Lost front element to viewfinder

[chubasco]

This is to a 1937 Voigtlander Bessa E-Messer RF. Went out shooting this morning and discovered it missing when I got back to unload the film. Looking through the VF now is just a blur. I sent certo6 an email, but will be surprised if he has something I can replace it with.

When sighting in with the rangefinder, aren't you getting the center part of the picture view? Curious.

Bill

 

[chippy]

Bill, yes the rangefinder window is simular veiw to the viewfinder, the center of it that is.

it fell out? i would think there is a good chnce it is inside the top housing?

 

[Abbazz]

This is to a 1937 Voigtlander Bessa E-Messer RF. Went out shooting this morning and discovered it missing when I got back to unload the film. Looking through the VF now is just a blur. I sent certo6 an email, but will be surprised if he has something I can replace it with.

Hi Bill, long time no see 🙂

I just had a look at my Bessa RF and the front element of the viewfinder seems securely set inside the metal frame. Maybe yours had been improperly put back after having been cleaned? Did you buy it from certo6?

When sighting in with the rangefinder, aren't you getting the center part of the picture view? Curious.

Yes, the field of view is about the framing you'd get with a 250mm lens, which is not very accurate when taking pictures with a 105mm lens!

You can try to buy a trashed Bessa RF to salvage the front element of the viewfinder -- a non functioning Bessa with Helomar lens should be quite cheap. There's also the lazy solution: buy a Voigtländer 50mm finder and glue it to the top of your Bessa. It will set you back $145 but I guess the image will be brighter than old Bessa's viewfinder 😀.

Cheers!

Abbazz

 

[chubasco]

Andrew, yes, I'm an idiot, the viewfinder glass is still in the housing, folded-back to the left and hiding behind the 6x4.5 mask that seems to be jammed can't move it, probably because of the VF glass being in the way. 🙁 I'm sending this back to certo6 to have the VF glass installed and I want him to permanently disable the mask in the viewfinder.

Abbazz, thanks! 🙂 The Voigtlander finder sounds like a great idea, but will
see how the repair job comes out this time around. 😉 I like this model of
Bessa RF that I'm lookiing for another one, either Helomar or Heliar lensed.


Thanks again to you both,

Bill