Lens advice

[trebor25]

Hi , I have just started to use a rangefinder camera . I am after some help , recently bought a zorki 4 & 4k 35 2.8 50 2.0 and 85 2.0 and helios viewfinder. On the 4 both horizontal and vertical patch overlap perfectly, on the 4k vertical is out is that a big problem? Measured distance on the lens scales are more or less the same on all lens & both cameras swapped around I roughly tested against Leica digital tape.

Also both the 50 & 85 are tight at close & towards infinity, the middle is o.k. the 35 is fine all distances , the 85 wil turn past closest distance 1.15m and also past infinity is this bad ?

Please accept my apology, if I have posted in the wrong forum and if I have explained myself badly .

Rob 😕

 

[relistan]

Rob,

Sounds like you need to adjust the rangefinder vertical alignment on the 4k. Actually this is not really an issue in terms of "does the rangefinder work" but it can make it hard to get the exact correct reading if it's not lined up properly. I think there is a sticky note in the forum here about adjusting it. Look there.

I don't know enough to answer your other question about the 85 focus distance.

Cheers,
Karl

 

[wolves3012]

The vertical alignment on the 4K can only be adjusted by taking the top cover off. If you read the sticky on how-to-cla the 4K (at the top of this sub-forum) you can see how it's done. You need to rotate the small round prism behind the RF window aperture.

As for the 85mm lens, I'm assuming that's a Jupiter 9. This can be re-lubed to free up the focus scale but beware! The lens is notorious for being re-assembled incorrectly after doing this job. If you're doing it yourself there are instructions on the web - google for them - or if you have it done make sure you give it to someone who really knows the lens well.

If the 50mm lens is a Jupiter 8 it's a much easier lens to do - again there are instructions to be found (Kim Coxon's pages has them, I can't recall the address but someone else will probably post a link for you).

Finally, welcome to RFF and you didn't explain badly or post in the wrong forum!

 

[payasam]

Rob, write to uthappam AT gmail DOT com if you cannot find the J-9 instructions.

 

[ludoo]

If the 50mm is a Jupiter-8, read Brian's post in this thread on photo.net, especially this part

The lens has a variable-standoff ring that can be used to adjust this focus. Unscrew the optics module from the focus mount. No set screws, it just comes out. You will see the shim(s) sitting on the variable standoff ring. You can undo the set screw of the variable shim to do a fine adjustment. Usually, 1/2~1/4 turn does the trick. Unscrew the standoff ring if the focus is behind what the RF indicates, screw it in if the focus was too close.

The front of the lens unscrews with your hands, no tools required. Then it's just a matter of adding or removing a shim (thin metal/paper discs), or moving the variable standoff which is kept in place by a tiny screw. Have a look here if you need to see pictures.

Instructions on how to clean/register both a J-3 and a J-9 are here.