Canon RF adjustment?

[mjm6]

Hello folks,

THanks to the great edvice I have received, I now have a Canon IIS2 with the collapsable 50mm f1.9 lens on the way to me, and am looking to run some test shots through it. However, there may be a few minor items in need of adjustment on the camera.

The first is the rangefineder. The seller said that it was aligning properly, but that the finder may be a little off. From what I have read, it should require a slight adjustment of the RF through the screw in the front? Anyone have a basic procedure that I should follow?

I was thinking it might make sense to get a repair manual for the camera (they are available from a few sources on the net). However, I have not seen one specifically for the IIS2 or any of the '-2' models, and I'm wondering if the manual for the IIS, IIF, IID is applicable to the '-2' modles also.

Finally, there may be a few pinholes in the second curtain. I understand the liquid electrical tape may be the way to go for that. I'll use that approach unless someone tells me that this is going to foul up the shutter mechanism.

Thanks,


---Michael

 

[Sonnar Brian]

I think the -2 models have larger eyepieces allowing for more viewing relief. Otherwise they are the same as the prior models. The adjustment through the front cover screw is for horizontal alignment, ie distance. Remove the cover screw and you will see an inset screw. Be ready with a small flat-bladed jewlers screwdriver.

Karen Nakamura has a write-up on adjusting the vertical alignment, holds true for your older camera. Look under the section for "Canon P". Basically you undo the bezel over the RF window. You have to get vertical correct before doing horizontal.

http://www.photoethnography.com/equipment.html

 

[SolaresLarrave]

At a given moment, Backalley Joe, our trusty moderator, should jump in here. He's done the procedure already a number of times and can answer your questions better.

Good luck! 🙂

 

[back alley]

brian has it covered.

the front screw under the front screw is impossible to actually see, for me anyway.
you need a small screwdriver, like for eyeglasses.
make very small changes or it goes out of whack quickly & easily.

same for under the round bezel, you will see a small indent, you can use the same driver to move the prism, again, small changes.

believe me, if i can do it - it can be done by most anyone.

joe

 

[mjm6]

Thanks for the info.

What distance should I be calibrating the RF to? I believe people do it to 1 meter, is that correct?

When I calibrate it to the short distance, will it be correct for infinity? It doesn't sound like there is a near adjust and a far adjust on this camera line like is found on some others.

I'm looking forward to having a functional camera sometime next week, just in time to run a few tests, make some adjustments, and then take it on a trip.


---Michael

 

[back alley]

i adjusted for infinity.

 

[djon]

http://www.photoethnography.com/ClassicCameras/index-frameset.html?CanonP.html~mainFrame

That's a very good description of P-adjusting.

I'd not noticed initially that my second P wouldn't perfectly align horizontally at infinity...less than 1/4 turn clockwise happened to move mine into good alignment...good because it'd be hard to turn the screw less than that. I'm waiting to see how some focus tests pre-adjustment at f2 look..hoping it's not an issue for a couple of rolls I shot over the weekend, also being processed...I have a hunch that it did hurt some earlier images.

IMO decent quality mini screwdrivers are crucial .... the minis with interchangable blades seem junk.. blades fail and then damage screw slots... Home Depot (for example) sells a cheap set of a half dozen non-interchangable screwdrivers with good-enough metal. I filed my smallest down to about 2/3 of the blade's original width (from 1.4mm to just under 1mm) in order to deal with several tiny screws on my so-far-nonfunctional QL 1.7...I used 1mm for the P adjuster screw.

 

[John Shriver]

I don't know of any source for service manuals for the IVSB2, IIS2, IIF2, and IID2. The changes in the finder are presumably pretty minimal. (I haven't pulled the RF cover in my IVSB2 yet.)

However, I can see that the shutter mechanism is different. There is a brake on the second shutter curtain, which is connected by a gear to the takeup roller therefor. That gear is probably also involved with the flash sync circuit on these models, which is more complicated than earlier models.

But, you don't need a service manual to keep the rangefinder adjusted. That's for going at the shutter mechanism.

While I have replaced the curtains myself on my IIF, the added complexity of the IVSB2 is a bit daunting...