jvr
Well-known
Well, that's about time.
I took the plunge and sent my R-D1s for a full RF adjustment. But not to Epson...
After a small bump on a wall several months ago, the RF became vertically and horizontally misaligned. I was able to adjust it horizontally but vertically no way, the screw just didn't work. After adjustment, most my lenses focused ok but I had big trouble with a Jupiter-9, a 75/2.5 Color heliar and (who would say!) a Leica 28/2 Summicron ASPH. And some random focusing with several other lenses (including the 21/2.8 Biogon, that I was using more and more on a DOF basis...). Not to mention that focusing with a vertical misaligment is a pain...
So, I hold my breath and took my Epson to a very good repairperson that is used to handle all kind of rangefinders. It was a no brainer to fix (30€). Thank you very much to Rich Cutler by all the info on the site, it was very helpful for disassembly.
(Note: the technician had never seen a R-D1, although he repairs everything, from Leicas to Mamyias, including the new ZD - 22 Mpix. He took some pictures with the 35 Nokton 1.2 and was completely knocked-out by image quality. He asked me if I could lend him the camera for a weekend, as 3 usual customers went ballistic about it and want to buy one. He himself wants one...).
The bump had put all the RF mechanism out of place. The 3 or 4 screws that connect the mechanism to the camera (not the adjusting ones!) were slightly dislodge so everything was displaced.
I read a few things on the R-D1s RF mechanism being different from the R-D1, namely that the vertical screw was not effective anymore. Apparently, that's not the case. In my particular camera, the screw is effective but the displacement of the whole mechanism led to a deficient contact between that screw and the plate where it pressures. Now, it works like a charm.
So, it looks like both cameras share exactly the same RF mechanism.
After adjustment (based on a Leica lens and checked with the 35 Nokton), all my lenses focus ok (with some minor variation), except for a 40/1.4 Nokton that I bought a couple of weeks ago (maybe the lens need adjustment...). The correct-focusing lenses list now includes:
1) Leica 35/3.5 Summaron
2) Leica 50/2 Summicron Collapsible
3) Leica 90/4 Elmar
4) Zeiss 21/2.8 Biogon
5) CV 28/1.9 Ultron
6) CV 35/2.5 Color Skopar PII
7) CV 35/1.2 Nokton
8) CV 50/1.5 Nokton
9) CV 75/2.5 Color Heliar
10) Jupiter 9 (that was wrong anyway and had to shimmed to work to Leica standards).
The only lens in my collection that does not focus correctly is the 40/1.4 Nokton, that front focuses consistently. From f2 is ok, critical focus with f1.4 is much more random than the 35 Nokton at f1.2 (and it shouldn't be).
Next step is to take all my non-Leica lenses (except for the 35 Nokton, already verified) to the same technician and have them checked and adjusted, if needed. And that should put and end to the focusing problems .
I'm sure the 28/2 Summicron ASPH would now focus correctly. But since I returned it and my Ultron is more than good enough (a new hood was paramount!!), I won't cry over it.
(BTW, I used part of the money from the Summicron to buy a Fotoman 6x17, 120 film panoramic camera, with a 2nd hand Schneider 90/8 Super-Angulon. And that was a VERY good decision... 🙂 First B&W negs are stunning: size DOES matter... 🙂
So, good news:
1) A good technician will not have any problem servicing the camera
2) The R-D1s and the R-D1 are the same camera, as far as the RF is concerned
3) After adjusted, the Epson's RF is capable of reliable focusing with a vast array of lenses, from different ages, brands and focals.
I attach two pictures taken yesterday, one with the 50 Nokton wide-open, the other one with the 75/2.5 Heliar wide open, both focused on the eye of the cat. I'm happy now... 🙂
Now, back to take some more pictures... 🙂
I took the plunge and sent my R-D1s for a full RF adjustment. But not to Epson...
After a small bump on a wall several months ago, the RF became vertically and horizontally misaligned. I was able to adjust it horizontally but vertically no way, the screw just didn't work. After adjustment, most my lenses focused ok but I had big trouble with a Jupiter-9, a 75/2.5 Color heliar and (who would say!) a Leica 28/2 Summicron ASPH. And some random focusing with several other lenses (including the 21/2.8 Biogon, that I was using more and more on a DOF basis...). Not to mention that focusing with a vertical misaligment is a pain...
So, I hold my breath and took my Epson to a very good repairperson that is used to handle all kind of rangefinders. It was a no brainer to fix (30€). Thank you very much to Rich Cutler by all the info on the site, it was very helpful for disassembly.
(Note: the technician had never seen a R-D1, although he repairs everything, from Leicas to Mamyias, including the new ZD - 22 Mpix. He took some pictures with the 35 Nokton 1.2 and was completely knocked-out by image quality. He asked me if I could lend him the camera for a weekend, as 3 usual customers went ballistic about it and want to buy one. He himself wants one...).
The bump had put all the RF mechanism out of place. The 3 or 4 screws that connect the mechanism to the camera (not the adjusting ones!) were slightly dislodge so everything was displaced.
I read a few things on the R-D1s RF mechanism being different from the R-D1, namely that the vertical screw was not effective anymore. Apparently, that's not the case. In my particular camera, the screw is effective but the displacement of the whole mechanism led to a deficient contact between that screw and the plate where it pressures. Now, it works like a charm.
So, it looks like both cameras share exactly the same RF mechanism.
After adjustment (based on a Leica lens and checked with the 35 Nokton), all my lenses focus ok (with some minor variation), except for a 40/1.4 Nokton that I bought a couple of weeks ago (maybe the lens need adjustment...). The correct-focusing lenses list now includes:
1) Leica 35/3.5 Summaron
2) Leica 50/2 Summicron Collapsible
3) Leica 90/4 Elmar
4) Zeiss 21/2.8 Biogon
5) CV 28/1.9 Ultron
6) CV 35/2.5 Color Skopar PII
7) CV 35/1.2 Nokton
8) CV 50/1.5 Nokton
9) CV 75/2.5 Color Heliar
10) Jupiter 9 (that was wrong anyway and had to shimmed to work to Leica standards).
The only lens in my collection that does not focus correctly is the 40/1.4 Nokton, that front focuses consistently. From f2 is ok, critical focus with f1.4 is much more random than the 35 Nokton at f1.2 (and it shouldn't be).
Next step is to take all my non-Leica lenses (except for the 35 Nokton, already verified) to the same technician and have them checked and adjusted, if needed. And that should put and end to the focusing problems .
I'm sure the 28/2 Summicron ASPH would now focus correctly. But since I returned it and my Ultron is more than good enough (a new hood was paramount!!), I won't cry over it.
(BTW, I used part of the money from the Summicron to buy a Fotoman 6x17, 120 film panoramic camera, with a 2nd hand Schneider 90/8 Super-Angulon. And that was a VERY good decision... 🙂 First B&W negs are stunning: size DOES matter... 🙂
So, good news:
1) A good technician will not have any problem servicing the camera
2) The R-D1s and the R-D1 are the same camera, as far as the RF is concerned
3) After adjusted, the Epson's RF is capable of reliable focusing with a vast array of lenses, from different ages, brands and focals.
I attach two pictures taken yesterday, one with the 50 Nokton wide-open, the other one with the 75/2.5 Heliar wide open, both focused on the eye of the cat. I'm happy now... 🙂
Now, back to take some more pictures... 🙂
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