Framelines a-poppin'

john_nyc

john_nyc

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Uh-oh..

After 4 blissful days of Ikon-dom it seems to have developed a little problem.

When I quickly focus in, the frameline assembly seems to be getting stuck and then pops into place. Previously it would smoothly move. Focussing out is smooth no matter the speed.

I'm not sure what would have caused it to do this since the camera wasn't knocked around at all.

Anyone else see this problem?

It's relatively minor but I'm going to see if I can swap it at B&H tomorrow because the popping sound is somewhat annoying.

John
 
Is it just the frameline assembly, or does the rangefinder image also have this hesitation?

I could imagine this type of thing being caused by the frameline mask hanging up on its little sliding guide. In that case only the framelines would hesitate.

But I also can imagine it being caused by the coupling arm in the camera body hanging up and not following the lens smoothly. In that case, the moving rangefinder image also would hesitate.

I'm not sure which direction you mean when you say "focus in" -- but if you mean focus closer keep in mind that it's only the relatively weak force of the coupling arm's spring that keeps the arm pressed against the lens cam when the lens is moving outward. When you're focusing toward infinity, of course, the lens is moving inward, and that means the coupling arm is being pressed by the much stronger force of your hand as it turns the focusing threads. So if the coupling arm is going to hang up, it's more likely to do so as the lens moves outward, when there's only the spring to overcome any resistance.
 
Yes, it's just the frameline assembly. The rangefinder patch moves smoothly.

You're also correct in that I mean that it happens when I focus closer.

Have you heard of this happening on a ZI before?

Since I'm going to exchange it tomorrow it's not so much that I'm looking to solve the problem. I'm more wondering if this is a common issue with the ZI.

Thanks,

John
 
this is the first i have heard of this particular ailment on a zi.
neither of mine has been or had any problems, although the infinity focus was out on the first one and tony (popflash) sent another to me before i even had a chance to pack up mine to send back.

joe
 
It happened on my new ZI after only a few weeks. All framelines stuck for a brief moment when the lens was rotated away from infinity I think. It was very subtle though and only happened when I was very quickly rotating the focusing ring... so when slowly focusing there was no problem, which was more of my shooting style. I had to exchange that ZI anyway because it had a freak erratic shutter problem, which I also must add I did through Tony Rose. My exchange resulted in getting a camera that had a misaligned rangefinder, vertically, which Tony said was the first he's seen on a new ZI. I sent it back to Tony, who, I might add, is top notch for his ZI customers and after finally getting the camera back with a snappy rangefinder.... I wound up dropping it and whacking the alignment out of place all together. :bang: The viewfinder glass now suffers from a small chip in the corner that thankfully goes unseen when looking through the finder. I'm amazed to report the rest of the camera functions perfectly. It's a tough machine. So now I'm still waiting patiently to get my ZI back from the repair. 😱

My guess as to framelines is maybe something was not initially catching or lubricated properly from the factory. Just a guess.
 
Last edited:
So, I picked up my new ZI last tuesday and it looks like this one has a mis-aligned rangefinder. Objects that focus as infinity on my R2A come up short on the ZI. When I tested focussing on an object I measured 10 ft away it also came up just short compared to the R2A.

Going to try my luck on a third tomorrow. Hopefully they don't give me a hard time on a 2nd exchange.

Am I just the unluckiest guy or is it sort of funny that I've had two ZI's in a row with rangefinder issues?

I really like this camera but an RF with a faulty RF isn't much of an RF.

In hindsight I might have been better off keeping the body with the popping framelines. At least the rangegfinder was aligned properly.

John
 
my first zi had that same thing, off at infinity. i exchanged it for another body and it has been fine since.

my second body was perfect out of the box and has remained that way.


sorry for you bad luck but you will be pleased with the camera once you get to use it regularly.

joe
 
john_nyc said:
Going to try my luck on a third tomorrow. Hopefully they don't give me a hard time on a 2nd exchange.

John
Click to expand...

Don't take this attitude, John. THEY better hope YOU don't give THEM a hard time for the trouble THEIR product had caused YOU. Remember you're in the right here, not them. And you have a warranty to back you up.

This is not the experience you should expect from the purchase of a precision instrument. I've had my ZI for over a year & never a problem. I just hope that B&H isn't mishandling these cameras or recycling ones that have been returned. You just can't find good help these days. 🙄

Tell them you're aghast 😱 to have had such an experience. Go in there breathing fire! 😡

Best of luck with the exchange. Maybe you should check it out right there in the store rather than waiting until you get home. Maybe you save yourself an extra trip over there.
 
back alley said:
raid,

i can't believe you said that!

joe
Click to expand...

Joe: I said it with a smile, since it is just a reminder not to complain so much
about little things.

Answering my own question ... it is lenses.

Raid
 
We have great weather here, with deep blue skies and comfortable 70's. Leave Canada and come down to Florida!

Raid
 
that is a tempting offer today.
it is -23c with a wind chill of -33c.
it has been snowing all weekend.
the driver's side windshield wiper arm on my car exploded on friday and i am waiting on a new one (coming from toronto), so i can't drive because i can't see when driving.
i just took the dog for a walk and she was limping before we hit the end of the block.
but it's gonna warm up to -6 on thursday...

joe
 
Sheesh... a tad bit too cold for my taste!

It's sunny and mid-60's in NYC today...


Anyhow... I think I finally got a good ZI (fingers crossed).

They only had one black one left, and because there was a mark on the viewfinder I suspected it was a repack.

The first silver one was definitely a repack judging by the lack of the little paper square that covers the shutter in the film compartment and the fact that it had a Fuji battery and not a Sanyo like all the others I'd seen.

The 2nd silver one seemed to be factory fresh, RF-aligned, and framline pop-less. The shutter also functions properly.

Silver wasn't my first choice of color, since I like the more low key black.

One question: what the heck is the purpose of a camera case that only holds the body without a lens? <scratches head>

John
 
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