existrandom
Established
hi all,
something i need you guys' advice:
i recently got hold of a Canon L1 from Ebay at an agreeable price, the camera works smoothly, except that the rangefinder patch and the secondary image is quite weak/ pale, it is still usable but it becomes difficult to use with in dim light;
i wonder whether there are ways to make the patch and the secondary image stronger? will a professional cleaning of the rangefinder mechanism helps?
it happens that i have a somwhat demolished VI-L as parts, will swapping the optic parts of the rangefinder mechanism helps?
thanks very much!
lee
something i need you guys' advice:
i recently got hold of a Canon L1 from Ebay at an agreeable price, the camera works smoothly, except that the rangefinder patch and the secondary image is quite weak/ pale, it is still usable but it becomes difficult to use with in dim light;
i wonder whether there are ways to make the patch and the secondary image stronger? will a professional cleaning of the rangefinder mechanism helps?
it happens that i have a somwhat demolished VI-L as parts, will swapping the optic parts of the rangefinder mechanism helps?
thanks very much!
lee
I have had several RF's CLA'd at Essex, including a Leica IIIf with almost zero RF image and an M3 with a chipped patch. Both came back like new. Send them an Email.
The VI-L has different optics in the main path, I do not know how many similar parts they have. The prisms "could" be the same.
The VI-L has different optics in the main path, I do not know how many similar parts they have. The prisms "could" be the same.
existrandom
Established
Hi brian,
thanks for your reply, do you mean Essex Camera Services, Inc.
(100 Amor Avenue Carlstadt, New Jersey 07072) ?
thanks!
lee
thanks for your reply, do you mean Essex Camera Services, Inc.
(100 Amor Avenue Carlstadt, New Jersey 07072) ?
thanks!
lee
jlw
Rangefinder camera pedant
Re: Weak RF image on Canon L1; Your advice?
A weak rangefinder image usually means either that the rangefinder optics are just plain dirty, or that the beamsplitter prism is becoming unsilvered.
If it's dirt, cleaning will help; if the beamsplitter is going bad, there isn't much you can do except have it replaced. The VI-L's viewfinder optics are more complicated than the L1's (to provide for its reflected framelines, which the L1 doesn't have) but the beamsplitters might be physically interchangeable; it's been so long since I've seen the guts of an L1 that I don't remember!
But even if it's possible, it would be a complex job -- so I'd start with a cleaning first and see if that helps enough for you to get by with it. The L1's viewfinder optics have a good reputation for longevity (moreso than the VI-L's!) so chances are good that a cleaning is all you'll need to solve your problem.
existrandom said:
A weak rangefinder image usually means either that the rangefinder optics are just plain dirty, or that the beamsplitter prism is becoming unsilvered.
If it's dirt, cleaning will help; if the beamsplitter is going bad, there isn't much you can do except have it replaced. The VI-L's viewfinder optics are more complicated than the L1's (to provide for its reflected framelines, which the L1 doesn't have) but the beamsplitters might be physically interchangeable; it's been so long since I've seen the guts of an L1 that I don't remember!
But even if it's possible, it would be a complex job -- so I'd start with a cleaning first and see if that helps enough for you to get by with it. The L1's viewfinder optics have a good reputation for longevity (moreso than the VI-L's!) so chances are good that a cleaning is all you'll need to solve your problem.
That's the one, Lee! And welcome to RFF...
Yes, I use Essex up in New Jersey. I have sent them about 20 different cameras over the last 15 years or so. The only time that I had to "return a camera after a repair" was a Nikkormat FT3. They fixed a jammed shutter, but it came back with the meter not operating. They took it back without hesitation and fixed the meter free-of-charge. I have sent them many cameras since then, including a Canon 7 with a jammed shutter/film advance, and 3 Leica M's. The Leica viewfinders came back better than I was expecting.
existrandom
Established
thank you all for your replies;
i have checked with the local repairsperson and he seems to agree with most of what is mentioned above, the VF patch of my L-1 is a bit weak because the beamsplitter is to an extent de-silvered; a general cleaning of the VF optics might help gives a brighter view; otherwise it is too difficult/ expensive to get a spare beamsplitter or to have it re-coated locally; the beamsplitter mechanism on my VI-L is unfortunately broken and is of no use as spare, whether it fits or not...
i have, as suggested, checked with Essex, they qouted US$ 128 for the service, which i deem a bit too expensive; so for the moment i will wait for what the local repairsperson job will turn out
again, thanks all for your input; this seems to be a friendly forum which i regret not having found earlier!
btw, there are some poorly scanned work of mine on my website: http://existrandom.idv.st
have a look and cheers!
i have checked with the local repairsperson and he seems to agree with most of what is mentioned above, the VF patch of my L-1 is a bit weak because the beamsplitter is to an extent de-silvered; a general cleaning of the VF optics might help gives a brighter view; otherwise it is too difficult/ expensive to get a spare beamsplitter or to have it re-coated locally; the beamsplitter mechanism on my VI-L is unfortunately broken and is of no use as spare, whether it fits or not...
i have, as suggested, checked with Essex, they qouted US$ 128 for the service, which i deem a bit too expensive; so for the moment i will wait for what the local repairsperson job will turn out
again, thanks all for your input; this seems to be a friendly forum which i regret not having found earlier!
btw, there are some poorly scanned work of mine on my website: http://existrandom.idv.st
have a look and cheers!
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