Lens + Camera Calibration for Zorki-6

[nation_of_pomation]

Hi guys!

I finally have amassed what I (think that I) want for a LTM system, but I'm on a student's budget so I've had to go slowly with getting my cameras and repairing them. I have a local guy that has been able to do pretty much anything I've given him thus far, including my first FSU camera (FED-5B) without problem. My next project is an excellent condition Zorki-6 I got from Fedka that unfortunately isn't focusing to infinity and I'm guessing the rangefinder might be totally off. I never even ran a roll through it before I noticed the focus problem, but it's been long enough since I got it that I should have noticed sooner. Maybe it got bumped too much in the mail? Anyway, I want to give it to my technician to have it checked out and CLA'd as need be. I was planning on using this Zorki-6 as my body mainly for my Jupiter-9, Jupiter-11, and future Jupiter-3, since it has a longer rangefinder base than my Zorki-4K. Should I include my Jupiter-9 with the camera when I give it to the repairman and as him to use that lens to calibrate it, or does it matter? I don't think I understand 100% some of the shimming/adjusting that some of the more advanced members talk about, but I figured since nothing is ever identical, the lens with the smallest minimum depth of field would make it the most accurate, or at least as close as possible for the most exacting lens. I tested the Jupiter-9 on my Canon P against a Canon 135mm f3.5 and it focused properly with the same mid-distance subject, both handheld. So, I think it's a good J-9 for a late black LZOS model. What are your thoughts?

 

[Robert Lai]

1) Why not get the camera back to FEDKA and have him repair it. Doesn't he sell with some type of warranty?

2) Use the 135mm for calibration, as long as you verify that it images properly at infinity. The J9 is notorious for back-focusing at the minimum 1.15m focus distance. Using that as a reference lens may introduce a whole new set of complications.

 

[Wulfthari]

A zorki 6 bought by Fedka that doesn't focus to infinity? That's weird, I always thought he sells gear in top conditions, have you tried it with other lenses including the Jupiter 9? Doesn't it focus at infinity with any lenses?

 

[nation_of_pomation]

It won't focus to infinity at all, I tried with every LTM lens I have. I doubt he'd take it back because it's been close to a year since I bought it and I never said anything because I noticed it wasn't focusing properly last week. The first Zorki-6 I got from him had either a light leak or a shutter problem, and he told me instead of sending it to the Ukraine to get it fixed he'd send me another one (this one) and I guess get it fixed himself. All the cameras have been gorgeous, but I think I just have lousy luck with the mechanisms. The Zorki-4K I got from him after than was flawless until I fell while using it in August and messed up the shutter and knocked the rangefinder out of alignment.

 

[wolves3012]

If your tech is going to check actual focus on the film frame at infinity setting, the Jupiter 11 would be the most critical one to use.

I'd guess from your description that what you mean is that when a lens it physically set to infinity, the RF patch does not agree. If so, it's a RF adjustment error and it doesn't matter which lens you use for that. All of them should leave the RF sensor in the same position at infinity. Just be aware that it is quite common for FSU lenses to disagree very slightly at infinity; there is often a variation but it should be small and not significant.

 

[Wulfthari]

Some people here can give you advice on how to set up the rangefinder aligment at infinity but are you sure it's a focus problem? Have you tried to take a picture?

 

[Wulfthari]

If your tech is going to check actual focus on the film frame at infinity setting, the Jupiter 11 would be the most critical one to use.

I'd guess from your description that what you mean is that when a lens it physically set to infinity, the RF patch does not agree. If so, it's a RF adjustment error and it doesn't matter which lens you use for that. All of them should leave the RF sensor in the same position at infinity. Just be aware that it is quite common for FSU lenses to disagree very slightly at infinity; there is often a variation but it should be small and not significant.

What I was saying...if there is a focusing error it should be more a problem of the lens than the camera.

 

[nation_of_pomation]

I'm sorry, I feel like I'm terrible at explaining! What I meant to say was that when I set any lens to infinity, the rangefinder doesn't line up with things close to infinity. I have yet to shoot a roll in the camera because I've been very busy and now I don't want to waste a roll of film in a camera that might not work properly. I don't think it would be a problem with any of my lenses because they have focused fine on FED-5B, Canon P, and Zorki-4K before I dropped it.

 

[renek337]

Easy fix - with a known good lens, focus to infinity, locate the RF adjustment screw and just adjust the rangefinder infinity coincidence.
Usually it is just that what is needed, but if you want to be extra thorough, tape a ground glass to the film door on your Zorki and focus with the rangefinder on something close (I use candles usually because they are bright and reasonably shallow, and I tend to tinker with the cameras at night), then check on the ground glass if the focus agrees with the rangefinder.

 

[nation_of_pomation]

Will adjusting the infinity focus move the close focus? Would there be an order I'd have to adjust them in? Also where would I get ground glass that size? This sounds harder than easy! I'm the opposite of handy with this kind of thing.

 

[wolves3012]

Here's what you need to read:
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=73900
If you think that's beyond your skills, get your tech to do it.

 

[Wulfthari]

Will adjusting the infinity focus move the close focus? Would there be an order I'd have to adjust them in? Also where would I get ground glass that size? This sounds harder than easy! I'm the opposite of handy with this kind of thing.

Just do what wolves says, if the misalignment is horizontal at infinity it's not hard to adjust. If it's vertical it's more complicated.

 

[nation_of_pomation]

Thank you! I'm bookmarking that link for when I can get the right tools together, but for now since I'm in school I'll probably have this one fixed by a professional.

 

[Dez]

Thank you! I'm bookmarking that link for when I can get the right tools together, but for now since I'm in school I'll probably have this one fixed by a professional.

If you're in school, you have better things to do with your money than pay a camera tech for something you can do yourself in ten minutes.

From your description, it is almost certain that your problem is a simple misadjustment of the Zorki 6 rangefinder. All you need is a very small screwdriver with a blade about 3mm wide. Undo the two screws holding the Zorki 6 nameplate on. Behind the left one, you will see another screw head: that is the horizontal adjustment screw. Find a good clear target at a great distance (the moon is the very best choice), and adjust the screw to get best horizontal rangefinder alignment with the lens focused to infinity.

That's all you need to do. If you subsequently find you're way off at close distances, there are other things to do, but this is unlikely.

Cheers,
Dez

 

[David Hughes]

Hi,

Using the moon means messing about in the dark and cold outside and dropping and losing bits. And using the sun is far too dangerous.

In daytime a TV aerial at the other end of the street will give both horizontal and vertical targets. Buy the screwdrivers in one of those cheap sets but don't expect them to last beyond a couple of days' use.

Regards, David