Problem with Zorki-1 rangefinder adjustment

[KnipsOmat]

Hi there,

I've got a "Zorki-Zorki" bilingual export version Zorki-1(D), with decorative rims around the lens mount, but still the old shutter speed sequence 60-40-30-20 (Type PM1110 on http://www.sovietcams.com/index.php?-737528618).

I tried to adjust the rangefinder, but failed utterly.

Befire I started, everything seemed to work o.k., but the rangefinder was quite a bit out of vertical adjustment.

When I unscrewed the bezel around vertical adjustment, the whole adjustment thing unsrewed with it and came out of the rangefinder window. So I separated the bezel and adjustment piece and screwed the latter back into the camera.

After this, vertical adjustment was even far more off than before. I then vertically aligned the rangefinder, which was no problem.

But, after that, horizontal alignment was so far off I could not bring it back in. When turning the set screw, I came to a point where I felt resistance and the freedom of movement of the rangefinder cam was already restricted. But still the images did not meet, even at longer distances.

Any idea what went wrong and where to tweak?

Cheers,
Andreas

 

[newspaperguy]

Check out Wolves post here: http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=73900

 

[KnipsOmat]

Check out Wolves post here:

This does not help; that's exactly what I tried to do (and as I've done successfully on about 30 to 40 Soviet rangefinders before).

But now, I can't turn the screw for horizontal alignment far enough for the two images to align. Not even close.

Something seems to be off its correct position inside.

Cheers,
Andreas

 

[Dez]

There are two positions of the rotating lens that will create correct vertical alignment, unless it is at the extreme end of the range. This lens also affects the horizontal alignment, and generally only one of the two "correct" positions for the vertical will be within the adjustment range of the horizontal alignment screw. Reset the vertical alignment at the other position and try again. If this does not work, you have some work to do with the top off.

Cheers,
Dez

 

[KnipsOmat]

There are two positions of the rotating lens that will create correct vertical alignment, unless it is at the extreme end of the range. This lens also affects the horizontal alignment, and generally only one of the two "correct" positions for the vertical will be within the adjustment range of the horizontal alignment screw. Reset the vertical alignment at the other position and try again. If this does not work, you have some work to do with the top off.

Cheers,
Dez

I believe this was the reason, probably set it to the wrong position in the first attempt.

I took the top cover off, cleaned everything, assembled everything back together and after that was well in the range where everything could be aligned with the set screw.

Now at least I understand why 🙂

Even though taking off the top cover wouldn't have been necessary to adjust the rangefinder, it was worth the while. A lot of dirt and debris under there... Now the viewfinder and rangefinder is much brighter and clearer than before.

Thanks for your help!

Cheers,
Andreas