Canon P
Member
But a Contax that looks fine outside can look like this when you go deeper into it:
Contax IIa Rangefinder adjustment...
- Thread starter Tim
- Start date
- Latest activity Latest activity:
- Replies 27
- Views 7K
Pherdinand
the snow must go on
ouch...
kabkos
Established
If you want to align the vertical on a Contax IIA or a IIIA, you need to get down to the rangefinder moving prism assembly. The top prism which does not move has to be adjusted up or down in order to align the vertical. The top prism is glued in with a very strong cement, remove the cement with a fine screwdriver, apply a slow hardening cement and reinstall the top prism, then while looking through the viewfinder move the prism up or down in order to align the vertical of the rangefinder. If the horizontal should get out of alignment during this process, there is a small screw on the moving prism wedge mounting plate that you use for fine adjustment of the horizontal. Basically the Contax prism is similar to the Super Ikonta rotating prism wedge rangefinder system.
karl
karl
jdos2
Well-known
Anyone here have the quickie step-by-steps to taking apart a Contax IIIa enough to clean the rangefinder? Someone "lubricated" the shutter in mine, and though it'll eventually go to Hen3ry (Tom Lehrer fans will understand) for a tear-down, I'd like to swab the extra oil off the rangefinder assembly, if it isn't too tough...
Pherdinand
the snow must go on
Taking the top cover off is relatively easy... Winding knob has to come off, rewind too, then the meter-adjusting ring on the backside screws out I think, then a few screws for the meter top cover and the top cover itself, and off it goes... You can clean the RF this way, a bit, but not fully. To reach the insides of the viewfinder glass you need some more disassembly, taking the meter unit off and such. I have written the steps down here in a thread long time ago, in november or december last year, but no photos attached.
Pherdinand
the snow must go on
Here it is:
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2165
it should apply to you until the paragraph beginning with "Followed to take the shutter module off".
Good luck. ANd be patient🙂
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2165
it should apply to you until the paragraph beginning with "Followed to take the shutter module off".
Good luck. ANd be patient🙂
Mike Kovacs
Contax Connaisseur
jdos2 said:
Careful - some of the screws on the IIA/IIIA are notorious fragile and easily marred. The one on the self timer lever and the ones in the hotshoe too if I recall. Use non-marring tools if you can. (nylon or wood screwdrivers)
jdos2
Well-known
Thanks, folks! It's a bit beyond me now- I'll probably send it off to Henry directly.
JD
JD
