Beseler 23 Alignment Questions

[craigclu]

I've used many methods of alignment over the years and have been quite satisfied with my edge to edge sharpness. I recently made an impulse buy of a Versalab Laser alignment tool and it verified that my equipment is in good, basic alignment. I first confirmed that my negative stage was in alignment, which it was. I next checked the mounted lens alignment and found that left to right, it was right on but the fore/aft was just a smidgeon (about 1/16" reflected to the rear) of dead center. I don't see any method of isolating the lens stage for this adjustment. I have the original manual that came with it when new but it doesn't address this, either. Are there any tricks around this? I'm certain I will not be able to discern this small amount but being this close makes me want to make it perfect, if possible.

 

[glbeas]

maybe a bit of tape on the edge of the lensboard for the required tilt?

 

[joeyk49]

I can't comment because I "eyeball" everything...

 

[Jon Shiu]

You can buy an adjustable double lensboard that has three bolts in it to adjust alignment, but shimming the lensboard with tape should also work.

Jon

 

[dancqu]

I've used many methods of alignment over the
years and have been quite satisfied with my
edge to edge sharpness.

I think it is possible to have edge to edge sharpness
and still have distortion. I've used a perfect rectangle
method checking at each corner for square while giving
very close attention to the carrier's projected image being
sharp along all edges. The method requires no setup and
only the tools needed to make the adjustments.

I for one can't think of a more sure way of alignment.
Have you tried the method I've described? Dan

 

[Saganich]

I agree with Jon, the lens boards with the bolts are the way to go. I was horrified at how bad the alignment was with the standard lb's.
Chris

 

[craigclu]

I finally spent some time on this today and found some solutions to the alignment issues. I first got the baseboard/easel alignment to the basic chassis and film plane perfect. This took brass shimming on one side of the chassis to the baseboard mounts. I then removed the extra hardware that originally held the bracketry for the below lens filter assemblies (the parts held by 2 phillips head screws). I unscrewed the large blade screw that holds the left/right lens alignment swivel in place and shimmed that part's lower mounting until the fore/aft setting of the lens mounting was aligned. I am now aligned in all directions of both the film plane and the lens stage and in agreement with the easel. Life is again good....