konica S2 lens colimation

[sanmich]

Hi

I have rebuilt a nice konica S2. Now I have tested it and the focus is off by some 5 inch at closest distance. The RF is spot on, both at infinity and at 3 feet.

What did I got wrong when reassembling?

Any possible experiment to understand the source of the problem?

Thanks

Michael

 

[greyhoundman]

If it is right on at infinity and 3 feet, there is nothing to adjust.
I'd double check using ground glass at the film plane. If it is spot on, you've done all you can.

The S2 has a close focus of .9 meters.

 

[sanmich]

Thanks for the answer.
The RF is calibrated as it should.

Still, the lens seems off.
As I did dismantle both the front and the back optic blocks, I was wandering maybe I did something wrong?

Do you know if each lens is fitted to the body?
Is there some kind of shimming?
Thanks
Michael

 

[greyhoundman]

I've taken a lot of them apart. Never saw a single shim. They are mass produced, not custom fitted. Kind of hard to get the lens elements in wrong.
Run a roll of film and make accurate notes of distance for each shot. Use a tripod to reduce shake blur.

 

[sanmich]

Well my technique is a bit different:

I shot (several times) a metal ruler with a red sticker in the middle.
The ruler is facing me and lays at about 45 degrees angle.
I focus on the sticker, then I check on the pictures where is the zone of focus.

I did not see any shim, so maybe I got something wrong when reassembling the lens or the lens plate on the camera.
I must say that beside that problem and the huge amount of time invested in repairing it, it's a beautiful camera and a fantastic mechanical design.I would like very much to see it work...

Michael

 

[greyhoundman]

Did you take the focusing helical apart?

 

[sanmich]

No, although I would have liked to, to relube it.

 

[greyhoundman]

I wouldn't unless it is really needed.

 

[titrisol]

Check the focus at infinity, I wrote the procedure in the Vito CLR thread.

I think there is also a descritpion in the KYphoto website
FOUND IT! http://www.kyphoto.com/classics/collimator.html

And also a complete overhauls of the S2 here:
http://feuerbacher.net/photo/frame.html?repair/KonicaAutoS2/KonicaAutoS2.html~Main

 

[Dr. Strangelove]

Check the focus at infinity, I wrote the procedure in the Vito CLR thread.

I think there is also a descritpion in the KYphoto website
FOUND IT! http://www.kyphoto.com/classics/collimator.html

The backsighting technique is really neat. I have checked focus with the ground glass on film plane method, but it is not easy, can be time consuming and you still can't be sure that you got it right. Backsighting appears much easier to do and can be done comfortably indoors. Great tip, thanks!

 

[titrisol]

Another descritpion
http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/index-123.html

Rick Oleson has brilliant tips in his websote, check them out
http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/index-27.html