Bessa R Rangefinder Adjustment

[kevino]

Hello all.

The rangefinder on my Bessa R is out of calibration. It shows up in the last roll I processed. The point of focus on some of my shots (w/ a wide f stop) is past what I was acutally focusing on.

Last night I did the scotch tape test on the film plane...w/camera on a table top tripod and back open I placed some tape over the film gate. I focused the rangefinder on some newsprint at the other end of the table and then checked the focus at the film plane with a loupe. The view through the loupe was blurry and I had to adjust focus to a closer distance setting in order to be able to read the newsprint.

Has anyone ever adjusted the rangefinder mechanism on their Bessa R? If so could you provide me with some tips or guidance?

Thanks,
Kevin

 

[zuikologist]

There is some information here. Be gentle with it though 🙂

http://72.14.207.104/search?q=cache...ngefinder+adjustment&hl=en&gl=uk&ct=clnk&cd=4

 

[lubitel]

Lol! reading that makes me NOT want to adjust anything!

 

[danielnorton]

Funny

Funny

LOL that is too funny.. I wonder if I should also not try this on an r3a 😀

 

[zuikologist]

Yes, full of disclaimers!!!

 

[dostacos]

Hello all.

The rangefinder on my Bessa R is out of calibration. It shows up in the last roll I processed. The point of focus on some of my shots (w/ a wide f stop) is past what I was acutally focusing on.

Last night I did the scotch tape test on the film plane...w/camera on a table top tripod and back open I placed some tape over the film gate. I focused the rangefinder on some newsprint at the other end of the table and then checked the focus at the film plane with a loupe. The view through the loupe was blurry and I had to adjust focus to a closer distance setting in order to be able to read the newsprint.

Has anyone ever adjusted the rangefinder mechanism on their Bessa R? If so could you provide me with some tips or guidance?

Thanks,
Kevin

got one from evilbay like that, sent it to Cameraquest and he got it fixed [he is a one man band BUT he has techs to do the repairs] then again I believe in paying people to do what tney do and being paid to do what I do, and camera repairs fall into the catagory of OTHER PEOPLE'S expertise....now if YOU need a nice new LEG 😀

 

[kevino]

I read over that link. I don't think I'll be trying that and will leave the repair to an exper. l'd probably end up making it worse than it already is.

Thanks for the feedback.

 

[zuikologist]

Agreed - at least then you get to blame someone else 🙂

 

[einolu]

I think my bessa should still be under warrenty (I have crooked framelines) since I got the camera from CameraQuest a few months ago (the warrenty is about a year?). Does anybody know what the proceedure is for getting the framelines fixed? Can I still send it to Japan or something?

 

[Nearsighted]

I'm a do it yourself kind of guy so I had to try it. Everthing went well except for removing the little black cover over the hot shoe. I scratched the finish on that little plate. No big deal really. I have no plans of getting rid of the camera. The biggest tip I can offer is to pick something very far away to set the infinity focus point. I've heard Steven recomend the moon to check RF alignment. Because the power pole I adjusted infinity to was too close, I had to do it again. It's easier the second time around.

 

[ranger]

funny you guys should be talking about this....last night i went through the same thing! looks like my 'infinity' was off (used the moon to check) and followed that guys instructions. didn't scratch anything (thank God) but checked the focus again this morning against some foothills very far away and it looked dead on. Cause I was wondering the same thing with my new Bessa R when i ran my first roll through it. Just didnt look spot on focus. I only adjusted the back screw for infinity and hope this makes a difference for all distances. I didnt touch the 'azimuth' cause i really dont know what that is! (this is my first rangefinder) I can't wait to see how they turn out. (only my second roll through it...B/W) I'll let you know.... Robert

 

[aterlecki]

I recently adjusted both vertical and horizontal alignment on my R using the docs available. No problems at all and very easy to do. The one thing you can't adjust easily is the relationship between infinity and close focus. Basically if you tweak infinity so it's correct you need to check your close focus distances are also accurate too. Mine was only about 0.5-1cm out at close focus wide open after adjustment which is good enough for my purposes but if it is significantly out I suspect a more serious adjustment is necessary that isn't covered by any of the online docs.