newbie questions

[cablesnarl]

I've just joined the ranks of rangefinder owners - I purchased a Zeiss Ikon ZM from PopFlash. I have a couple of concerns / questions about my new camera. My experience and knowledge of rangefinders is limited.

1. The rangefinder lines aren't pure white - I can see red and blue at the edges. Is this normal?

2. I see what appear to be light cleaning marks on the viewfinder (back side of the camera). Not a big deal but not what I expect on a new camera. My experience with other types of camers is that trying to remove these marks will only make them worse.

3. Thumbprints and one particle on the front side of the viewfinder. How do I clean these off? (These are not my thumbprints.) I'm sure it's easy to get a thumb print on the viewfinder when handling it, but I'd like to get it clean if possible. The manual says not to use any solvents. Should I just wipe it with a micro-fiber cloth? I tried blowing off the particle with a hand blower but it seems stuck. I dont want to scratch anything by rubbing it.

Sorry if these are princess-and-the pea type concerns, but it is a $1200 purchase, which is a lot for me.

Otherwise, any suggestions on testing the functioning of the camera? Just go out and take some photos?

Thanks!

 

[the_jim]

1. Don't worry about it. I can kinda see what you are talking about. If the problem is really bad, I mean, like it's more blue and red than white-ish and it's interfering with you taking pictures, ask the seller. Otherwise, it's a non issue.

2./3. Don't worry about it. Use a microfiber cloth. Most of the time I just use whatever is at hand - my t-shirt, a tissue, some leaves, a rusty nail (joking about the last two).

Bottom line: don't worry. Go out, take pictures, get your camera dirty, have fun.

oh yeah, congratulations on the purchase!

 

[cablesnarl]

Thanks Jim.

Just wanted to make sure the frameline thing was normal. I got the viewfinder cleaned up.

I'm having fun making stupid mistakes, like leaving the lens cap on and wondering why the little '1' is flashing, and accidentally turning the camera off and thinking the shutter is jammed.

Time to go take some pictures, I think.

 

[back alley]

my framelines are white with no colour fringing at all.

nice to see another zi user and welcome to the forum.

joe

 

[cablesnarl]

Hmm... I wonder what's causing the color fringing?

 

[back alley]

any residue on the small frosted glass?

 

[cablesnarl]

Do you mean the frosted window that is next to the viewfinder on the front or the little one under the shutter dial? It seems that it is the one next to the viewfinder lets in the light that creates the framelines.

 

[back alley]

the larger one next to the vf.

 

[cablesnarl]

I don't see any residue. I guess something is not quite right because the light is getting refracted.

 

[cablesnarl]

Seems to work okay though.

 

[back alley]

what lens?

 

[cablesnarl]

35mm f/2 Biogon.

 

[back alley]

excellent combo!