ZI infinity focus mismatch

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people_atease

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Hi everyone,

I have a ZI which was bought on march 2006. it was serviced on June 2006 once to align the rangefinder due to infinity mismatch problem. Last time the camera body was dropped a little bit, and it explained the focus mistmatch.

Few days ago I found that the problem appears again, although the mismatch is just a little bit, it can't focus to the farest point of the scene. This time I am sure I didnt drop or hit the camera, does it mean normal once-in-2 months use may lead to rangefinder misalignment?
My Bessa R2 was much more heavily used for 2-3 yrs, but the rangefinder never have any problem.

I have to bring the camera to the service centre again, and it would take 1-2 months to adjust the rangefinder, as it need to be shipped to Japan. it's really annoying.

Does it mean I have to give the ZI a adjustment once in every half year to ensure the rangefinder works fine? by the way, if the infinity focus just off a bit, does it mean the focus of the camera is inaccurate in all distance?
Thanks~
 
people_atease said:
Hi everyone,

I have a ZI which was bought on march 2006. it was serviced on June 2006 once to align the rangefinder due to infinity mismatch problem. Last time the camera body was dropped a little bit, and it explained the focus mistmatch.

Few days ago I found that the problem appears again, although the mismatch is just a little bit, it can't focus to the farest point of the scene. This time I am sure I didnt drop or hit the camera, does it mean normal once-in-2 months use may lead to rangefinder misalignment?
My Bessa R2 was much more heavily used for 2-3 yrs, but the rangefinder never have any problem.

I have to bring the camera to the service centre again, and it would take 1-2 months to adjust the rangefinder, as it need to be shipped to Japan. it's really annoying.

Does it mean I have to give the ZI a adjustment once in every half year to ensure the rangefinder works fine? by the way, if the infinity focus just off a bit, does it mean the focus of the camera is inaccurate in all distance?
Thanks~
Click to expand...


Yes. You have to do this occasionally to these cameras - and many others - because of the way the mechanism works. I had a faulty R3A and read up about this (concept of periodic adjustments), and it seems this is a good idea given that some mechanisms will simply fall out of alignment over time from regular use. Even my Bronica RF645 has a small problem that I had fixed, and now, a year later, it returns slightly and will have to be re-fixed again. It is caused by the spring that links the mechanism to the cam arm.

Good reason to maybe buy into a more reliable brand.
 
if a periodic adjustments is needed, that would cost me a lot as the warranty is going to expire. Every adjustment need to be shipped to Japan and takes 2 months to be shipped back. Cost me Much Time and Money.
sigh.

Should I go for an adjustment if the infinity focus is only slightly off?
I mean for the future if warranty expired. Or should I go for a service centre which fix Leica and other camera to save time and money? Could they handle it well? The adjustment process should better be handle by the original Zeiss Ikon service person?

Thanks
 
Last edited:
i have 2 zi cameras.
the first one was off a bit right out of the box. the seller exchanged it for a perfect one.
my second one was perfect out of the box. i carry one or the other most days in a zing case, in the bottom of my back pack.
they have been and still are right on.
maybe look for a repair person closer to home.
 
people_atease said:
if a periodic adjustments is needed, that would cost me a lot as the warranty is going to expire. Every adjustment need to be shipped to Japan and takes 2 months to be shipped back. Cost me Much Time and Money.
sigh.

Should I go for an adjustment if the infinity focus is only slightly off?
I mean for the future if warranty expired. Or should I go for a service centre which fix Leica and other camera to save time and money? Could they handle it well? The adjustment process should better be handle by the original Zeiss Ikon service person?

Thanks
Click to expand...

get it done for free with the warranty, then learn how to do it yourself after. Not brain surgery. Not easy, though.
 
seems that there is no tutorial for that complicated process.
May get a quote from a Leica camera repairman lateron.

They should do a better job than me...
 
I was in contact with a Zeiss representative in New Jersey. He told me that in a few month they will establish a distribution center in NJ where they will be able to repair cameras. The turnaround for repairs should be much quicker than 2 months at that point.
 
Checking for focus mis-match at infinity.

Checking for focus mis-match at infinity.

I think I have that problem.

I put a 90mm on my ZI body, point it out the window,
at the furthest buildings.
I turn the lens to infinity.
The patch inside doesn't match.


So I have it, right?



Is there a way I can live with this problem without an adjustment?

:bang::bang::bang::bang:

My ZI is so new . . . . . . only two weeks old.
 
The actual distance of infinity is really really far than we sometimes believe it to be. I thought my 90 cron needed adjustments and Gerry Smith was kind enough to show me that there was nothing wrong with the lens. Sometimes the farthest object is not yet up to infinity distance.

Regards,
 
Say what you will about Leicas, at least they have a simple means for the user to reset infinity focus if it gets slightly out of wack. Of course dropping the camera may require top removal for adjustment, but I'm only talking about minor bumps here. That's the main reason I've held off on considering the ZI.
 
Please figure it out!

Please figure it out!

People at this thread figured out how to do it for the Bessa R2

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?p=494173#post494173
With loads of diagram . . .

perhaps someone could figure it out for the Zeiss Ikon?

Instead of saying how the Zikon isn't as good as what . . .

Like or dislike is a very personal thing.


I like my woman hot . . . some like it cold? :eek:


Diversity is good . . .
 
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