Mamiya 7, RF alignment

[Terao]

How accurate can I expect the distance scale to be on a Mamiya 7 lens? Camera seems to have a significant focus issue if it is accurate - when the RF says its inline for a building about 200m away the lens is indicating 10m!

For closer objects something that my R-D1 says is 10 feet away the Mamiya reckons is only about 7 feet away.

Difficult to say because I haven't tested for this in shots I've taken but have a feeling that the shots are focused in front of where I focused the camera using the RF

Easy/inexpensive to get adjusted? I've only got the one lens at the moment so can't isolate it from the equation...

 

[Finder]

First find out if your rangefinder is accurate. There really is no point talking until that has been determined. BTW, my Mamiya 6s are fairly good.

 

[Terao]

I assume that the only way to do that is with a series of f/4 test shots and ignoring what the lens markings are telling me?

 

[Terao]

Have looked at my test shots and there seems to be a fair bit of front focus (if that's the correct term) - the shot is sharper in front of the point I'm likely to have focused on. We're talking feet rather than inches with the 80mm lens. I guess that coincides with the fact the lens indicates 7 feet for something that's about 10 feet away and in focus according to the rangefinder.

I've contacted the seller to discuss refund/repair and read the procedure here for adjusting vertical/horizontal alignment.

Question is, is this magnitude of error correctable with a vertical/horizontal adjustment? I'm assuming that its horizontal adjustment that needs to be carried out? Or could it be the lens being out of alignment (sloppy helicoil? - the cam pusher doesn't feel like it has any slack and it moves freely in and out...)

Obviously the ideal situation is for the seller (not from here I hasten to add) to remedy but need to know my options, if I can make a DIY repair I won't have to play hardball...

 

[john_s]

Doesn't sound like a DIY job to me. I have done the DIY rangefinder adjustment using the 2 screws under the plastic plug, but only to get the rangefinder patch coincident with the main viewfinder image at infinity. Prior to that the images were not quite lining up, making focusing difficult.

On mine, the barrel distances are pretty close to real focused distances.

 

[Terao]

On its way to Mamiya (well, JP) for surgery...

 

[andrew moxom]

Mamiya gave me a quote of $65 for them to recalibrate my Mamiya 6 MF rangefinder. However, they also tried to recommend a full body service as the winder is fragile. They stated that some parts for the winders are still available, but not the main mechanism itself. they can service some of it and make siure there are no problems. That would also then include a rangefider adjustment as well. A full body service is $257.

 

[Terao]

Finally back from Mamiya UK, properly aligned now as far as the distance scale goes. No idea what they fixed, cost me £50. At least I can finally go out and shoot the thing now 🙂

 

[TJV]

Good news, great camera, best of luck...