Day old R2A - vert alignment off

[f/stopblues]

I just picked up my R2A and Nokton 50/1.5 yesterday and didn't get a chance to play with it til today. I'm really impressed by it overall. It's smaller than I pictured for some reason, which is good!

In any case, the vertical alignment seems to be off so things don't "snap into focus" like they should. It's an annoyance to say the least, especially since part of the reason I went new instead of waiting for used was to not have to worry about this stuff!

The CameraQuest site, where I bought it, states 3-4 weeks for warranty repairs plus cost of shipping. I realize doing it myself would void the warranty, but it doesn't seem like a tough repair to make. I haven't even shot a frame with it yet 🙁

Thoughts?

 

[aizan]

Email him to see how long the wait is right now. 3-4 weeks might only be a safe estimate.

 

[djon]

I don't get it. How come this kind of issue continues with CV? Are they having what should be good Japanese cameras outsourced to careless German labor? 🙄

 

[f/stopblues]

I did email him but haven't heard back yet. I'm wondering if this could be an issue with the LTM to M adapter for the Nokton 50/1.5 I have mounted. I read somewhere on this forum that someone switched brands of adapter and the problem vanished. I've also noticed that it focuses past infinity.. I have to bring it back a bit from infinity for distant objects to line up. <sigh>

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

I don't get it. How come this kind of issue continues with CV? Are they having what should be good Japanese cameras outsourced to careless German labor? 🙄

lol -- I'm sure these sorts of comments won't amuse the owners of the Voigtlaender name. Perhaps Schneider/Voigtlaender (the "German guys") will think twice about leasing the name to Cosina (the "Japanese guys") when the contract renewal comes up? Who knows?

I never heard of such a thing as "careless German labor" or "careless Japanese labor".

 

[djon]

The continuing reports of rangefinder problems with recent Leicas suggest something's wrong with the company's values. Why does a cheap Toyota have better quality, both overall and in detail, than an expensive Mercedes?

However, you're right... I shouldn't blame it on ethnicity or labor: Its certainly bad management to allow shipment of rangefinder cameras with less-than-perfect viewfinders. Stephen Gandy pointed to such carelessness by CV several years ago on his website. This issue continues to arise.

There seem to be very few complaints about Canon or Nikon, which is interesting considering the vastly larger production.

 

[f/stopblues]

Alright I heard back from him.. I think I was being overly paranoid. Once I got my eye adjusted to the right spot I think the vertical issue is fine. It'll take some getting used to though, as I've been looking through all sorts of non-RF cameras for a long time in the "incorrect" position.

I went out and focused on the moon and infinity seems fine. It's objects that are about 100+ yards out that I have to bring focus back just a bit from infinity to line up. Is that normal? I'm showing my RF newbie side, I know 🙂 Thanks for the help!

 

[f/stopblues]

To be fair, some of the newer, more budget concious rangefinders are probably finding a new audience (like me) who haven't been exposed to rangefinders in the past. Some of the issues that are being fluffed could be from their (my) inexperience, as seems to be the case this time. I'll catch up though 🙂

 

[Burkey]

Chris - glad to here your situation has been remedied. I'm new to Cosina Voigtlanders too and so far have been extremely satisfied. The quality of my R3A is, as far as I'm concerned "top shelf". I've been a Leica fan and user for many years but I too simply couldn't justify the cost of another M. And I gotta' say that my CV is a "pant-load" easier for me to focus than my former M4P was.

 

[Toby]

I did email him but haven't heard back yet. I'm wondering if this could be an issue with the LTM to M adapter for the Nokton 50/1.5 I have mounted. I read somewhere on this forum that someone switched brands of adapter and the problem vanished. I've also noticed that it focuses past infinity.. I have to bring it back a bit from infinity for distant objects to line up. <sigh>

that's actually correct objects two blocks away shouldn't line up there should be some overlap -don't ask me why though

 

[Hektor]

With a 50mm lens fitted the rangefinder is a lot more accurate than focussing with an slr screen

the range finder is good enough to separate two points of focus less than an inch apart, - just what you need with f1.5 at short range, - and whats more it's always in that mode, so the DoF when the lens is stopped down isn't illustrated in the viewfinder.

Good rangefinders can tell the difference between trees or lamp-posts on the horizon and the moon, the same way they can tell between a portrait subjects eyes, ears and nose.

The important issue is what is in focus on the film. You can check that with a test shoot.

 

[rayfoxlee]

Malcolm Taylor, UK Leica repairer, reckons that this is caused by astigmatism. Anyone else heard this one before? I had the same prob with my M2, so it may not be the camera's fault.

Ray 😎