New to RFF and Contax IIIa questions

[blackmelas]

This is my first post. I've been following the RFF for the last month or so and I've learned a great deal from everyone here. I have had a 1968 Kiev (4a I think) for a couple months during which time I dismantled it, adjusted the rangefinder, and put it back together. Since then I have happily run several rolls of film through it, developed them and I'm very happy with the prints. A lot of the info for this operation, I gleaned from posts and links in RFF, so thanks a million. It's a great forum.
I have now bought up a Contax IIIa black dial 🙂 . I'm still running the first test roll through it but for now it has two known problems: (1) it is missing a screw on the catch on the focussing mount, not the end screw but the one next to it, and (2) the rangefinder is vertically out of alignment, that is the image that moves is higher than the peach colored window by about 1/4 of its height.

--For the missing screw does anyone have measurements for the its diameter, threads and head? I'm a couple hours from Athens and it might just be easier and more timely to order off the internet if I have specifications. I took took the end screw out and tried to put it in the empty space but the end scew is larger.
--For the rangefinder adjustment I understand that the Contax IIIa is going to be more difficult than my Kiev. Do I dare attempt the adjustment myself or just live with the problem until I have the $$$ to have it done professionally? The only repair notes I've found are for the IIa on Rick Oleson's site which only gets me so far and Pherdinand's repair notes for a IIIa. H. Sheerer's site has me a little jumpy about opening it up.
Thanks,
James

 

[Pherdinand]

Sorry to say but as far as i understood, VERTICAL alignment of the copntaxes is very difficult, and includes recementing of the rf prism system(?). They were made in a way that it's hard to get them out of alignment, but as soon as they are out of alignment, it's even harder to get them back. I wish you good luck with it, anyway. Maybe Brian S knows more about it.

 

[blackmelas]

Yeah, I've heard it's going to be difficult. I was hoping the RF lens system might be the same as my Kiev, a plano-convex behind a concave lens, and I would only have to recement the front lens and then adjust the whole system. I was able to correct a vertical mis alignment for the Kiev but I was more worried about the delicacy of everything on the IIIa that I have to remove to get to the rangefinder. In your experience is the whole RF system for the IIIa that much more complicated than the Kiev?
Best regards,
James

 

[kabkos]

I have adjusted the vertical alignment in 2 Contax cameras. The correct way is to take the rangefinder rotating (pivoting) prism assembly out, remove the rear plano convex lens and adjust it up or down as appropriate. It isn't difficult (the hard part was removing the prism, dental pick and patience working on the cement). I put a little rubber cement on the lens and let it get tacky and then installed it into the holder. I started with the lens higher than needed, installed the rangefinder unit in the camera and then with a small screwdriver I pushed the lens down while looking through the rangefinder/viewfinder. I stopped when the vertical was correct and let the glue set up overnight and then rechecke the alignment (the lens sometimes drifts a bit due to the rebound action of the glue). When the setting was correct, I took the rangefinder assembly out and put a bit more glue on to make sure that the lens wouldn't move. Let the glue dry and reassembled the camera. Total fussing time, not counting the overnight drying, was about 2 hours. Also, while I had stuff out I cleaned the rangefinder lenses and boy did that make a difference in the contrast. Good luck.

 

[blackmelas]

Thanks Kabkos. The rubber cement sounds like a great idea. I think I'll go in and give it a try... I'll be going in anyway to fix the shutter using Rick Oleson's page. I just developed the test roll and it seems the high and low speed settings will need adjusted. Some of the high speed shots are faded on the top of the frame and some of the low have an overexposed area parallel and toward the top of the frame. But several images turned out and I'm very happy with the camera 🙂 .