Bessa R3A rangefinder sticking

[brokencoastline]

I recently purchased a Bessa R3A and although the rangefinder is apparently aligned correctly, sometimes the rangefinder sticks. I'll turn the focusing ring steadily and the split images will start moving as they should but often stop for a moment and then very quickly move to the position they should be in, usually with a faint click-like sound. I find it only happens when I first start using the camera after it hasn't been used for a while. I know the rangefinders in these cameras are known to become misaligned easily but I've never read anything about this problem. I'm wondering what is causing it and whether this is a problem that could get worse or cause the rangefinder to become misaligned if it continues.

 

[C.poulton]

I would suggest that a simple CLA would solve this - sounds like a lubricant issue.

I owned a R3a for a number of years (well travelled) and never experienced this problem.


Christian

 

[thegman]

Sounds a little like my Zeiss Ikon, as it went away after a couple of turns of the focus ring, I never bothered to fix it, in fact I think it went away by itself.

However, if it bothers you, sounds like a simple service would fix it. Maybe talk to CameraQuest, they seem to be the go-to place for Cosina/Voigtlander.

 

[brokencoastline]

Thanks for the suggestions, both of you. Seeing as the camera is still usable, I'll probably just wait and see if the problem persists or worsens for now.

 

[vpwphoto]

I have adjusted my RF's, built a sailboat, and work on Mazda rotary engines and Leica finders.

He is my guess, IF it does it in the same place each time, there might be an ever so slight burr on the focus cam on your lens.

My gut says there is something sticky on the roller or the cam or the roller has some damage to the bearing (I havn't had a Bessa here in a while).
BEFORE you go sending it out. Take a swab and clean all your lenses focus cams with some denatured alcohol, or windex on the swab. Do the same with the roller/finger thing in the camera. Likely just some old grease that is sticky causing the issue.
AND if it doesn't bother you, just leave it alone to something else springs up. I found those Bessa Rangefinders to become out of line so quickly I just decided to live with the slight issues... I wasn't using them at f1.4 anyway too often.