R3 rangefinder misalignment on infinity?

[minoltist7]

I noticed one thing - when I set lens to infinity, images in RF patch do not match.
I repeated it with 2 lenses and got the same result - although degree of difference is different (it's more pronounced with 90mm than with 50mm).

Is it normal, or RF is out of alignment?
or it is a feature when thread-mount lenses attached via adapter?

 

[photobizzz]

I just tried it on my R3a and with a Canon 50/1.2 and LTM-M adapter I did not notice it, but when I put my 90/2.8 Tele Elmarit and focused on some orange construction cones 300-400 Meters off I did see a bit of mis-alignment, but it is very slight. Hope this helps.

 

[minoltist7]

I do not notice it with 35mm, it's slightly worse with 50mm and the most noticeable with 90mm

So, should I rely on RF patch, or just set lens to infinity and don't care about what I see in VF?
In some AF SLR lenses, it is often normal when infinity mark and extreme position of focusing ring is not the same (lens ring can be rotated slightly far beyond infinity - and will be out of focus)

 

[pvdhaar]

If I understand correctly, you set the lens to infinity, and then check whether the double image aligns?

If your camera is misaligned and adapters and lenses correct, you'd get the same amount of misalignment with each lens, as the RF cams should push the RF roller equally far in this scenario. So you can basically rule this out.

Next, if you use three different adapters but the lenses are okay, then there could be something wrong with the thickness of the adapters. If the problem persists if you keep a single adapter on the camera and merely screw in/out lenses, it's the lenses.. The 35 + adapter work, so that's your golden reference..

And when it comes to the 50 and 90, there's a whole list of things that could be happening, depending on model and vintage, some of which are:

- Very old FSU lenses have RF travel that doesn't match Leica. They should line up at infinity, but..
- The lenses may have been re-shimmed for another camera, or
- The lenses may have long focus travel, whereas modern Bessas like short travel best. You can see this in the form of different focus when coming from infinity or from closest focus distance.
- The cams of the 50 and 90 could have been worn down from running on a camera with a shoe RF coupler instead of a roller

And I'm sure this list isn't exhausted..

 

[minoltist7]

50mm is very old Jupiter-8, so it isn't a reference. it also have some degree of "freeplay" in adapter
but 90mm is brand-new APO-Lanthar from the box, there shoulnt be problem with it.
I have 2 adapters, both are merely new CV 35/135 and 28/90.

 

[Spyderman]

Test it with one adapter only, take both CV lenses for reference.

Bessas are known to have kind of "fragile" RF - it gets easily misaligned when you bang the camera somewhere...

It's quite easy to realign yourself. Try to search for the instructions.


EDIT: CV adapters are regarded as some of the best adapters currently available - so there should not be a problem, also CV lenses generally don't have such problems. On the other hand Bessas are known to have the fragile RF, so you can draw your own conclusion.

 

[Kim Coxon]

In which case, I would suspect that the RF is very slightly out of adjustment.

Kim

 

[minoltist7]

is there a manual how to adjust RF myself?

 

[Spyderman]

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=26119