Tilted framelines on SBOOI viewfinder, apparently from bent foot

[joepairman]

Hi, I don’t have a rangefinder camera (though I’d like one!) I do have a SBOOI finder with a problem, and RFF is apparently the place with most mentions of the SBOOI, so I thought I’d try my luck here.

The framelines on this SBOOI are quite tilted, so are no good for getting a level photo. I just got it from a guy on eBay, and by the angle of the protruding grub screw, it looks like the foot of the finder got a bit bent at some point:


I’m deciding what to do. The bent foot wasn’t mentioned on the eBay posting, so I suppose I could try sending it back as not fit for purpose (the seller doesn’t accept regular returns but I guess this counts as a defect).

But, I am also quite up for fixing it myself. And I’m wondering if anyone here has tips.

On this thread, the poster mentions straightening the horizon using the grub screw on the bottom:

Quick Leitz Brightline Finder 50mm questions

<p>I picked up a SBOOI a year ago at the Doesburg Photographica Fair and I've love it! But over the last few days I've been wondering about a few things about it.<br> One of the first things I did after I bought it was level out the horizon (via the little grub screw on the bottom), b...

www.photo.net

However, loosening the big grub screw (the one visible above) doesn’t seem to loosen up the inner part of the finder within the containing cylinder. Should I try harder to loosen the inner lens assembly?

Or is the mentioned grub screw actually the smaller one of the two round things here? (Looks more like a rivet to me though!)


Two other options:

1. Try to straighten the foot by force — not sure what tool to use though. Any tips?
2. File down the protrusions on the base of the right-hand foot, and pad the top with gaffer tape or something. I am not aiming to keep resale value, just have a functional finder.

By the way, it seems like this issue does happen sometimes with these finders. Here’s a mention on RFF:

Cleaning & Lubing a Leitz BL Finder

Posted this on p.net but got no responses. Maybe someone here can help. Thanks in advance. I recently purchased a mint Leitz 135mm BL finder (SHOOC) and a mint 90mm BL finder (SGVOO) and have a service question. The parallex correction ring on the SHOOC feels very good and rotates nicely, but...

rangefinderforum.com

Also this SBOOI on Ebay looks like it has skewed lines too, tilted in the opposite direction to the one I just got:

Leica Leitz SBOOI 5cm 50mm Shoe Mount Viewfinder | eBay

Leitz SBOOI 5cm viewfinder for accessory shoe fitting for any Leica or other camera. In very good condition. Glass undamaged, clear and free from fungus/haze, brightlines crisp and clear.

www.ebay.co.uk

By the way, you might be wondering what horror this is — a vintage viewfinder on a modern Ricoh. I am shooting the Ricoh in 50mm crop mode, often with zone focusing, and really like the feel of a real finder. Maybe one day I’ll have saved enough to get an actual digital rangefinder though…

 

[Cascadilla]

I just too a look at mine--no large grub screw at the end that yours has and it is marked 5 cm, not 50 mm, so I suspect that it is quite old. If it were me, I would send this one back to the seller since it is clearly defective. I can't imagine being able to level this by brute force and then you would have a finder that didn't really work along with a piece of Leica gear with virtually no value.

 

[joepairman]

I just too a look at mine--no large grub screw at the end that yours has and it is marked 5 cm, not 50 mm, so I suspect that it is quite old. If it were me, I would send this one back to the seller since it is clearly defective. I can't imagine being able to level this by brute force and then you would have a finder that didn't really work along with a piece of Leica gear with virtually no value.

Thanks! Mine’s marked 5cm too, but I did see a photo of one with just the central rivet, like yours I guess. I read that the grub screw is actually to adjust the parallax a bit, that is to press against the hot shoe to angle the finder down a little? Anyway mine certainly doesn’t seem to do anything else than that.

Thanks for the advice. I might well end up sending it back.

This all reminds me why I usually avoid eBay. If anyone else has neat ideas for a fix, I’m all ears. Anything has to be better than doing that repackaging and asking for a refund.

 

[Glenn2]

I just took a close look at my finder which is marked 5cm. The very tiny thing in the middle has a slot so may be a grub screw that holds the alignment. Mine doesn’t have the larger screw and it’s possible that’s the one that needs to be loosened to rotate the optics on yours.

Good luck.

 

[joepairman]

I just took a close look at my finder which is marked 5cm. The very tiny thing in the middle has a slot so may be a grub screw that holds the alignment. Mine doesn’t have the larger screw and it’s possible that’s the one that needs to be loosened to rotate the optics on yours.

Good luck.

Your eyes are better than mine! I can only see the slot from a photo of this finder, not by directly looking.

Still, the front view shows that this finder is not just out of alignment but truly bent (looking at the lettering, which seems angled to the same degree). So even if I could adjust it, it is not as it is supposed to be. I’m starting to think that sending it back is the best option.

 

[raydm6]

Take a look here re: adjustment screw.

I have two SBBOI’s but never had to adjust them. I always opted for the more modern version with the serrated side finger grips.

Leitz 5cm finder SOOBI question

I have a Leitz 5cm finder that has the bright lines cocked. Has anyone taken one apart to adjust the lens that has the bright lines to get them level. Usually there is a retaining ring but I can't seem to see one. Thanks. Bob

rangefinderforum.com

 

[Cascadilla]

Mine also has grooves on the side for a good finger grip. Someone who knows a lot more about Leica history could probably tell you when they started doing that.

 

[Mr_Flibble]

While OPs one does look seriously out of alignment (probably from a fall)
That said, on my undamaged SBOOI finders there is a slight angle to the frame lines as well, and while I know how to level them out, I think they were originally set that way on purpose. I once adjusted one to true level and all the horizons on my images were off when I used it. Weird.

 

[joepairman]

Thanks, all! I hope this thread is a useful reference for others with SBOOI finders out of alignment. In particular, this reference is conclusive and helpful (if we’re talking about a SBOOI with the adjustment screw in good condition, which unfortunately mine isn’t):

Take a look here re: adjustment screw.

I have two SBBOI’s but never had to adjust them. I always opted for the more modern version with the serrated side finger grips.

Leitz 5cm finder SOOBI question

I have a Leitz 5cm finder that has the bright lines cocked. Has anyone taken one apart to adjust the lens that has the bright lines to get them level. Usually there is a retaining ring but I can't seem to see one. Thanks. Bob

rangefinderforum.com

I saw photos online of SBOOIs where the small grub screw had a good slot on it, and that would certainly work for adjusting. However, the one on mine barely has any slot left, and I think that it would be a case of drilling it out and then finding some other way to fix the optics in position. And that seems like too much effort to have to put in on a finder that cost me the market price for a proper working one anyway (around £120 plus postage).

If it had been much cheaper I would still take it to a jeweller and see if they could help drill out the screw. But for the price, I will just look to return it and get a refund.

 

[raydm6]

Good plan. There are many nice SBOOI's out there and they are worth the money.