Dim rangefinders - easy fix!?

[JonR]

Came across the following site on Internet arguing that one can improve the rangefinder if it is dim like on many olders S3´s for example with a simple bit of black electrical tape.....

Anyone tested something like this or any other method to improve the rangefinder ?? I was under the assumption that there was nothing that could be done...

http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/index-165.html

/Jon

 

[schaubild]

Hi Jon.

I didn't read whats behind the link.

With rangefinder mechanisms you can typically clean all tranparent, non coated (!) surfaces.
Mirrors go blind after some time, no other way than replacing, but at least normally you can even rebuild them at reasonable cost.
The real issue is with the semi transparent surfaces. They go blind after some time too, and can only be replaced with exact replicas, spare parts or, much much harder to get: rebuilt parts, really expensive.
The normal quote you get from professional repair services you get in this case: clean transparent parts very careful and don't touch the rest!

My 5 cents....

 

[cmedin]

Jon: it does help, but gives you more of a split image than a rangefinder image... I found that one a Canonet 28 with a faded patch putting a filter over the viewfinder (not rangefinder) window helped bring things back together a bit. Just grab a filter or two and plop them in front of each window and see how things change, maybe you'll find something that works.

 

[BillBingham2]

Worst case you take the tape off. Interesting idea.

B2 (;->

 

[brobbins]

The rangefinder can become dim as a result of accumulated material on the prism and/or rangefinder window. Ken Ruth recently cleaned the rangefinder on my camera and it made a huge difference. As noted above in a prior post, if the dim rangefinder results from a deteriorating reflective surface, there is not much that can be done in a cost-effective manner to solve the problem, although I have heard the filter or tape solution described above can ameliorate things.

 

[JonR]

Interesting and thanks for comments - I will try it on one of my two S3´s where the rangefinder is really dim... Maybe it will come to life again!
/jon

 

[JonR]

Jon : you had asked that question before, and you got answers. I'm a little surprised to see you asking this again.

😕 Memory is good but short, you know!! 🙂