RF Patch Questions

[JayC]

So the rf patch on my new r-d1 is aligned perfectly at infinity. However, when I am focusing at close distances the rf patch is NOT aligned (the moving image is higher that the sattionary image). How to fix this?

FWIW, my Leica M6 exhibits the same issue, although not as much and in reverse (at close focus, the moving image is lower that the stationary image. My M3 does not exhibit this penomenon. My M6 has had a complete overhaul within the past few years (before I purchased the camera)

I have done the required searches, but all the posts are talking about the resulting photos being front or back focused - not the actual patch being off at close, while on at infinity.

Thought, suggestions?
PS, my r-d1 is still under warranty.

 

[Philip Whiteman]

This issue has been discussed before on the forum. It seems that Cosina/Epson have never taken quite the same care in aligning the rangefinder as, say, Leica.

It is not uncommon to find an R-D1 with frame lines and rangefinder patch at an angle to each other. Consequently, the patch progressively moves out of vertical alignment as the lens is racked in or out. My own R-D1 suffers this problem – which is more of an irritation than a fault, because the vertical misalignment has no direct effect on focussing accuracy.

You will however, get crooked pictures if you use the rangefinder patch to line up the horizon!

 

[JayC]

Thanks, but both of the rf images seem to be perfectly horizontal. I cannot discern any tilt.

 

[back alley]

one of mine does that and the other is perfect.

 

[Philip Whiteman]

JayC: typically, what you see is the rangefinder patch making a slight angle with the brightline frames. The actual image in the patch somehow remains in angular alignment; it just becomes vertically displaced as you focus.

 

[JayC]

JayC: typically, what you see is the rangefinder patch making a slight angle with the brightline frames. The actual image in the patch somehow remains in angular alignment; it just becomes vertically displaced as you focus.

And is that the way it is supposed to be?
If I lay a straight-edge down close to me perpendicular to the sensor plane, what I see is a stationary perpendicular edge and a moving one that is at an angle. Is that the RF way, or is it a needed fix?

 

[LCT]

Looks like a mere vertical misalignment at first glance.
I would return the camera if it's still under warranty.
Otherwise, if it is an R-D1 body, a simple tip is to remove the hotshoe and turn slightly the vertical alignment screw. The alignment might be a bit off at infinity then but it is less disturbing anyway.
For more details see:
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18901
and photos here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jimbobuk/sets/72157603780299417/
See also http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31755

 

[Philip Whiteman]

JayC: no, it's NOT supposed to be like that – crappy quality control at Cosina/Epson's end means that the rangefinder patches and frames are not axially lined up in many R-D1s.

LCT: simple vertical misalignment means that the patch image remains the same distance above/below the main finder image as you rack the lens in and out. As you suggest, this can be adjusted out. When the rangefinder and frames are axially misaligned, the images do coincide at one point, but move vertically apart as you focus – on mine, the alignment is fine beyond 10 feet or so, but vertically displaced as I focus closer: winding the vertical adjustment screw would not fix the basic problem, it just would just align the images close to and put them out at infinity – or the other way round. You cannot readily adjust the basic axial alignment of rangefinder and viewfinder frames: this is down to factory set-up (in Cosina/Epson's case, not a terribly consistent one)

To keep this in perspective, it is perhaps an issue worth getting fixed under guarantee, but no problemo in actual picture taking!

 

[LCT]

The base length adjustment of your RF might be off by such a wide margin that you could need to remove the top plate and wind screw # 5 referred to in my link to tmessenger above.
Otherwise my simple tip is to wind screw # 3 so that the patch is aligned *not* at infinity but a closer distance, 2 meters by example. Then the patch may be more or less slightly (very slightly in my case) off at infinity but it is less disturbing than at closer distances IMHO. YMMV but it is worth a try if the body is out of warranty anyway.