Infernal Alignment!

[SaveKodak]

Ok so I've cracked it!

I have a new to me Zeiss Ikon, and in another thread I mentioned that I believe it to be off at infinity because I couldn't achieve infinity focus. However, I've done some testing tonight and it has not-simply a case of off infinity alignment, but in fact the alignment actually changes. If I mount a lens and focus to infinity, it's perfect. If I focus through the range and then go BACK to infinity, it will no longer show alignment at the len's hard infinity stop. It's off by a millimeter or so of RF space. THEN if I fire the shutter, you can watch the RF snap back into perfect alignment. I did this a few times and confirmed that the alignment point is moving after I focus the lens, or if I fire the shutter. I even took the camera inside and focused on a target in a closer range to see if it was still happening, and yes you can watch the alignment change after focusing to MFD, then to the target, and then firing the shutter. It's like something goes out of place, then is shaken back by the internal vibration of the shutter...

Anyway, what do you think? I think it needs to go back to KEH for sure, and I'm not sure if I should ask to have it repaired, or wait of the next one. Or just return it and get a Bessa for less $. 😱

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

Return it, that will be expensive to fix. Zeiss Ikons are not rare, you'll find a good one quickly enough

 

[jonmanjiro]

What's the first four digits of the serial number?

1552,1559, or 1561?

 

[SaveKodak]

1552, why do you ask?

 

[jonmanjiro]

A year or so after the ZI was released, Pop Flash started advertising Zeiss Ikons with "new improved rangefinder" on eBay. From memory, the serial numbers of those cameras started with 1559. Fred, aka photomoof, noticed the listings and started a thread about it here, and a discussion started as to what "new improved rangefinder" could mean. However three or four days later, all references to a new improved rangefinder were removed from Pop Flash's eBay listings and Fred deleted his thread, and the whole topic was flushed down the memory hole, so we never did find out exactly what "new improved rangefinder" meant.

Cosina only made three serial number batches of Zeiss Ikons (see here) and after the above episode I've always suspected that they made some kind of tweak from the second batch onward to improve RF reliability (previously there had been reports of misalignment problems/RF being easily knocked out of alignment). Maybe the improvement was just an extra glob of superglue somewhere - who knows. Its just speculation on my part though. FWIW the serial number of my black Zeiss Ikon purchased new by me in 2009 is 1561xxxx and I've never had a problem with rangefinder alignment.

 

[SaveKodak]

Ah yeah. I always try to avoid serial number rabbit holes haha. I do have to wonder about that one though... It's such a great camera, I really wish it hadn't been completely discontinued and abandoned. Personally I feel like its fatal flaw is how difficult it is to adjust the RF yourself. However, even if I could access the screws more easily, that probably wouldn't fix my problem. Seem like something in my camera is falling out of place. Maybe one of the mirrors is loose or something like that...

 

[Doug]

Hmmm... Mine is also a 1552, bought new from PopFlash in Sept 2006, a kit with 35mm Biogon. At that time the Zeiss US importer was taking over distribution from Hasselblad USA, and reportedly "weeding out" the grey-market dealers. Its RF is ok...

 

[pyeh]

Jon, I just added my serial number to your ZI serial number thread.