Moskva 5

[millboyold]

Hello All. I have a Moskva 5 that seems incapable of being accurate throughout its range. I have calibrated quite a few folding cameras in the past but this one has me beat.
If I adjust the rangefinder so both rangefinder and lens produce a sharp image (on a ground glass at the film plane) at infinity ;.... its way out by 15 feet, and gets worse the closer subjects get to the film plane. By this I mean that at 10 feet a single image via the rangefinder makes a very blurred image on a ground glass.
The body does not appear bent or damaged.
I make adjustments in the recomended way, ie
1 I remove the cover of the rangefinder arm, I loosen the two screws underneath making it possible to rotate the rangefinder wheel, and the lens focus ring independantly.
2 using a ground glass I use the focus ring on the lens to focus on something 500 meters or more away.
3 Without moving anything on the lens I turn the rangefinder wheel until the distant object produces one image.
4 I then tighten and check.
I have done this many times hoping that the outcome would change, but sadly no.
Anyone got any ideas!
PS was wondering if anyone knows the function of both the small screws under the folding rangefinder arm. I know one is for friction, are they both?
Ta Jim Hallett

 

[Muggins]

The only thing I can think of is that you have the rf prisms misaligned - but you can usually spot this because the image just won't coincide at all when you do that (guess how I know...).

I doubt that helps you, but it keeps the thread high up the page.

 

[millboyold]

Ta anyway
jim

 

[Valkir1987]

The Industar lens of the Moskva 5 uses front focus. The focal length changes as you focus. This means the front element should be in a certain correct position, before the whole lens unit is collimated to infinity on the film or groundglass. After that, the rangefinder can be calibrated. I haven't used mine for years, maybe there are some adjustments for the linearity of the rangefinder to get proper focus between 1m and infinity. I'll have a look if I can find it somewhere.
It made very impressive photo's my trips, and it was very portable.

 

[millboyold]

Any info would be great.
Infinity on the lens coinsides with the stop, but I think this stop may have been set by the ebay seller prior to sale. I agree about it being a nice camera. The photo below shows when the focus is correct its a nice lens

 

[Muggins]

That's a good point, that sounds a good place to start investigating.

I agree on the quality and portability. I used to take my 4 hillwalking, in my map pocket, and het the whole film printed at A4.