Leica IIIc blurry rangefinder

[Davidhel]

I think I may have already answered my question on this - but wanted to run it by you all too!

After I started repair on the IIIa I got a beater IIIc. Everything seemed a lot more straight forward to fix, but I am left with one issue....the rangefinder is useable...but 'blurry'. You can move the lever under the film rewind towards you and it is almost sharp, but in all other positions the rangefinder is always blurry (at whatever distance you are focusing on). This was described as a fault when I purchased it from a very reputable dealer....

All along I have been thinking that the lever is either not engaging with the catch under the cover, or the inner 'movable' lens in the tube has been installed back to front in error... So...today I take the cover off. The lever is engaging correctly with the catch. I haven't dismantled sufficiently to see if the movable lens is he right way round....but my gut feeling is why would it have been installed the wrong way?..it doesn't make any sense...

So tonight I did some more research and it seems that at the time owners could have the rangefinder eye lens changed if they were long or short sighted. If that was done, could that explain my current problem?.....

What do you reckon - does that sound logical?!

 

[Particular]

If the optics are flipped, perhaps it was a tinkerer like yourself, who didn't get it right. I did a total overhaul of my IIIc, and I had to go back in numerous times because I re-assembled it wrong.
I'm not convinced about the 'wrong diopter' theory. The sliding adjustment is there to adjust to your eyes. It should cover that.
If you would need to replace the eyepiece lens, you'll have a hell of a time finding one. I've been looking for one for years.

 

[Dez]

Sounds like the RF eyepiece lens is wrong. The lenses for the RF and VF are not the same, although they are the same size. If the VF is also focused strangely, it could be that the lenses are interchanged, maybe? The eyepiece lens has a flat or slightly concave surface facing backwards. Flipping it may make a small difference.

I suspect though, that you will need to find an even worse beater to cannibalize.

Good luck,
Dez

 

[Dralowid]

Very few special order 'prescription' eyepieces were ever produced (so I was told), so assume the problem is elsewhere.

I realise while writing this that I am being entirely unhelpful...apols for that but you get the general idea!!!

 

[Davidhel]

Thanks all - I think this one will remain 'unresolved' for the time being...I switched the eyepiece lenses..and they were right as they were.... The right side viewfinder one does not even allow you to see an image when placed in the left side rangefinder slot I found out...I tried all configurations but no improvement!

I borrowed my wife's dads IIIf today and planned to switch the eye lenses to see if I could get a definitive answer on that theory...but after removing the eyepiece cover on his, it was clear the left lens was firmly glued! His camera is perfect, so there was no way I was going to take that rangefinder cover off to get the eye lens out!!

So...going back to the IIIc.. the rangefinder is sharp when the correction lever is at near focus position, just blurry at other positions (notably so when compared to the IIIf)....

Looking at all other possibilities, the inside of the camera looks untouched (especially when compared to the IIIa I worked on) - all screws look really clean, even though the outside appearance is a mess!! The rangefinder beamsplitter mirror is good...and to get to that adjustable lens in the rangefinder tube, the whole rangefinder would have to be off the body!...and it doesn't 'give the impression' that it has been taken off before!!

If this issue isn't due to the eyepiece lens (which I still think it is!), or the adjustable rangefinder lens what else could it be? The one other thing I thought of is 'balsam separation' in the rangefinder?...but I can't find any reference of that being an issue with screw thread Leicas...

Anyway...it is perfectly usable as is...so I reckon it's time to get it back together and to start shooting some film!!