Konica auto s2 yellow patch - mirror help

[Phoenix Phil]

Hi,
I was just shooting with my Auto S2 (actually Wards am521) the other day when the yellow patch disappeared. Opening up the top I discovered that the little mirror providing the yellow patch had fallen off. I thought it would be simple thing to stick some glue on it and go; but I noticed that the patch changes alignment depending upon where the mirror was glued on. And I never got it to align perfectly.

Does anyone know how to properly reglue the mirror back on and get it into the right position?

Thanks
Phil

 

[mjflory]

I've been in the same boat with other cameras. (I've got an S2 but I've never taken it apart.) I've just had to experiment and recalibrate until it was OK.

The new glue adds a little thickness, so I think it'll need realignment. But at least you've got the original mirror. If it's gone, it's a real task to find one that's the right thickness.

Good luck!

P.S. I've played with shining a laser pointer through the rangefinder from the back. The beams that emerge from the front viewfinder and rangefinder windows should converge at the point that the rangefinder is indicating is in focus. At infinity the beams should be as far apart as the windows. It would probably be easier if I had a bench with a little arm to hold the laser pointer, though.

 

[fraley]

Phil,

Glue the mirror back on as near to the original location as possible. Use a glue that is not going to give off fumes that spoil the silver surface. On the back of the camera top, you should see a small circular plug on the bottom right corner of the viewfinder frame. This can be removed by twisting it with tweezers. It's meant to give access to the rangefinder horizontal adjustment, without having to remove the top. It will show you the location of the rangefinder adjustment. When you focus on something near, measure off the distance and compare it to the distance scale on the lens barrel. Turn the screw accordingly. Then do the same with something at infinity. Repeat until you are satisfied that it's close enough.. good luck.

 

[ruben]

A more accurate way of aligning your rangefinder coincidence will be using an SLR split screen, taped at the rear where the film will be passing through, and with the textured side of the screen facing the lens.

Then you will check what the split screen is telling you with the help of an SLR 50 mm lens.

I don't know if the Konica Auto S2 has two screws for arranging both infinity and close up, or just a single one for both distances.



Cheers,
Ruben

 

[douwe]

Hi Phil,

I had exactly the same problem with an old S2 as you have now; the mirror fell off. I just glued it back in place as precise as possible, and then adjusted the rangefinder. There are 2 screws to adjust the rangefinder. The one already mentioned is for horizontal adjustment (don't bother with the plug, just take the top off) , the other one is in the compartment with the rangefinder mirror. It's vertically orientated, and controls the vertical adjustment.
Find the right adjustment by turning the lens barrel to infinity, and align the double image of an object far away.

Good luck!

Douwe

 

[douwe]

h=horizontal, v=vertical

 

[Phoenix Phil]

Thanks

Thanks

Thanks to everyone that replied. I will attempt fixing it this weekend. I suspected that the glue I was using (thick rubber cement style) affected how it appeared in the viewfinder. At least, I now know how to adjust it correctly.

You guys are great.
Phil

 

[Stradibarrius]

Can some one help me identifiy the location of the mirror. I have the same problem but at this point I am not sure where the little mirror goes???

 

[IK13]

I had one S2 on which someone had glued the mirror (wrong).
No matter what I tried I couldn't get it fully aligned.

 

[zniv]

My newly arrived Auto S2 turned out to have the same problem. Do you guys have tips for me how to remove the top housing? Especially, how do I remove the wind lever? It seems I can't just twist it off.
thanks for your help!

 

[Mr_Flibble]

If I recall correctly, the round bit on top at the pivot point of the lever should unscrew ccw, use a friction-pad to get it off, there's a screw underneath to take the lever off.

It's been a while since I've had mine apart.

Good luck.

 

[zniv]

Thanks, so in the end it just had to be twisted off. hope my repairs will work. Also i will clean the viewfinder, hope it will be as good afterwards as people tell of the Auto S2.

 

[ftw1952]

:bang:Upon re-gluing the beveled edge of the mirror must be facing up😀