Using Generative AI to Help with a Film Rangefinder

[bjorke]

Bard & ChatGPT can save a lot of time digging through forums and videos and finding obscure manuals.... if you are careful in asking the right questions. Not bad for a two- or three-minute session though.

(first question: not specific enough....)

how can I adjust the focus of a Canon Giii rangefinder?

The Canon Giii rangefinder has a manual focus system. To adjust the focus, follow these steps:

1. Look through the viewfinder and compose your shot.
2. Locate the rangefinder patch in the center of the viewfinder.
3. Turn the focus ring on the lens until the two images in the rangefinder patch overlap.
4. Once the images are aligned, your shot is in focus.

Here are some additional tips for adjusting the focus of a Canon Giii rangefinder:

• Make sure that the lens is clean and free of dust or fingerprints.
• If you are shooting in low light, use the built-in light meter to help you determine the correct exposure.
• If you are shooting at a wide aperture, such as f/1.7, be sure to focus carefully as even a small movement of the focus ring can result in a blurry image.
• If you are having trouble focusing, try using a tripod to stabilize the camera.

I hope this helps!

how can I calibrate the focus of a Canon Giii rangefinder?

To calibrate the focus of a Canon Giii rangefinder, you will need the following tools:

• A tripod
• A magnifier
• A flat-head screwdriver
• A piece of frosted tape

Instructions:

1. Mount the camera on a tripod.
2. Open the camera back.
3. Cut a piece of frosted tape and stick it tightly over the center of the film plane.
4. Set the camera shutter to bulb ('B') and set a wide aperture.
5. Hold the shutter down to see through the lens.
6. Use a magnifier to carefully focus the image on the tape.
7. Place a screwdriver on the rangefinder adjuster.
8. Turn the screwdriver in small increments until the two images in the rangefinder patch overlap.
9. Once the images are aligned, your focus is calibrated.
10. Close the camera back and remove the tape.

Tips:

• Make sure that the lens is clean and free of dust or fingerprints.
• If you are shooting in low light, use the built-in light meter to help you determine the correct exposure.
• If you are shooting at a wide aperture, such as f/1.7, be sure to focus carefully as even a small movement of the focus ring can result in a blurry image.
• If you are having trouble focusing, try using a tripod to stabilize the camera.

I hope this helps!

where is the rangefinder adjuster screw in a Canon Giii rangefinder camera?

The rangefinder adjuster screw in a Canon Giii rangefinder camera is located on the back of the camera, just below the hot shoe. It is a small, flat-head screw that is covered by a small chrome cap. To access the screw, remove the chrome cap using a small screwdriver. Once the cap is removed, you can use the screwdriver to turn the screw in small increments to adjust the focus of the rangefinder.

Here are the steps on how to adjust the rangefinder adjuster screw in a Canon Giii rangefinder camera:

1. Remove the chrome cap that covers the screw.
2. Use a small screwdriver to turn the screw in small increments.
3. Look through the viewfinder and check the alignment of the rangefinder patch.
4. Continue turning the screw until the rangefinder patch is aligned correctly.
5. Replace the chrome cap.

It is important to note that adjusting the rangefinder adjuster screw too much can damage the rangefinder mechanism. Therefore, it is important to be careful when adjusting the screw. If you are not comfortable adjusting the screw yourself, you can take the camera to a qualified technician for assistance.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

You are better looking it up yourself if actually performing the procedure. The problem with the Davinci model, and some others- there is no error checking on the answers. The DaVinci model failed to perform basic mathematical functions correctly. Had the numbers been used in an actual adjustment, the focus would have been way off.

AI and Photography

Someone had to write the code to implement tools used to implement the neural network. In the end- it is a set of machine instructions that runs on a computer. Computers are deterministic. If there is a fault, it can be isolated and resolved. Once the problem is understood, it needs to be...

www.rangefinderforum.com

 

[jszokoli]

There are lots of words there and some are relevant.

But if you look there is no mention of needing to focus the lens.

So just turn the little screw till the images align and you'r done.

This only makes a bit of sense if you'r already familiar with what the procedure would be.

I'd like to take those paragraphs and feed it back into the ChatGPT and ask it what's missing from these instructions.

A little recursion never hurt...

Joe

 

[Sonnar Brian]

There are lots of words there and some are relevant.

But if you look there is no mention of needing to focus the lens.

So just turn the little screw till the images align and you'r done.

This only makes a bit of sense if you'r already familiar with what the procedure would be.

I'd like to take those paragraphs and feed it back into the ChatGPT and ask it what's missing from these instructions.

A little recursion never hurt...

Joe

1. Mount the camera on a tripod.
2. Open the camera back.
3. Cut a piece of frosted tape and stick it tightly over the center of the film plane.
4. Set the camera shutter to bulb ('B') and set a wide aperture.
5. Hold the shutter down to see through the lens.
6. Use a magnifier to carefully focus the image on the tape

I think this block implies that you would focus the lens on an object, is about what I've written for various cameras.
However- I would use a negative taped to the back, and a loupe with reticule to hold the negative flat.