pressure being
exerted on the slide mount is gravity alone.

It appears that the design of these two side lever arms was intended to
exert a slight amount of downward pressure on the slide mount to stabilize
its position during the scanning routine. The lever arms do in fact perform
this function with a glass slide mount, but do not have enough inherent
downward tension to do so with standard cardboard slide mounts. This
function is really not needed with a heavier glass mount but certainly would
seem to be beneficial in stabilizing the position of a standard cardboard
mount.

Thanks in advance for checking this out relative to the configuration of
your unit.

CharlesV

 

[tbl]

Would anyone on deck owning the subject slide mount adaper check to see
whether the two plastic side lever arms makes actual contact with both sides
of a standard cardboard slide mount?

Yup, mine do.

The levers within my adapter do not have enough inherent tension to make
actual contact with the slide mount and thereby do not exert any downward
pressure on the sides of the slide mount. The only downward pressure being
exerted on the slide mount is gravity alone.

It appears that the design of these two side lever arms was intended to
exert a slight amount of downward pressure on the slide mount to stabilize
its position during the scanning routine. The lever arms do in fact perform
this function with a glass slide mount, but do not have enough inherent
downward tension to do so with standard cardboard slide mounts. This
function is really not needed with a heavier glass mount but certainly would
seem to be beneficial in stabilizing the position of a standard cardboard
mount.

Have you ever stuck two slides in at once (by accident)?
This could conceivably over-stress the arms (poor design if
true).

Or maybe the thicker, glass mounts have done the same
over-stressing?

Dunno.

 

[Charles V]

tbl/Thanks for the feedback.

Have you ever stuck two slides in at once (by accident)?
This could conceivably over-stress the arms (poor design if
true).

I have scanned a few glass mounted slides, but primarily scan only single
standard cardboard mounts. If the glass mounts have over-stressed the arms,
I agree that might indicate a design deficiency on my specific unit.

I have tried to query Nikon re this problem, but after an hour spent trying
to get through their Tech Support "Send a Message" firewall, I finally gave
up.

Now that I have your confirmation that it is not inherent in the design, I
will make a further attempt to contact Nikon to see if I can get a
replacement for the upper section of the module, which can readily be popped
off.

Thanks much for your response.

Charles

 

[Kennedy McEwen]

Would anyone on deck owning the subject slide mount adaper check to see
whether the two plastic side lever arms makes actual contact with both sides
of a standard cardboard slide mount?

The levers within my adapter do not have enough inherent tension to make
actual contact with the slide mount and thereby do not exert any downward
pressure on the sides of the slide mount. The only downward pressure being
exerted on the slide mount is gravity alone.

It appears that the design of these two side lever arms was intended to
exert a slight amount of downward pressure on the slide mount to stabilize
its position during the scanning routine. The lever arms do in fact perform
this function with a glass slide mount, but do not have enough inherent
downward tension to do so with standard cardboard slide mounts. This
function is really not needed with a heavier glass mount but certainly would
seem to be beneficial in stabilizing the position of a standard cardboard
mount.

Thanks in advance for checking this out relative to the configuration of
your unit.

They certainly do on the card mounts I have. However I would hesitate
to state that as being definitive of what they should do. I only have a
few cardboard mounts, some old Kodachromes, and these appear to actually
be *thicker* than either the glass or glassless GePe mounts I have on
other films.

 

[Charles V]

I have found a way to correct this problem on my unit. In the event anyone
else is experiencing this problem with their MA-20 Adapter I would be
pleased to provide details of the "fix" by return email.

Charles V