Viewfinder framelines

[Yamatama]

Hi there,

I've got a problem with my Bessa-R: the framelines seem to be out of line. The horizon is sloping to the right, resulting in very amateuristic photo's. Is there an adjustment screw or something so I can see to it myself?

Cheers,

Rene
Amsterdam
Holland

 

[Theo-Prof]

Rene,

While you very well may have a problem with your camera, I have to ask you whether you have checked your composition while using a tripod? I have previously had problems with horizons that were not level and traced it to the fact that I "see" the image differently depending on which eye I am using. I can align the camera using one eye and then look through the viewfinder with my other eye (whether an SLR or a rangefinder) and it does not look level. I find that I "see" the scene differently with the other eye. When I align the camera after checking "level" using both eyes I find that I have better success.

Horizons that are not level is also a common problem with extremely wide lenses. Do you have this problem with wide lenses or with all of your lenses?

Also, have you checked your camera using a spirit level? I have found that a small level is a great accessory to keep in my camera bag. (However, I must say that I tend to use a tripod whenever I can.)

Kevin

 

[RogerinVegas]

Frameline adjustment

Frameline adjustment

You may want to consider sending it out for repair?
The model you have may have been knocked out of adjustment / alignment?
Hopefully you still have a warranty on it. The "R" has a reputation for getting the frame line out of alignment.

This is a interesting link, but I do not necessarily recommend you take on this project, at least I wouldn't I have no mechanical skills.

http://www.pgallery.net/cvp/99.html

Roger

 

[Doug]

The above are all fine suggestions and should be looked into. But tilted framelines is also not an uncommon problem with the Bessa-R. In the past, it's been more a matter of exchanging the body for a different one, so check with your dealer.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Dear TheoProf,

I's not just me! Thank God!

I habitually hold ALL my cameras about 1 degree off level --far more often than not.

Cheers,

Roger

 

[James Burton]

Dear TheoProf,

I's not just me! Thank God!

I habitually hold ALL my cameras about 1 degree off level --far more often than not.

Cheers,

Roger

I reckon anybody who can tell if you're off by less than 3degrees from the tiny
little viewfinder on most 35mm cameras is some sort of genius. 6x6 groundglass in my Bronica of course makes it all my fault. I regularly find myself rotating by up to about 3 degrees in photoshop.

 

[Roger Hicks]

James,

Music to my ears! But my wife's pics are more often level than mine by a factor of several TIMES.

Cheers,

Roger

 

[pvdhaar]

James,

Music to my ears! But my wife's pics are more often level than mine by a factor of several TIMES.

Cheers,

Roger

Same over here, but that's because she looks at the subject and I pay too much attention to those lovely projected motorized framelines (hexar-af) that move ever so gracefully through the viewfinder window, and those nice floating under/over exposure leds and.. 😱

On a serious note though, if a viewfinder has barrel distortion (which my HexarRF had, and I guess most RFs have to some extent), then getting the horizon straight requires looking at both left and right bottom edges of the framelines. If you only look at one, the bulging may mislead you.

 

[Yamatama]

Thanks guys. I checked it with a level glass, on a tripod and and it still didn't work. I have experience with viewfinders (Yashica GSN, Rollei 35) as well as with SLR's (Canon a1, T90) AND 6x6 (Rolleicord V) and the horizon was never a problem (lots of other stuff was, but never the horizon) I handed it over to a professional today. I paid 199 US $ for it on Ebay (brand new in a box), so the cost of repair is already compensated for. A new Bessa R would have set me back 500 US $ if I had bought it in Holland. My guess is that it got knocked over while in shipment.

 

[Yamatama]

Alas, the repair man told me that it had something to do with the framelines being projected at an angle and that he couldn't help me. The only option was to replace the viewfinder altogether. And then still he wasn't too sure.

Sound familiar?

 

[cbass]

Rene,

I seem to recall reading somewhere (perhaps it was online @ Cameraquest) that some of the early Bessa R models suffered from poorly aligned framelines. This problem originated in the factory and was corrected in later production runs.

If you bought your camera new in the box then perhaps you will be eligible for a repair under Cosina's warranty. Read the fine print in your owners manual.

 

[Bertram2]

Alas, the repair man told me that it had something to do with the framelines being projected at an angle and that he couldn't help me. The only option was to replace the viewfinder altogether. And then still he wasn't too sure.

Sound familiar?

I had this prob with my R three years ago, got it repaired under warranty by Ringfoto in Germany, the prob did not come back ever since then.
Regards,
Bertram