Adjust rangefinder - Leica IIIc

[Montag]

The vertical alignment on my IIIc seems to have gone out, lenses no longer reach vertical alignment on infinity.

I couldn't find online instructions that matched how the front of my IIIc appears.

Could anyone advise what if anything I can adjust to do the vertical, then correct the horizontal alignment - thank you.

 

[Mr_Flibble]

Adjusting the RF on a Leica is pretty simple;

-Set aim and focus at something at infinity

Horizontal alignment is done by the small set-screw hidden behind the cover screw next to the viewfinder window (The grey one between the VF and RF window). You'll need a small 1mm flat-tip screwdriver

Vertical alignment is done by unscrewing the (chrome) bezel around the left RF window (seen from the front like in your photo) and turning the RF lens by gripping it in the indents.

Repeat both adjustments at close-focus if necessary.

 

[Montag]

Thank you, got it. Vertical is now good, the bezel was stuck a little tight and I needed to be sure this was the right move.

But for the horizontal (now quite a bit off) the set-screw behind the cover screw is just too tiny and too old/delicate looking for me to risk attempting it with my limited tools/skillset.
Darn it, will have to seek professional assistance. Thanks for the response.

 

[Steve M.]

Before you do that, maybe try measuring out distances and see how off the alignment actually is? It may not be enough to make much or any difference if stopped down a bit. You could also sacrifice a test roll and see what things actually look like on the neg.

Also, maybe put a touch of penetrating oil on that stubborn screw and give it a day or two to sink in. I mention this because my experience w/ sending stuff off to be fixed.....well, too much stuff came back that was not really fixed. If you have someone local that can do this, so much the better. It can be frustrating when things have to be sent back a second time, not to mention expensive.

 

[Mr_Flibble]

Not much that can go wrong with the Horizontal adjustment screw (except that it will pop out if you unscrew it too far). The key is not to force anything and only make tiny adjustments at a time

 

[Erik van Straten]

Wonderful grey IIIc, Montag! Do you have a picture of its top?


Erik.

 

[Montag]

Thank you for the additional feedback and tips, I somehow missed them at the time sorry.
I didn't trust myself to proceed further and the alignment was too far off to ignore. The camera is currently still with a local and very trusted (former Leica employee) repair person.

It is a very lovely little camera Erik, I did even have two of them briefly and that's the only image of the top of this one that I have currently.



The 'K' model at the top had the incorrect shutter dial fitted, such that it didn't match the shutter speed indents correctly and was just impossible to use practically. So I returned it as it was as expensive as you might imagine.

The one I still have, at the bottom, I was lucky enough to have found for a reasonable cost. The number 8 is painted oddly on the top, could the numbers have been retouched? If they have the paint is a perfect match.

The IIIc 'stepper' feels noticeably better in practical use to me than my IIIf, the tiny differences in size seeming larger in the hand.