Leica IIIc viewfinder questions

thereabouts · 10-18-2012

Hi

I've recently got the bug for rangfinders, which is why I (a digital geek for the most part) find myself here surrounded by a few different film camers.

Somehow, over the period of a couple of weeks , I accidentally (cough) seem to have bought a couple of Feds. My favourite is a lovely Fed 3a with a Jupiter 8 lens which I've film tested and seems to work well. Dynamic range which I didn't realise was possible.

Now I have a Leica IIIc for around $200.

However, the Leica IIIc 'split' viewfinder is doing my head in a bit. With the Fed, there is this nice round dot and lining up the edges of images to focus is nice and straightforward. With the Leica, I have had problems.

I understand it works slightly differently and I have done the test in the manual where you cover up the left hand rangefinder window to see the small circular field. So it seems to be working, in theory.

But I have tried under many lighting conditions and have been unable to get anywhere close to focussing. I simply can't see a 'ghost' image to line up. I am using the Jupiter 8 on the Leica.

Am I just missing something obvious, or has anyone got any suggestions?

Thanks.

Mr_Flibble · 10-18-2012

Have you played with the diopter adjustment/telescope lever?

Have you tested the RF-cam by unscrewing the lens and moved the cam by hand?

Could be the half-mirror needs to be replaced. Or something else in the mechanism is out of whack.

ray*j*gun · 10-18-2012

Once you get the IIIc sorted out its a wonderful camera to focus. Its my favorite for lots of reasons but one is the fact that a whole VF is dedicated to focusing. If it needs service Yoxin Ye is the man for Barnacks.

thereabouts · 10-18-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr_Flibble

Have you played with the diopter adjustment/telescope lever?

Yes, I've done all I can with that I think. In so far as I have managed to put the 'dot' image into focus for my eyes.

Quote:

Have you tested the RF-cam by unscrewing the lens and moved the cam by hand?

Sorry, I'm an ignoramous, I'm not even sure what that means.

Quote:

Could be the half-mirror needs to be replaced. Or something else in the mechanism is out of whack.

I did notice that only in really bright sunshine can I even see the second/ghost image. And even then, not clearly enough to focus. It seems really dull.

thereabouts · 10-18-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by ray*j*gun

Once you get the IIIc sorted out its a wonderful camera to focus. Its my favorite for lots of reasons but one is the fact that a whole VF is dedicated to focusing. If it needs service Yoxin Ye is the man for Barnacks.

Thanks for that.

ray*j*gun · 10-18-2012

Based on your last comment, it sounds like it needs the mirror replaced. Again Ye is the man.

The focus cam is a round item visible at the top of the lens mount just inside the body when there is no lens attached. It moves in and out (gently push on it to see it move) to focus the image using a cam on the lens.

thereabouts · 10-18-2012

Ah, at least I've learned something about focus cams. Thanks.

David Hughes · 10-18-2012

Hi,

Welcome aboard. I'll wish you luck with your new purchases.

I know what you mean by "Somehow, over the period of a couple of weeks , I accidentally (cough) seem to have bought a couple of Feds." I have the same problem with Danish pastries in supermarkets. They seem to fall off the shelf as I walk by...

Regards, David

thereabouts · 10-18-2012

Thanks.

THe other thing with this camera is that I can't get the slow speed dial to work at all. I have put the fast dial onto 30-1 and tried to pull up that little 'knob', but it seems stuck, any thoughts anyone?

Livesteamer · 10-18-2012

The slow speed dial does not pull out, rather , at the top of it is a very small knob that needs to be pushed back to allow the slow speed dial to rotate. Joe

Pioneer · 10-18-2012

Youxin Ye installed a new beamsplitter (mirror) in my little IIIc and turned it from a pain in my butt to a magnificent little camera to work with. But when I first started with it I could just barely make out a ghost image in full daylight. Now it works day or night and may be my favorite mechanical rangefinder camera of all time. I know that a lot of people don't believe that these cameras really can be used in this day and age, but I absolutely love them. And to be honest, I have a real tough time telling the difference between a great image made with this camera and a great image made by my modern M6, which I also love as well.

thereabouts · 10-19-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Livesteamer

The slow speed dial does not pull out, rather , at the top of it is a very small knob that needs to be pushed back to allow the slow speed dial to rotate. Joe

Gah, I was pulling the knob in the wrong direction. Thanks.

thereabouts · 10-19-2012

Thanks for the welcome and advice folks. I'll look for a local repair person, I think. It would cost me more in postage to send the camera to the US for repairs, than the repairs itself.

ray*j*gun · 10-19-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pioneer

Youxin Ye installed a new beamsplitter (mirror) in my little IIIc and turned it from a pain in my butt to a magnificent little camera to work with. But when I first started with it I could just barely make out a ghost image in full daylight. Now it works day or night and may be my favorite mechanical rangefinder camera of all time. I know that a lot of people don't believe that these cameras really can be used in this day and age, but I absolutely love them. And to be honest, I have a real tough time telling the difference between a great image made with this camera and a great image made by my modern M6, which I also love as well.

