[Leica] Rangefinder check (was Parallax concerns)

[Ken Wilcox <wilcox@tir.com>]

Here's what I do. Remove the baseplate and open the back door. Replace the
baseplate with the door open. Mount the camera on a tripod and a lens (a
long fast one if you have it) on the camera. Set the shutter on "B" and use
a cable release with a lock to hold it open. Place a ground glass against
the film rails through the open back. Put a loupe on it and focus on your
target. Then look through the rangefinder and see if it is focused on the
same spot.

If you don't have a ground glass you can use other things. I use a focusing
screen from an R camera with a split image. I've even used waxed paper
although the image is rather dark.

This can also be used to check for image cutoff caused by hoods or other
attachments. You could use it to check your parallax problem. (BTW: was you
camera tripod mounted? If not you must consider that you move the camera
slightly while pressing the shutter button.

Cheers!

kw


>   What would be a simple way of testing the rangefinder for accuracy?
>Some LUG members have said that they lay out a measuring tape and focus on
>certain points, taking a number of pictures and testing them that way at
>different distances.  Would this be the way to go?
>
>-GH


- ----
Ken Wilcox                             Carolyn's Personal Touch Portraits
LHSA, MEA, LAW                      preferred---> <wilcox@mail.tir.com>
                                                     <kwilcox@gfn.org>