Minolta 7SII Distance Scale

M

Mr. Inky

Member
Local time
5:31 AM
Joined
Dec 18, 2006
Messages
14
View My Gallery
Hello Everyone,

I got my Minolta 7SII today in the mail (won it on ebay). The rangefinder is aligned but when I look at the distance scale markings, it's always over the real distance. An object that is a little over 5 feet, for example, reads 7 feet on the distance scale. Anyone else experience this with the 7SII? Is it a real problem that will lead to out focus shots, or should everything be ok as long as the rangefinder patch looks aligned?

Thanks for any feedback or suggestions!
 
Test with film and the largest aperture

Test with film and the largest aperture

If I recall correctly the 7SII can be shot manually. set an object at 7 feet in good light, like from one end of a patio table in sunlight. Use the rangefinder and the widest aperture and shoot the focus as found by the rangefinder. (mark the distance scale reading for this shot-log all this) Take three shots at actual measured distances... 5, 7or8, and 15. For each shot log the lens scale reading but shoot the focused by rangefinder patch.

Now, do three more shots, but don't use the rangefinder. Shoot the same three distances and set the lens scale to set focus.

In fact, if I were doing it, I would also add a closely measured 30 feet (near infinity).

The reason for using wide open aperture is to keep depth of field shallow. If you use a small aperture, normal depth of field may not reveal the actual focus.

If your rangefinder shots are out of focus, but your lens scale shots are correct or better focus, your rangefinder is out of adjustment for focus.

There are three controllable aspects of rangefinder focus. Vertical Alignment, Horizontal Alignment and focus adjustment. You can have a perfectly aligned patch but still be off on the distance at which those patches align.

Hope this makes sense and helps.
 
PS another method, but not for 35mm as much

PS another method, but not for 35mm as much

Another method, which I would use if this were a medium format rangefinder with a bulb setting would be to open the camera back, tape a piece of ground glass against the film plane, set up some specific distance targets, and get under a hood on a tripod and see how the focus scale matches the rangefinder. Tough to do with the 35mm size opening. You also would need a loupe to do this.
 
Thanks, kuzano. I looked again and it turns out that the rangefinder is slightly out of alingment, which is probably why the distance readings are off. I dropped it off for adjustment and now it's spot on. Thanks for your feedback!
 
Minolta makes a hood for the 7sii (D49ND) but it's very difficult to find. I got lucky and pleasantly surprised in that I got one when it was attached to a Oly camera I bought. You can try any 49mm hood but be careful as they may block the viewfinder partially.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom