Medalist 1 vs Medalist 2 Rangefinder window? Why?

[68degrees]

I noticed on the medalist 1 the rangefinder window is square and on the medalist 2 the rangefinder window is rectangle and only hallf the height of the medalist 1 window? Why is this? Not the viewfinder window, the rangefinder window which is below the viewfinder window. Any ideas?

 

[citizen99]

I only have the Medalist I to be able to look at the hardware, but according to the Kodak Service Manual and Parts List, no difference is shown between the I and II models for that paricular part. In other parts of the manual, there is sometimes reference to a 'late model' of the II, so I wonder if yours might be a late, undocumented, modification (that's not an assertion, just a tentative suggestion).
FWIW I found a picture of the Kodak brochure for the II, which shows it looking the same as for the I (scroll down to the bottom of the page). (The viewfinder bit is the same picture as in the I brochure; on the same page they correctly changed the large picture to show the sync socket of the II instead of the knurled fine focus knob of the I).

 

[furcafe]

I think the Medalist II just has a rectangular shaped mask in its RF window (eyepiece side). Not sure of the reason, but it was probably to cut down on flare (possibly the same reason that Leica did the same thing decades later in the M2). It's easily removable (you can even slide it around).

I noticed on the medalist 1 the rangefinder window is square and on the medalist 2 the rangefinder window is rectangle and only hallf the height of the medalist 1 window? Why is this? Not the viewfinder window, the rangefinder window which is below the viewfinder window. Any ideas?

 

[68degrees]

I think the Medalist II just has a rectangular shaped mask in its RF window (eyepiece side). Not sure of the reason, but it was probably to cut down on flare (possibly the same reason that Leica did the same thing decades later in the M2). It's easily removable (you can even slide it around).

that must be it then. On mine it looks like someone glued a piece in . Its all melty. But its a Medalist 1.

On the link in citizens post (thanks citizen) the photo shows the window as being square. On the medalist II manual it shows it as a tiny rectangle..

Im just trying to figure out why someone glued a small black piece in this window to make it rectangular instead of square.

 

[68degrees]

heres a photo of my rangefinder window. Not sure what happened to it. Looks like someone tried to modify it for some reason.

 

[Dez]

My Medalist 2 RF window looks very similar. There is a square aperture, with a blanking plate with a small rectangular slot cut into it apparently glued in place behind the aperture. It works a lot better than it looks like it should.

Cheers,
Dez

 

[68degrees]

My Medalist 2 RF window looks very similar. There is a square aperture, with a blanking plate with a small rectangular slot cut into it apparently glued in place behind the aperture. It works a lot better than it looks like it should.

Cheers,
Dez

I wonder what happend to it, im sure it didnt come from kodak like that? Mysterious.

 

[Moto-Uno]

I have before me my Medalist 1, and it is exactly the same as yours ( that's right,exactly)
So get out and use it. Peter
ps: and post some pics.

 

[Robert Lai]

It does look like there is some goo on the lower part of the RF window and frame. Be careful with solvents however, if you try to clean it up. The little windows for the frame counter and the shutter wound indicator melt readily with any solvent, especially acetone 😱 (I learned this the VERY HARD way).

Another reason why your image may look "melty" - decemented elements. Mine had that problem (Medalist II). When Ken Ruth converted my camera to 120 and overhauled it, he also separated and recemented the VF optics as they were separating.

 

[68degrees]

It does look like there is some goo on the lower part of the RF window and frame. Be careful with solvents however, if you try to clean it up. The little windows for the frame counter and the shutter wound indicator melt readily with any solvent, especially acetone 😱 (I learned this the VERY HARD way).

Another reason why your image may look "melty" - decemented elements. Mine had that problem (Medalist II). When Ken Ruth converted my camera to 120 and overhauled it, he also separated and recemented the VF optics as they were separating.

the image doesnt look melty it is crisp and clear, what I meant was the plastic window thing looks melty like someone glued it with plastic glue. 2 other people have said theirs are the same way. The mystery remains. Why? I have seen several without the melty plastic piece. Its just a square for the viewfidner and and square for the rangefinder.

 

[Robert Lai]

Well, mine doesn't have that glue on it. The black frame is free to shift slightly in its confines.

 

[furcafe]

No big mystery. Like other manufacturers, Kodak made modifications to its cameras over time & didn't necessarily update manuals/literature. You probably just have a later Medalist I.

I wonder what happend to it, im sure it didnt come from kodak like that? Mysterious.

 

[Thomas78]

This is the rangefinder and viewfinder window of my Medalist II


IMG_4254 von thomas.78 auf Flickr

Rangefinder and viewfinder work without any flaw.

 

[68degrees]

even on yours it looks like something was glued in at one point and then removed. There is still remnant glue on it or something. Ive seen clean ones before but not many, they all seem to have some glue or deformed plastic artifacts on them.

 

[Dez]

It seems strange that Kodak would resort to a messy glob of glue on what was at the time their second best camera after the Ektra, but it looks like that is just what they did.

Cheers,
Dez