Cleaning viewfinder of folding Zeiss Contessa 35 533/24

[johnphoto]

Does anyone have a pdf of the service manual? Just got a beautiful folding Contessa 35 at a decent (I think) price; cosmetically and mechanically in good shape. The meter doesn't work, that doesn't matter, but the viewfinder is cloudy and needs cleaning.

I imagine all will be clear once I take the top cover off. Can't be too complex because all of the wind mechanism is in the bottom bottom of the body. I imagine it involves unscrewing the neckstrap eyelets and the screw at front center of top deck. Anything else? There's a small slotted screw inside a ring with pin wrench slots right rear behind the meter. Possibly a meter zero adjustment, just part of the meter and part of the top plate assembly? (Assuming the meter assembly is simply attached to the top cover.)

Any advice appreciated.

 

[johnphoto]

To answer my own question, Mike Elek's page on meter rejuvenation has detailed explanation with photos showing how to take off the top cover:

http://elekm.net/zeiss-ikon/repair/meter-repair/

Still, any advice on cleaning viewfinder optics appreciated. (The RF is fine as is, nice and bright).

 

[Peter Jennings]

I cleaned the viewfinder in a Contessa I got off of eBay about 6 months ago, but I can't remember any special difficulties. It was a little dusty and hazy from being stored and unused for many years. The glass cleaned up fine. I do remember that getting the thin metal mask just behind the front glass back in place was a bit tricky. Just be sure to document your work as you go.
Good luck

 

[Peter Jennings]

Also, as you know, the viewfinder is quite "squinty". The RF patch in my copy has very nice contrast, but the VF is not great for composition. I have found that the Leitz SBOOI bright line finder works great with the Contessa - and it looks good on it, too.

[/url]Untitled by Peter Jennings, on Flickr[/IMG]