Crooked Rangefinder Optics

[CiggyTardust]

I have a Canon QL-17 GIII that takes beautiful photos but I'm pretty sure the rangefinder optics are tilted a few degrees to the right.

Consequently, most of my photos come out with the horizon tilted to the right, even after being very careful to compose properly, squeeze shutter release softly, and hold the camera steady with proper support. I've long suspected this issue but only today looked into the rangefinder window and the rectangular window inside the rangefinder appears to be slightly askew. The rangefinder patch in the viewfinder also appears to be tilted slightly, just enough to account for what I'm seeing in the developed photos. Any ideas how to fix this? Is this something I should attempt myself or should I take it to a repair shop? See photos below for the issue:

 

[Keith]

I had a Leica M2 that did the same thing and for some reason when I sent it to Youxin Ye for a CLA he couldn't do a thing about it and returned the camera to me with the problem unsolved. I tried to work around it but it drove me insane so I sold the camera cheap and bought another one.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Ideal for water-skiing: the proverbial "lake with a slope". Seriously, yes, it can happen and (like Keith) I've never heard of a cure.

Sorry I can't be more help (or more encouraging).

Cheers,

R.

 

[Ranchu]

Here is the repair manual, page 1 has part 19-0556 which looks like it's held on with a couple screws. Hard to tell from that. It probably wouldn't be that hard for someone to fix for you. You might want to search for pictures of the inside (google, youtube) while repairs are being done, to see if indeed there are screws.

http://www.kyphoto.com/classics/repairmanuals.html

 

[retinax]

Hey, I don't know about the Canonet, but in other fixed-lens rangefinders I've worked on, there's a sheet of semi-translucent plastic with the framelines on it, visible as clear areas. This sheet can slip out of its right position. I recently had to do rectify this on a Retina, where I was able to stop it moving around by pinching its frame with fine pliers. In other cameras, a tiny bit of glue or just scotch tape might be necessary? Anyway I suspect it is similar on the Canonet. If you remove the top cover, you will see fairly soon what the problem is.
Strange that this issue on Leica Ms can't be readily fixed, recently a member here reported how he did this on his Canon 7, which also has projected framelines...?!
Best of luck,
J.

 

[Rob-F]

Could always:

a) Put it on a tripod and use a spirit level in the accessory shoe to level the camera.

b) Use it as a dedicated camera for mountain landscapes with no horizon reference.

c) Use it in a waterproof case for photographing marine life.

d) Use it for star photography.

---

P.S. Your photos look very Florida-like! (I grew up in Miami.)

 

[rick oleson]

You aren't using the little fuzzy-edged rangefinder spot as your horizon reference, are you?

It's possible that the frameline mask could be crooked, although it's hard to picture it being this far off. You can see it clearly from both sides on pages 11 and 12 of these notes, if you'd like to go in and try to straighten it out:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/qo9ia9qwqga37zv/Canonet QL17-GIII.pdf?dl=0

 

[charjohncarter]

You aren't using the little fuzzy-edged rangefinder spot as your horizon reference, are you?

It's possible that the frameline mask could be crooked, although it's hard to picture it being this far off. You can see it clearly from both sides on pages 11 and 12 of these notes, if you'd like to go in and try to straighten it out:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/qo9ia9qwqga37zv/Canonet%20QL17-GIII.pdf?dl=0

Good one Rick, I like the above idea of a spirit level and tripod to check.

 

[rick oleson]

I notice that the amount of tilt is not consistent among these 3 images, it varies from a little over 1 degree to about 3 degrees. If the tilt was caused by a mechanical error in the camera, I would not expect it to change - certainly not more than double - from one exposure to another. I think the spirit level suggestion is a good idea: Set the camera on a tripod aimed at a clear horizon, level it with the spirit level and then look through the viewfinder and see how the horizon aligns with the guide markings in the finder. The intermittent lines and rounded corners in the Canonet finder may make them difficult to use as a clear guide for holding the camera level.

 

[k__43]

I have this sometimes even when I carefully compose to level, that in the moment I release the shutter I slightly push down the camera. this produces such consistent tilted shots as you have.
Most annoying example: the below lens shutter release of a rolleicord, which is pulls the whole camera to the side if you don't actively "push" against it

 

[CiggyTardust]

Thanks for the input and suggestions, everyone. I set up the camera on a tripod and confirmed the rangefinder optics are crooked using a level. It's just slight enough to account for the tilted horizon I keep seeing in my pictures.

I opened up the camera as per a YouTube video and proceeded to try to adjust the frame mask screw but after a few attempts I realized I didn't know what I was doing and could very easily break the delicate components. I put it all back together and decided to take it to my local camera repair shop... repairs are cheap here in Taiwan and I'm sure they'll have a better idea how to make this slight adjustment, without breaking it too 😉

 

[thepiecesfit]

Thanks for the input and suggestions, everyone. I set up the camera on a tripod and confirmed the rangefinder optics are crooked using a level. It's just slight enough to account for the tilted horizon I keep seeing in my pictures.

I opened up the camera as per a YouTube video and proceeded to try to adjust the frame mask screw but after a few attempts I realized I didn't know what I was doing and could very easily break the delicate components. I put it all back together and decided to take it to my local camera repair shop... repairs are cheap here in Taiwan and I'm sure they'll have a better idea how to make this slight adjustment, without breaking it too 😉

Did you get the issue resolved? Can you share the position of the mask screw if so? Thanks!