Strange RF behavior on Leica IIIf RD

pevelg

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I just go a second iiif after needing to return the one I got on KEH. The one from KEH had a sticky shutter, 1/1000 did not work, and I THOUGHT that vertical alignment was off. That is, until I got this new IIIf from photo.net

When I first put the camera to my eye, I was relieved that the VA was perfect. After playing around a bit, I put the camera back to my eye and was shocked that it was off. After a few moments of panic, I realized the VA was changing as the cameras angle changed to my eye. VA was only perfect if my eye was perfectly aligned and only the center had perfect VA, outer edges are off. Now, I do not know if the first IIIf I had acted this way as I returned it prior getting this one. Is this normal behavior? Does me wearing glasses have anything to do with this?

Otherwise, this camera is just great!!! I love the RF window, it is so bright and the magnification is nice. The VF is lackluster compared to M4, so I plan to get an external one since there is no parallel correction anyway.

I got the camera with a Elmar 50/3.5, just love the small size. Know I need to go waste a bunch of film with test shots and then burn up the rest of my Kodachrome before it is too late!!!
 
Yes, the two images in the RF definitely shift in relationship to each other as you move your eye. One reason the eyepeice is so "squinty small", to keep you centered.

(Just tested on my IIIa, but the RF optics are the same on the IIIf.)

Note that shipping a screwmount Leica can easily put the rangefinder out of adjustment. Both adjustments (vertical and horizontal) are really quite easy. All you need is a "known good" lens, typically a 50mm one. The only one that's hard to accurately adjust yourself is the "rate" one, which is adjusted by changing the effective length of the roller arm.
 
Note that shipping a screwmount Leica can easily put the rangefinder out of adjustment. Both adjustments (vertical and horizontal) are really quite easy. All you need is a "known good" lens, typically a 50mm one. The only one that's hard to accurately adjust yourself is the "rate" one, which is adjusted by changing the effective length of the roller arm.

The Leica screw mount cameras rf adjustment is done by first aligning vertical by removing the bezel from the front round window nearest the top shutter speed dial and turning the beveled glass. If vertical cannot be easily adjusted then the top plate has to be removed and adjustment made via the 4 screws in the rf mirror block. Once vertical is set the horizontal is set by removing the large cap screw next to the viewfinder window and using a small straight slot screwdriver turn the small adjusting screw either way while aligning it with a distant vertical line. After adjustment check 1 meter distance as marked on the lens.
 
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