Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/01/22
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]John- Youxin Ye gets new beamsplitter material, and actually cuts new rangefinder mirrors to repair older cameras- he replaced the RF in the IIIc I bought from him. It was one of the black paint jobs that he sells for a 'user' and it works like new! I talked with him since it seemed the RF giot a little off after a while, and he related to me that the optical cement he used at the time to mount the front surface mirror would 'shrink' a tiny bit- with those small dimensions, it was enough that after a month or two, I had to re-align the RF, but he assures me that he has switched to a low shrink cement and that the problem is solved. I actually refocused my RF on the planet Venus one night, and then turned the other lens- a prism of sorts, to align the vertical and it not 'SNAPS' into focus- it seems that when the images coincide now, they almost pop, and it is much easier to focus now that the RF has been remirrored! I haven't had to adjust it since. I guess that is why I love these old dinosaurs- what other camera can be fixed, and used sucessfully after 50-65 years? Don't despair! There is life after 40, especially for Leicas! Dan - ----- Original Message ----- From: "John Collier" <jbcollier@home.com> To: <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us> Sent: Monday, January 22, 2001 9:52 AM Subject: Re: [Leica] Leica IIIf dim rangefinder > It is possible to repair the viewfinder on IIIf and older cameras (not sure > if there are parts available for the IIIg) and any Leica specialist should > be able to do the work. It may just need cleaning. Here is an illustrated > procedure on how to clean a IIIf viewfinder: > > http://www.mediakyoto.com/camerashopper/lrc_e/index_e.html > > Please do not attempt it yourself unless you are very comfortable with small > precision mechanisms. > > John Collier > > > From: Hailu Shack <howdy@global.california.com> > > > > I have a Leica IIIf (w/black synchro dial). > > > > Here is my problem: Some internal element(s) of the rangefinder make the > > image dim; not sharply contratsty. I know that it is something internal > > because I have cleaned the external glass without appreciable effect. > > > > I have see a couple of postings on this board relating to the repairability > > of M2/M3 rangefinders. However, when I took my IIIf to Adolph Gasser in San > > Francisco [I'm Bay Area] I was told that the internal rangefinder mechanisms > > really could not be repaired and that I should just leave it. > > > >