My FED 5C has vertical misalignment, can it be re-aligned? How?

M

Max 2.8

Guest
I have a black-edition(RARE!) Fed 5C that I bought about 2 years ago, recently realised that the rangefinder is vertically misaligned. Is there a way to re-align it?

Also I read a few postings here talking about recalibrating Russian RFs to get sharper photo, how can I do that?

Eversince I stumbled into this forum(2 weeks) I have caught the Russian RF Bugs(Is it radio-active?). Within these two weeks, I bought 3 Russian RFs and 4 lenses! In about a months time, all these will arrived! So I am wondering do I need to re-calibrated all these cameras or lens for better photos?

Here's what I am going to have:
Zorki 4k, Zorki 6 and FED 3b. Jupiter 3, Jupiter 9, Jupiter 11 and Jupiter 12.

What I already have is only a fake Leica IIIf copy(for display only) and a Black FED 5C with Industar 61

Cheers
Max 2.8
 
It is very simple to do this. I just did it a few days ago to my black 5C, and if I did it, it must be simple.
You must remove the nameplate from the front of the camera. Assuming you have the camera facing you, slide the nameplate to the left, and it is supposed to pop up a little. I facilitated that by sticking a tine from a plastic fork just barely into the round rangefinder window to the left, and lifting slightly. This allowed me to get the nameplate off. There is a small spring that you will see at the left end of the nameplate housing. Don't lose that, it's pretty small and it falls out easily.
Now you see the round rangefinder window has a ring around it, with two notches on either side. You rotate this ring for vertical adjustment. I used a small pair of scissors that fit right into those slots to do the trick, the ring turned very easily. I put a lens on the camera, went outside and focused on a telephone pole down the street, and made very small adjustments until I had it dead on. Replace the front plate, and you are done.
I took my instruction from this page:
http://homepage.mac.com/mattdenton/photo/cameras/fed_5.html

Good luck!
 
Max 2.8,

If you pop the front name plate off the Fed 5C, you'll see the rangefinder round lens has a curved outer metal flange. It's designed to adjust the height by turning it. This adjusts the vertical alignment. One caution, the nameplate is held secure with a metal spring that pops out. I promptly lost mine and stuck the nameplate back with double-stick tape. It lays flatter now so no great loss. But you might want to do this on a tray.
 
Wow! Thanks guys! I just took out the name plate! I'll do the adjustment now.

THANKYOU VERY MUCH!!!!

Cheers
Max 2.8
PS: So this FED 5C Black edition is not a limited edition? :(
 
All Russian and Ukrainian cameras are limited edition models. Limited Edition in former Soviet e-Bay speak means finite production numbers. A large number perhaps but still mathematically finite and thus limited.

The vertical adjustment is frequently set in place at the factory with a drop (or glob) of shellac. That can be softened with high proof Vodka or denatured ethyl alcohol. Just use a Q-tip. If there is shellac there will be a hard brownish or amber colored coating on the metal rim.

Enkopy your fed.

-Paul
 
That was easy! Its done!

By the way anyone know how many of thi black FED 5c are produced? I almost wanted to buy another one because of the misalignment, but cannot be found anymore.
 
So that's what that brown goop was. Thanks for the info, next time I have to adjust the vertical on mine, I'll be sure to be enjoying my favorite vodka while I do it. Not that I intend to wait until I have to adjust my rangefinder before I break out that bottle...
Prosit!
 
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