Rollei 35 XF Rangefinder adjustment

[sooner]

Hi Folks,

I got this camera recently from a member here, and noticed immediately the rangefinder is not aligned properly. It's mostly vertical, but I notice at distant objects/infinity the horizontal doesn't line up quite right, either. I searched RFF for a thread and found one in answer to my question, but after peeling away the cover on the front right of the camera to find the mysterious screw to adjust, I found nothing. There was a little screw on the upper far right, but it just unscrewed, didn't adjust anything. I was none too happy about screwing up my cover for nothing, either. So, can anyone who actually knows what they are talking about tell me how to adjust the rangefinder on this camera? By the way, I intend to post a couple of pictures from the test roll soon. Thank you.....John/sooner

 

[sooner]

Bump. Come on guys, nobody here has fixed one of these before?

 

[Platinum RF]

If you face the camera, peel the let up corner of cover on right side, there is screw to adjust the horizontal aligment. to adjust vertical you have to take offthe top cover, there is mirrow there, use some very thin shim to adjust the mirror to front or back. good like

 

[physiognomy]

Hi John,

I haven't personally played with the XF 35 before, but you might try searching for repair info on the Voigtlander VF 135 as well. They are basically the same camera & I would assume rangefinder adjustment would be similar if not identical. This (click) site also mentions that the adjustment screws should be under the leatherette.

Another thing I would try is to ask your question on this forum (click). I have had some luck there before & a quick search revealed at least one thread on the XF 35.

Peter

 

[Gerbil62]

Hi you have to remove the leather covering underneath the rf window and adjustments are there it was a while since i did it if you need a pic i can post one heat the covering with a hair dryer to soften it up first i do have a scrap one so keep in touch thnaks simon

 

[sooner]

Thanks for the comments. I tried searching the other sites listed but came up mostly dry. Gerbil62, I would love to see a photo of where these screws are, because on my camera I peel away the covering under the rff window to the right of the lens (looking at it), and I don't see any screws. Thank you.

 

[douwe]

Hi,

I have adjusted the rangefinder on the rollei before, and also searched for the 'second' adjustment screw. Obviously, you've already found the one right underneath the viewfinder. To find the second screw, you will have to remove almost the entire leatherette on the right (the entire piece on the viewfinder side of the camera) The second screw is impossible to miss if you've taken off the entire leatherette. Its close to the lens barrel, and quite low on the body. I can't show you any pictures unfortunately...

 

[douwe]

This is what I posted last time someone asked about the XF 35 adjustment:

If you do want to adjust the rangefinder, you have to remove the leatherette below the rangefinder. I did thid myself just after I bought a xf. It isn't well ducumented on the internet, and I found out that it works in a peculiar way.
If you take of the leatherette, you first find a tiny adjustment screw quite close to the viewfinder. This screw is for horizontal adjustment. The one for vertical adjustment is located much further down the front face of the body, closer to the bottom plate thant the top plate. This one is much bigger too.
The xf has quite a unique ragefinder system, it is actually the front lens element in the viewfinder that moves from left to right!

 

[sooner]

Thanks for the follow-up. I did manage to find both screws this time. Unfortunately, the top screw is sort of stuck in there and simply will not budge. Very frustrating. I'm at the point of destroying the camera just to turn a screw! I tried spraying some nut-loosening oil in there, to no effect. Oh well.

 

[Michael I.]

I tackled the adjustment on one i just recieved.

http://www.kyphoto.com/classics/forum/messages/20735/14969.html?1238487335
this is the explanation I found.

I cant budge the vertical screw and I dont see a brass sleeve to be adjusted under the crosshead one, it looks like it's been tampered with. any help?

 

[hanskerensky]

I tackled the adjustment on one i just recieved.

http://www.kyphoto.com/classics/forum/messages/20735/14969.html?1238487335
this is the explanation I found.

I cant budge the vertical screw and I dont see a brass sleeve to be adjusted under the crosshead one, it looks like it's been tampered with. any help?

Jusrt an update to the new location of the mentioned link as the Classic Camera Repair Forum is no longer active but its contents still available :
http://rangefinderforum.com/classics/forum/messages/20735/14969.html?1238487335