QL17 faded yellow patch, now zone focus?

[jaimiepeeters]

Hi guys

Today I got a call from my CLA guy that my black QL17 Giii is now in perfect condition except for the yellow patch. He cleaned everything but couldn't manage to enhance the faded patch.

Now I've seen a couple of solutions; black tape, blue filter... but I was wondering. Since I'm used to zone focussing on my X100 and to auto focussing on my Hexar... shouldn't I just zone focus on the QL17?

The question I guess is.. does this work well on the QL17 if your subjects are within 1 to 5 meters? (street photography). I'm thinking broad daylight, shooting at a minimum of F8 (though pref F11 or F16). Using HP5 and Portra 160 VC.

Curious to your experience and advice. I'm going to spend a week holidays in Rome this wednesday and am bringing the QL17 along.

 

[xxloverxx]

Go for it. I usually shoot a 35mm at 3m, 2.8 or 4…don't always have time to focus. Good excuse to get a big viewfinder too 😛

 

[airds]

Havent got one to hand, but seem to remember the engraved distance scale on the lens is good

 

[Mablo]

I've saved a faded rangefinder patch of a Yashica and a Zorki by attaching a small piece of black tape on the viewfinder window where the patch should be seen. The smaller the black spot the better. It doesn't need to cover the whole patch.

 

[Pherdinand]

I dont really understand this fading business.
It's actually a beam splitter, and if it is there, it should be recoverable.
What does actually happen when the spot is "fading"??

Color filter only helps if there is still a second image reflected, just the contrast is too low. If there isn't any, it would not help.

 

[jaimiepeeters]

I've saved a faded rangefinder patch of a Yashica and a Zorki by attaching a small piece of black tape on the viewfinder window where the patch should be seen. The smaller the black spot the better. It doesn't need to cover the whole patch.

this really works?
Do you have a picture of how you did it?

 

[emayoh]

This is where I learned about the black tape trick.

http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/index-165.html (Pics included in link)

It really can help. Try it, can't hurt. Then shoot a roll just zone focusing. There's no substitute for finding out yourself.

 

[Mr_Flibble]

The lack of a DOF indication on the lens barrel would make it a little more difficult, but I guess if you are pretty accurate at guessing distances I don't think this has to be a problem at all, certaily not when shooting at f/8 or smaller.

This might help:
http://www.squit.co.uk/photo/files/DofTablesRF_HalfPage.pdf

 

[airds]

Marked as 0.6, 1, 1.5, 3, 5m and infinity

D.o.F scale? See this thread

 

[jaimiepeeters]

im having trouble figuring this out.

If I shoot my subjects between 1m and 5m, what would the settings be?