ethics_gradient
9-Apr-2010, 13:10
A couple weeks ago I took delivery of a 4x5 Pacemaker Speed Graphic, and spent two rather frustrating afternoons getting the Kalart Rangefinder calibrated with my 7" Aero Ektar. After a lot of trial and error (plenty of the latter), I got it working properly from about 4'6" to infinity, which I was happy with. It was a little out of horizontal alignment, and I couldn't quite get that long skinny screw to turn enough to get it right. I figured I could live with it, but wanted to see if I could find some more info later and poke around a bit to see if I could get it 100%. Alignment issues aside it's a really nice example, it's not yellowed and dim like many of the other older RF's I've seen.
Anyways, the camera was sitting around on the tripod with the covering of the RF removed, and I accidentally bumped into it. Now the images in the RF do not track except for a little bit at maybe around 7-8' or so. After some investigation, I found that it's actually still in calibration at all distances, but the arm that moves the prism isn't making contact with the angled copper (brass?) piece that moves as the cam does. If I nudge it forward gently with my finger, the images line up properly at all distances.
I'm really hesitant to adjust anything without knowing exactly what I'm doing, as it took me several hours to get the RF set properly for the Aero Ektar and I really, really don't want to repeat the process. Does anyone know what I need to tighten, re-adjust, or open up to set it right? I'm hoping to take it shooting at a local event on Sunday. Here's a picture with a close-up of what I'm talking about.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4018/4506214232_7817f6d4bd_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/chadcullen/4506214232/?rotated=1&cb=1270842674254)
Thanks!
Anyways, the camera was sitting around on the tripod with the covering of the RF removed, and I accidentally bumped into it. Now the images in the RF do not track except for a little bit at maybe around 7-8' or so. After some investigation, I found that it's actually still in calibration at all distances, but the arm that moves the prism isn't making contact with the angled copper (brass?) piece that moves as the cam does. If I nudge it forward gently with my finger, the images line up properly at all distances.
I'm really hesitant to adjust anything without knowing exactly what I'm doing, as it took me several hours to get the RF set properly for the Aero Ektar and I really, really don't want to repeat the process. Does anyone know what I need to tighten, re-adjust, or open up to set it right? I'm hoping to take it shooting at a local event on Sunday. Here's a picture with a close-up of what I'm talking about.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4018/4506214232_7817f6d4bd_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/chadcullen/4506214232/?rotated=1&cb=1270842674254)
Thanks!