adjusting rangefinders

[msbarnes]

Is it difficult to do?

If it varies per camera then I'm thinking Leica M2/M3 and Canon LTM's.

I've never operated on a camera nor do I have one that needs adjusting but I'm wondering if this is something that I can easily do if needed in the future.

Also, is it basically the same procedure as in fixed-lens rangefinders, because I'd probably operate on one of those instead for practice if the procedure is similar.

 

[kevin_v]

I've never done it myself, but it seems to be fairly easy – at least in the case of the M2-M5 (http://leica.nemeng.com/034b.shtml). Good luck.

 

[Landshark]

On M2/3/4 access to infinity adjustment is under the chrome screw above the lens mount on the front of the camera. Behind the screw is a ~1mm screw and this is the beast.
Gross movement is not needed, if you saw the screw move, it's probably too much

 

[farlymac]

Most rangefinders I have dealt with have small ports where you remove a screw to access the adjustment screws. Some ports are hidden under the accessory shoe. A lot of the compact thirty-fives have the horizontal port in the film chamber, just above the frame rails. Other cameras you need to remove the top to do a vertical alignment . Most times you only need to do the horizontal, and it's the easiest. Any adjustment on an Iloca is made with the top off, and some models you adjust, put the top back on, and take it off to repeat the process until you finally get the thing set correctly. The Rapid is like that, but on the Aut-O-Matic they changed the design, and while you still need the top off, it's a one step process.

PF

 

[KoNickon]

I agree that horizontal adjustment of the Ms is easy, as described I the link. The trick is finding the tool to do it, since angling a screwdriver into the lens throat is well nigh impossible. I find that a small spreader (as in for soft cheeses) is perfect -- it has a rounded tip that will engage the adjustment slot at an angle, and is the right thickness. Check it out!

 

[ChrisN]

I have an old magazine article that goes with the attached diagram and describes the steps for adjusting the M2 (etc) rangefinder. If anyone wants a copy please PM me with your email address.

 

[back alley]

i have done it on a canon p...pretty easy, the rd1...easy enough but a slight pita to reach the screws...

 

[mdarnton]

On the thread mount Leicas, infinity is behind the port screw between the windows (that port accesses vertical adjustment on Ms, and requires a special tool on the later models). On the M-mount cameras, it's the roller inside the upper middle of the lens mount, that rolls on the cam on the back of the lens. (The big screw head inside the roller is an eccentric cam, not an actual screw and that's what you turn--don't mess with the other, small screw.) In either case, the very tiniest turn does the job--so little that you aren't even sure you turned the screw. You adjust infinity on the screw mounts by rotating the round RF window on the left, which requires a special spanner of some sort.

For M cameras, the perfect tool is the rounded end of a General brand 6" stainless rule from the hardware store.

When you adjust, use your fussiest lens (the widest, longest one, with the least depth of field--I used an 85/1.5 on mine), and a distance of at least a mile or two for infinity.

 

[agour]

Easy enough to do on a canon iif. There is just a screw on the front that comes out giving easy access to the horizontal adjustment.

Vertical adjustment seems to work by turning the RF viewing glass on the front of the camera. Also, with the magnified viewfinder, setting it at 1.5x before adjusting makes it super easy to do.

 

[Mackinaw]

Probably depends on the Canon rangefinder you're talking about, but it's easy to adjust on a L-1 and Canon 7/7s.

Jim B.