The prism is not the problem. The image is focused on the ground-glass screen, which is below the prism, mounted in the camera body. If, as you say, it looked sharp in the eyepiece, it must have been sharp on the screen. A misaligned prism can’t make an unsharp image on the screen appear sharp. It can only make a sharp image appear unsharp, but then all the details of the screen markings (like the line around the microprism spot) will also be unsharp.
You can prove this to yourself by removing the prism and inspecting the image directly on the ground glass using a loupe. Make a photo that way and see if it is sharp. (All the chimney finder is is a loupe mounted in a shade.)
And don’t assume anything about the scanner. Inspect the negative for sharpness on a light table using a strong (10x) loupe. If it is sharp there but the scan is soft, it’s the scanner no matter what it has done in the past.
If it’s in the camera, then either the screen isn’t properly seated (most likely), the film isn’t sitting properly in the camera, or the mirror isn’t sitting where it’s supposed to when it is down.
Make sure the selector is on 120, not 220. Probably not the issue, however.
Personally, I have bought 6x7’s with the built-in expectation of sending them to Eric for overhaul.
Rick “who has had dinged prisms in the past—worse than that one—that caused no issue” Denney
---------- Post added 08-18-18 at 04:18 PM ----------
Originally posted by Sedrick I'll attach another image for you. In the case of the image shown, I focused on the numbers written on the house.
Well, it’s not the scanner. A scanner problem can’t move the focus plane.
Therefore, I’m back to suspecting the screen or reflex mirror adjustment.
Rick “send it to Eric” Denney