I have other 35's in my cabinet but I seldom reach for them....I believe a well sorted Barnack can not be beat and is only limited by the lens one chooses. At the moment they are true bargins and I am tempted to get another.....they are like an addiction.

thereabouts · 10-19-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by ray*j*gun

I have other 35's in my cabinet but I seldom reach for them....I believe a well sorted Barnack can not be beat and is only limited by the lens one chooses. At the moment they are true bargins and I am tempted to get another.....they are like an addiction.

It's a shame about this one, because after using the Fed 3a for a couple of weeks (which I love btw), the 'action', sound and feel of the IIIc certainly seems a lot smoother.

If I can get the viewfinder sorted, it will be a nice machine. I suppose $200 was too good to be true. I'd love a IIIg, but they are already too expensive for my current level of commitment.

Mr_Flibble · 10-19-2012

You might try using a contrast enhancing trick first by covering one of the RF eyes with a bit of see-through colored plastic (yellow, red or orange).
Something cheaper then the actual OKARO filter (or was it ORAKO, I always confuse the two)

Though, by the sound of it the half mirror is probably too far gone

Roger Hicks · 10-19-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr_Flibble

You might try using a contrast enhancing trick first by covering one of the RF eyes with a bit of see-through colored plastic (yellow, red or orange).
Something cheaper then the actual OKARO filter (or was it ORAKO, I always confuse the two)

Though, by the sound of it the half mirror is probably too far gone

ORAKO up to IIIa, OKARO after (I think).

Cheers,

R.

David Hughes · 10-19-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by thereabouts

It's a shame about this one, because after using the Fed 3a for a couple of weeks (which I love btw), the 'action', sound and feel of the IIIc certainly seems a lot smoother. SNIP!

Hi,

FEDs and Zorkis can be made as smooth and silky as any other camera after a service. The big advantage of a FED service compared to Leica II service is the cost as Oleg is very reasonable.

In the dark my Leica II and my FED 1 feel the same.

Regards, David

thereabouts · 10-19-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr_Flibble

You might try using a contrast enhancing trick first by covering one of the RF eyes with a bit of see-through colored plastic (yellow, red or orange).
Something cheaper then the actual OKARO filter (or was it ORAKO, I always confuse the two)

Though, by the sound of it the half mirror is probably too far gone

Thanks, I'll give that a go. I had a look at an Okaro for about $80, but it seemed a bit of a gamble.

Which RF eye do I cover?

thereabouts · 10-19-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Hughes

Hi,

FEDs and Zorkis can be made as smooth and silky as any other camera after a service. The big advantage of a FED service compared to Leica II service is the cost as Oleg is very reasonable.

In the dark my Leica II and my FED 1 feel the same.

Regards, David

Thanks. I'll bear that in mind, as I have a Fed 2 which needs a seeing to. Ranegfinder dot is bright, but won't focus.

Dralowid · 10-20-2012

Just get a little bit of yellow or orange acetate or similar and try it first before buying anything like an OKARO...

Actually any reasonably strong colour will give you a similar effect

Michael

Dez · 10-20-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by thereabouts

Thanks for the welcome and advice folks. I'll look for a local repair person, I think. It would cost me more in postage to send the camera to the US for repairs, than the repairs itself.

Replacing the semi-silvered mirror is a very easy fix, and will bring your rangefinder up to spec. If you feel comfortable with taking off the top of your camera, all you need to do is to pry off the little square plug in the end of the RF housing and pull out the mirror. Clean the mounting surface very carefully and glue in the replacement part with the silvered side facing the back of the camera. "Nobbysparrow" has replacement mirrors on ebay right now for $US9.00.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/160886461722...84.m1497.l2649

If you get it in properly, the vertical and horizontal alignment should be well within the range of the adjusters. I have done three cameras with these mirrors, a IIIB and two IIIC's, and had no problems.

Cheers,
Dez

Livesteamer · 10-20-2012

This is a long shot but here it is. I carry my IIIc in my pocket and about once a month I have to carefully clean all the windows because of accumulated dust. They look clean but if you look at them with a magnifier they may show significant crud buildup. Probably not the problem but something to watch. Good Luck. Joe

thereabouts · 10-20-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dez

Replacing the semi-silvered mirror is a very easy fix, …

Thanks Dez

I think, unless there is a really easy step-by-step guide somewhere, that I would not trust myself to do this.

Pioneer · 10-20-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Livesteamer

This is a long shot but here it is. I carry my IIIc in my pocket and about once a month I have to carefully clean all the windows because of accumulated dust. They look clean but if you look at them with a magnifier they may show significant crud buildup. Probably not the problem but something to watch. Good Luck. Joe

Someone else with big pockets. My Heliar 50 and my IIIc ride in my coat or vest pockets almost continually, though usually in the old leather case.