New R3a out of alignment

[Kyle]

My brother has been wanting an M mount camera for a while now (been shooting a Bessa R) so I decided to order an R3a for him as a Christmas gift. It arrived today and unfortunately the RF is out of alignment so after Christmas we'll be sending it back so that it can be fixed. 🙁

I'm very disappointed because he won't be able to use his new camera, but I knew it was a risk which is why I opened it up and checked it before wrapping it.

 

[Flyfisher Tom]

Kyle,

what dealer did you purchase it from? I worry about this sort of thing and have always wondered whether it is worth calling the dealer before shipping to ask for a quick check.

I'm confident Tony at Popflash would do that for his customers. Other dealers may not be so accommodating ... who knows?

good luck

 

[dreilly]

Readjusting the RF is well docemented here...as is the fact that shipment itself could jar the spot out of alignment. You may want to try it yourself...

Is it vertical or horizontal that is out of alignment?

If it's vertical it won't affect the focusing, and the fix is very easy. The horizontal is a bit trickier.

 

[Kyle]

I ordered it from PhotoVillage. I'm sure they wouldn't have a problem checking the camera, I just didn't think to ask.

 

[Kyle]

Readjusting the RF is well docemented here...as is the fact that shipment itself could jar the spot out of alignment. You may want to try it yourself...

Is it vertical or horizontal that is out of alignment?

If it's vertical it won't affect the focusing, and the fix is very easy. The horizontal is a bit trickier.

It appears to be off both horizontally and vertically. Thats enough to make me send it back. The reason I went ahead and ordered a new one as opposed to a used one (I believe you were the one selling the R3m at a good price which I considered) was for the warranty.

EDIT: On second inspection, it looks like its only off vertically. Does anyone have a link to a writeup on how to fix the veritical alignment on an R3a?

 

[Kyle]

Roland, thanks for the input, you reaffirmed my belief that sending it back is the best/easiest option. Its going back first thing after Christmas!

 

[Valder]

Another Newbie question. How does one know if your RF is out of alignment?

 

[Kyle]

Another Newbie question. How does one know if your RF is out of alignment?

Set your sights on something really far away. I use a mountain range in the far off distance, others use clouds or the moon. Whatever you use, it needs to be at least a mile away. Now focus the camera on this reference point. If the images in the viewfinder line up, then your alignment is OK. If they are slightly off, then your RF is off at infinity.

 

[dreilly]

Since it would void your warranty, then I would also send it back...hadn't considered that. The r3m was good to go, the R3a which I kept needed verticle adjustment...that was pretty easy. I'll see how it holds up. But, I didn't have any warranty to void. You made the right choice!

 

[Kyle]

Oh, just a heads up... when I called PhotoVillage to order the camera I wanted a black R3a. Unfortunately, the black R3a's are out of stock, but they sold me the grey version at the same price as the black. So if anyone out there is interested in a grey R3a but doesn't want to spend the extra $40 on the color, here is your chance to get it at the better price. He said they have black R2a's in stock, so I believe they're only honoring this deal for the R3a.

 

[Johnmcd]

My R3A was slightly out in the vertical alignment. I have just been living with it and photos have been sharp. But it was extremely annoying.

After reading all the links here I fixed the vertical alignment in about 3 minutes and the camera is like a different beast! It 'pops' into focus and means I can focus much, much quicker. A lot of my shots are low light, wide open at 1.4 etc. I now know that having both horizontal and vertical 'spot on' is mandatory for fast focussing. I can't stress that enough.

So in other words if you are tossing up whether to give it a try...it does make a huge difference.

Some things I'd like to add about my experences during the adjustment.

1. The cover was very easy to get off. Soft tooth pick under the cover closest to the rear of the camera and it just popped off that end. Then a very small flat screw driver (tooth pick to weak) to flip up the 'front' of the cover and the whole cover came away very easily and with no marks.

2. Interesting to note that of the screws holding down the plate, 3 were the same size and one was probably double their length. Factory? or had the alignment already been adjusted by the retailer (I bought new).

3. Right hand screw for vertical adjustment is 'grey' in colour but surprising deep and so far right that the flat screwdriver has to been angled into it from the opening above. This means that your leverage is markedly less and you must be careful to ensure that the flat head is actually in the slot.

4. I was worried about the screw being too loose to hold its new position but it was tight to turn and not loose at all. Therefore I have not used any locktite or laquer to hold it in position. (finger crossed). Having said that it would be tough to apply seeing the screw is so deep - easy though if the whole camera top was off.

5. My vertical was only slightly off - hard to describe but perhaps a fifteenth of the height of the patch itself (maybe less) but definitely affecting my ability to focus fast. I therefore only needed a very small turn. I would say less than a mm.

Hope it stays in alignment now. If not I will post back with what has happened.

Cheers,


John

 

[clintock]

I found the nylon plastic toothpick supplied in swiss army knives a great tool to safely get the shoe cover off with no marking. One of the screws holding the shoe on my R3a was also longer than the other three.

 

[Spyderman]

One of the screws holding the shoe on my R3a was also longer than the other three.

Yes, on my Bessa R also.

One more thing to consider when you think your vertical alignment is off, is that it depends on the position of your eye. Move your eye slightly and you will see the vertical alignment travel...

But you're absolutely right that vertical alignment is essential for snappy focus. I even adjusted mine exactly for my style of shooting (for my style of eye positioning at the eyepiece). Much better after the adjustment.

BTW the links to calibration bessa's rangefinder are in this thread: http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=26119

 

[Bike Tourist]

My new R3A arrived from CameraQuest last week. The RF was perfectly aligned, but you guys are scaring me. Maybe it will work itself out of alignment soon.

I have a set of jewellers' scewdrivers, but I really wouldn't want to use them.

Maybe recent cameras have had better quality control?

 

[Flyfisher Tom]

Spyderman,

Thanks for the DIY links. Nice to know where to look if it is needed, fingers crossed.

cheers

 

[mc_vancouver]

Infinity set on lens. Find something vertical about, oh, two or three city blocks away, enough to be "infinite"...if the verticals don't line up, your rf is out of whack. See my other post re fixing it yourself.