R2 back focus problem

M

Marc Jutras

Guest
My R2 has a really nasty back focus problem. I can't use my 75/2.5 at all and it shows even with my 35/1.7. There's also a slight vertical misalignment.

So, I'm looking for suggestions. Sending it to Camera Quest would be my last resort as it is far away (I'm in Montreal, Canada) and it's a bit expensive.

Is it something that can be easily fixed at home? Are there instructions somewhere?

Do you know of a repair shop in Montreal or near that could do the job? Would regular repair shops be able to do that? I know rangefinders are rare beasts and I'm wondering if most repair shops would know what to do...
 
there are ways to self fix.
i believe people have posted pictures and solutions...
just have to tweak some screws and you should be ok...

perhaps someone in the forum knows where those links are
good luck
 
this has to be more of a rangefinder being out at infinity problem than a badly shimmed lens mount.
if you suspect the rf is the problem, do a search here on RFF, on Bessa rf alignment, as I know this was brought up before and there are some" how to" threads on this subject.
 
Thanks. I have found many instructions on how to do this at home. I'll have a little thinkg session about it...

I'll try to find a local shop. If I can't find one and don't feel like doing it myself, I'll send it to Stephen.
 
I just ran a little test based on the 1m alignment technique I read somewhere. I placed a target a the end of a 1m stick and the camera with my 75/2.5 at the other end, making sure the film plane was at 0m. Focusing with the RF patch, the marking on the lens falls between 1 and 1.2m, in line with the 5 of the 3.5ft marking. So it definitely looks like an RF alignment issue.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Hello again!

I haven't tried to fix my camera yet. I'm not even sure about the gravity of the problem anymore. I ran a quick test today, setting my camera on tripod outdoors. I found a building downtown that is more than a mile away. I tried with both my 35/1.7 and my 75/2.5 lenses. On both cases, the RF patch seemed to be nicely aligned at infinity.

I tried short distance shots as well at f/2.8 and f/5.6 at about 4 ft. The negatives scan show a very slight focus problem (point of focus being a few millimeters behind the intended target).

What troubles me is the behavior of my RF patch. I had never noticed this while using my R2 and I'm wondering if this strange behavior is normal or, as I feel, a sign of something not too cool. This is something easily spotted with the 75 but not with the 35. When going from infinity to close focus distance, the RF patch goes from the center of the viewfinder towards the lower right corner. This troubles me. Is it normal? It's definitely weird.

Thanks for your help!
 
Marc Jutras said:
What troubles me is the behavior of my RF patch. I had never noticed this while using my R2 and I'm wondering if this strange behavior is normal or, as I feel, a sign of something not too cool. This is something easily spotted with the 75 but not with the 35. When going from infinity to close focus distance, the RF patch goes from the center of the viewfinder towards the lower right corner. This troubles me. Is it normal? It's definitely weird.

Thanks for your help!
Click to expand...

This is normal, Marc, a design quirk of the Bessa: the patch moves together with the framelines.

Best,

Roland.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom