Minolta 7sII infinity calibration

[PLe]

I have some problems with my Minolta 7sII. It focuses beyond infinity a little bit. I have tested it taking snapshots and using collimator. The problem is not in rangefinder, but in the focussing ring vs. lens barel setup.
Have you ever met this problem?
Could you please describe the procedure of infinity setting up? I can not find any barrel fixing screws, only two little ones on the barrel bottom - which probably hold something inside. So I am afraid to touch them.

One more problem, revealed by taking snapshots of newspaper on the wall - one (two) corner(s) is not sharp. I suppose the lens is not perpendicular to the film plane. Have you ever met this problem? Is it possible to fix it?

Thank you very much for your help.

Petr

 

[Pherdinand]

hmmmm. I have a hi-matic 9, but i know it's bigger than the 7sII. Anyway, on the 9's focusing ring there's a little tab, held by two screws. Removing those the collar with the distance scale gets off too. Below that there are a few (4) fixing screws. Loosening them, makes the focusing ring rotate without moving the lens assembly itself. It was possible this way to easily adjust the focusing of the lens: move it to infinity-focused, loosen the 4 screws, move the focusing ring (carefully! not moving the lens!) to the infinity setting and tighten the screws again.

As i said, i am not sure if it's doable on the 7sII. And, it's just an idea...do it at your own risk...

Goo dluck

 

[Pherdinand]

By the way - do you see signs of messing with the camera, like busted screwheads, brassing on the notches of the lens retaining ring etc? The unparallelity can be a result of an unsuccesful reassembly...

 

[PLe]

Many thanks, Pherdinand.

1) There is a focusing tab on 7sII, but no screws on the focusing ring. The only two screws are on the lens barrell itself. It seems that all the lens must be dismounted to reach the focusing ring.

2) I have bought my 7sII used, but almost mint. There are no scratches, all screws are like new. I am almost sure the camera was not disassembled. The lens barrell is loose a little, but not too much - could it be a cause?
May be the problem is in optics itself, may be the lens are off-center?


7sII has the same body as Konica S3 - does anybody fix similar problem there?

Petr

 

[garyc]

I have just bought a 7s II too, and while it looks to be in excellent condiition, it too has a small amount of rotational play on the lens barrel. The leaves on the aperture move too as the barrel moves.

Maybe this is normal behaviour for this lens???

It does appear that the infinity point is ok however, but once I've replaced the light seals i'll do a test roll and see how it looks.

I have Googled for Konica s3 repair info and came up with Konica Auto S3 Shutter and self timer repair on S3 shutter and self timer repair which might be useful.

Gary

 

[Roman]

I have just bought a 7s II too, and while it looks to be in excellent condiition, it too has a small amount of rotational play on the lens barrel. The leaves on the aperture move too as the barrel moves.

Maybe this is normal behaviour for this lens???

Gary

My 'near mint' example (that came in an almost unused case, with a UV filter that seems to have been on the lens since the camera was bought new, and without any scratches, dents, etc.) also has a bit of play on the front end of the lens barrel, and the aperture blades do move very slightly, too... Never tested for correct infinity, since I use the camera at close distnces 99% of the time.

Roman

 

[jamesdak]

I've got two Hi-Matic 7SIIs. One has a loose lens but the other is very tight . So, while the loose lens might be common I would concider it a common problem not a stadard design issue.

 

[GregSted]

Hi Petr. Did you ever get your problem sorted out. I have the same issue with a Vivitar 35ES, which is almost identical to your Minolta, so I'm curious to know what you did.

 

[Aardvark Aallen]

I have several cameras that focus past infinity one is the Mamiya 6 RF. I have been told this is a deliberate design to help deal with cameras that become hot in the sun then begin to 'expand' in the heat which affects focus to infinity.

I just go past infinity and then on the very slight return focus up to bring infinity into focus. I'm living with it since it is not too big an issue.

 

[GregSted]

Actually the problem I have is different, in that my camera doesn't quite reach infinity. Great Aardvark avatar. I always thought that cartoon was underrated.