Yashica Mat124G and infinity focus

[kmallick]

I have a Yashica Mat 124G and it focuses beyond infinity (whatever that means). In other words I have a crisp image in WLF when the focusing knob is not turned all the way out to infinity. Is it normal?

I am planning to install a Rick Oleson screen with a split image microprism to get a better focusing aid. Is it typically a drop in replacement for the stock screen or do I need to do some shimming for hitting the infinity focus accurately? What else to check to make sure that focusing is well tuned? Any advice will be highly appreciated.

 

[Mark C]

You need to see if the viewing lens is in exact agreement with the taking lens. The taking lens may actually be at infinity at the mark, in which case you adjust the viewing lens (or screen) to match the taking lens.

If it is like a Rollei, the viewing lens can be screwed in or out for this adjustment. Always a good thing to check with a screen replacement of any kind.

 

[Dwig]

...
If it is like a Rollei, the viewing lens can be screwed in or out for this adjustment. Always a good thing to check with a screen replacement of any kind.

+1, the 124/G is the same. There is a small grub screw that locks it in place. Simply loosen the grub screw slightly and then you can twist the viewing lens so that it matches the taking lens. First, of course, you need to confirm that the taking lens is focusing correctly.

 

[kmallick]

+1, the 124/G is the same. There is a small grub screw that locks it in place. Simply loosen the grub screw slightly and then you can twist the viewing lens so that it matches the taking lens. First, of course, you need to confirm that the taking lens is focusing correctly.

Thanks for all the helpful suggestions.

To get to the grub screw for the taking lens, do I have to take off all the shrouds etc of the camera? Do you have any picture anywhere? I am not very good at taking things apart.

 

[Dan Daniel]

To get to the grub screw for the taking lens, do I have to take off all the shrouds etc of the camera? Do you have any picture anywhere? I am not very good at taking things apart.

Yes, you need to remove at least one of the lens shroud parts. The outer one that wraps around the sides must come off. This is four or five screws under the leather. Taking the main central one is probably needed to be able to turn the viewing lens.

To avoid this, you can shim the viewfinder. Add tape shims inside the finder to decrease the distance to the lens- probably not what you need since you are already going past infinity. Add tape the the outside edges of the viewfinder to raise it up.

And again, the important thing is that the taking and viewingl ens track each other. Going past infinity isn't that the end of the world.