adjusting RF on canon 7s...

[bobkatz]

Friends:
recently I got a canon 7s, and Im afraid the rangefinder is a little bit misaligned in the vertical, some one has some tips DIY for correct alignment? Thanks in advance...
Bob..

 

[paolo]

You can find how to adjust rangefinder here http://www.photoethnography.com/ClassicCameras/index-frameset.html?Canon7.html~mainFrame

 

[crawdiddy]

I recently did this. You remove the screw on the to plate (near the shutter speed dial). You need a small spanner type wrench to do it, but I used an old pair of pointy tweezers.

Underneath that screw, there's a regular screw for adjusting the vertical RF. I found it's very sensitive. Someone recommended putting the camera on a tripod for this part. I didn't want any base plate scratches, so I didn't. But it would help.

 

[former member]

After aligning the vertical, you will need to realign the horizontal setting as well. It will be off if it was not off before. Do the Vertical first, then horizontal.

 

[KoNickon]

Yes, I've been through this and it's tough to get that screw adjusted just right. Good luck with it!

 

[former member]

I found the trick is to NOT push down on it. Find a good fitting screwdriver and rest it on the screw. Turn it without pushing it down. If you do push it down, once the pressure is released the alignment is gone.

 

[bobkatz]

Thanks fellows...Im gonna try....
Best regards...
Bob.

 

[crawdiddy]

One other comment about my experience-- I found the screw for adjusting the horizontal RF alignment was extremely hard to turn. And it also required a very tiny screwdriver. So I had to keep torquing the screw clockwise (the one accessible from the front of the camera, not the top). The screwdriver was a little distorted when I was done, but I finally got it aligned.

Brian is correct-- you have to do the vertical adjustment first, and then horizontal.

I found the vertical adjustment to be super-sensitive. Just turn it a tiny bit and the vertical alignment moves a lot. But the horizontal adjustment mechanism was so very tight and difficult to turn. YMMV