Konica S2 viewfinder

[jpa66]

Hello all. As a recently registered member, I had a question about the viewfinder patch of a Konica S2 I recently acquired. The problem is this: the yellow focusing patch in the viewfinder isn't there, so I have no way of focusing aside from judging distance and estimating. My belief is that I'm screwed, and the camera is pretty much useless.

My question for anyone out there who has had this problem is can the viewfinder somehow be corrected/fixed to have some type of focusing screen?

My guess is no, and, as I got the camera cheap, it's no big loss, but it would sure be nice to have the thing work properly.

Thanks,
JP

 

[caperunner]

Hi, Easy to take the top off. Possibly an unglued mirror inside, does the camera rattle a bit? if so mirror still there.. caution - don't handle the mirror too much. tweezers good.. you will see the post that the mirror sits on. directly in line with the rangefinder window position.
No issues when taking the top off.. see how you go..

 

[jpa66]

Yes, there is a rattle. I'll give it a go, and attempt the fix. I'll let you know what happens.

Thanks much,
JP

 

[jpa66]

Caperunner,

I took off the top, and lo and behold, the mirror was just laying there. I'm going to get some pliobond and adhere the mirror back to its proper place, and then see how it goes. Thanks for the advice!

JP

 

[jpa66]

OK, nothing but frustration. I got the top off and re-glued the mirror. The rangefinder viewer is accurate horizontally, but way off vertically. I actually removed the mirror (after having glued i in) and scraped off all remaining "gunk", and tried to adjust the vertical again, but to no avail. I've done this at least three times, and I can't seem to get the mirror low enough ( the vertical is too high, and will only come down slightly when adjusted ).

So, am I doing something wrong, or is the camera just kaput? I'm gluing the mirror with the slight beveled side up. Other than that, is there anything that I should be doing that I'm not.

If anyone can help, it'd be greatly appreciated.

JP

 

[Pompiere]

I don't own a Konica, but most cameras have adjusment screws to align the rangefinder patch. Except the Petri 7s in which you just bend the arm for vertical adjustment. If the lens is already accurate for infinity focus, set the lens to infinity, then adjust the rangefinder patch until it is aligned. If you need to check the lens for infintiy, this link will show what you need to do: http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/index-123.html
Rick's method also works if you reverse the target camera and the camera being evaluated, i.e. put the light source behind the camera being evaluated and look through the SLR viewfinder. I have one good SLR, and I have several rangefinders that needed adjustment, so that is the way I did it.

 

[jpa66]

I have tried to adjust while focusing on infinity ( a light-pole in the distance ) and failed - the rangefinder remains unaligned ( image too high ). I'll give the method that you described a shot, and see if it works.

Thanks,
JP

 

[FallisPhoto]

OK, nothing but frustration. I got the top off and re-glued the mirror. The rangefinder viewer is accurate horizontally, but way off vertically. I actually removed the mirror (after having glued i in) and scraped off all remaining "gunk", and tried to adjust the vertical again, but to no avail. I've done this at least three times, and I can't seem to get the mirror low enough ( the vertical is too high, and will only come down slightly when adjusted ).

So, am I doing something wrong, or is the camera just kaput? I'm gluing the mirror with the slight beveled side up. Other than that, is there anything that I should be doing that I'm not.

If anyone can help, it'd be greatly appreciated.

JP

It is possible that the vertical is off because the camera took one heck of a hit, that's what knocked the mirror loose, and that something got bent (maybe that post). If so, the obvious solution is to bend it back. BTW, how low the mirror is mounted is irrelevant, it is the mirror's angle that has to be changed. It will need to be tilted very slightly up or down.