Infinity focus on lens does not correspond w/camera rangefinder

[Luxlover]

I just got a really clean Fed5B with a really clean 26M. The shutter and camera body are really clean, viewfinder also. The lens is shiny bright, very clean glass, diaphram blades only slightly oily. The lens seat nicely and tight to the body.
The camera handles easily and even the slow shutter speeds work.
But when focusing on an object that is really at infinity (beyond 20 meters) the rangefinder coincidence makes the lens be at between 10 -20 meters.
Is there an adjustment I can do to make the lens barrel match the camera rangefinder?

Please help.



Luxlover

 

[Luxlover]

Nobody can help???





Luxlover

 

[aizan]

once, i thought a lens wasn't matching up at infinity. then i checked against the moon, and it was.

if that doesn't work, matt's page describes how to adjust the rangefinder:

http://mattdentonphoto.com/cameras/fed_5.html

 

[fidget]

The chances are that the rangefinder is out, but it's worth a check that infinity focus is correct.
Put a ground glass screen or what-have-you in position over the film gate and focus by lens indication on infinty, then by rf indication. Check which is right by closely examining the image on the glass.
If you are lucky, it will just be the rf needing adjustment, which will be an easy job.

Note that the lens you have is not the period lens for that camera, so it's lost it's lens somewhere.

 

[ruben]

Hi Luxlover,

I will further elaborate what fidget is correctly saying, in more complex words, so you will be covered from both sides, and perhaps I manage to enervate fidget as well.🙂

There are two things that can be wrong, and even both altogether:

a) The camera/lens combination, being out of order - this is the hard case. To check this, you need to put "something" on the film plane, twist the lens barrel to infinity accprding to the infinity mark on the distance scale, aiming at a far subject, and with the help of a magnifying glass (or a 50mm lens) check if you have sharpness. If you have, the camera/lens are ok.

If there is no sharpness you are in bigger trouble.

The "something" you should stick to the film plane, can be either some mat masking tape, or an slr focusing screen (the best) with its rough side pointed towards the lens, or a ground glass screen.

Take care not to stick whatever you stick out of the film plane rails. Of course we are talking about sticking with a tape, not glueing.

But if you do have a sharp image at this stage, make yourself a coffee and take a rest.

b) The rangefinder mechanism on the camera top casting, supposed to mimic accurately the distances is out of order. This means that what appears as well focused on the yellow patch, is in fact false, and will be out of focus at the film plane.

For this kind of adjustment, other folks here will come to help.

Cheers,
Ruben