Focusing problem: any advice?

The Patient · Apr 6, 2010

Hello,

my name is Daniel from the Netherlands. recentley joined this site and have my first question. I hope someone can help me with this.

A little while ago I bought a Fuji TX1 (same as Hasselblad Xpan), which seems to have a problem with close focusing. I didn't see this when I bought it, so it may have just developed this problem, I'm not sure.

What's happening is this: when I.m focusing from infinity to the closest focal point, the rangefinder inside the viewfinder stops moving when the lens reaches roughly 1.2 meter or 4 feet. I have the 45mm and the 90mm lens, which means that for the 45mm lens from 0.7m to 1.2m nothing happens while focusing, for the 90mm nothing happens between 1m and 1.2m. From 1.2m to infinity seems to work fine. Any Idea what could cause this?

I could have asked this in the panorama section, but I think there might be more knowledge about rangefinders in this forum.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Cheers,

daniel

fotch · Apr 6, 2010

Hello daniel, welcome to APUG. Just a guess but if camera is suppose to focus closer and instead stops, perhaps something is dirty inside the rangefinder.

The Patient · Apr 6, 2010

Thanks for the quick reply

My technical knowledge of camera's is zero, so I have no idea how to check this. Is it easy to do or do I have to send it to a camerashop or maybe Fuji? And if I have to let it get cleaned, any idea what this will cost? It might than be smart to let it have a complete CLA at the same time. Will that be very expensive?

I will contact the person I bought the camera from tomorrow, camera and lenses had been checked and working perfectly he said. The guy was very friendly and said if I ever had any problems I could contact him and he'd try to help me.

Cheers,

Daniel

elekm · Apr 6, 2010

With some cameras, the rangefinder decouples at very close distances. And perhaps this is the case with the TX1.

The Patient · Apr 7, 2010

Thanks,

I tried too find information about this, but so far found nothing. Just downloaded a manual for the Xpan, which is basicly the same camera and this also doesn't mention anything about the rangefinder decoupling at close distances so I assume it's supposed to function properly at all distances.

I don't know if this is relevant to my problem, but I'm going to mention it anyway. While the focusing square in the viewfinder stops functioning at distances under 1.2m or 4 feet, the paralax correction continues to work perfect.

Daniel

fotch · Apr 7, 2010

Well, Daniel, if its not in the manual, its not looking good. If you could call either Fuji or Hasselblad and speak to tech. you might be able to find out more, email would take longer and easier to get ignored.

If the lens distance scale shows, say, 0.7m, its logical that the RF would focus to this point. Of course, logic may have nothing to do with it, but if the manual doesn't mentioned this, my bet would be a malfunction.

If you do get in contact with a factory rep. they may be able to estimate the cost of possible fixes. The seller may have never notice this.

It would be nice if someone who owns one could shed some light, however, they may be out taking pictures and not reading this forum. Have you tried other forums such as Rangerfinderforum or PhotoNet?

jbbooks · Apr 7, 2010

Sounds like you have a problem. Both should continue to work for the full range.

This man worked on mine when there was a focusing problem and might be able to help you:

Wilco Jansen

<hassel@zonnet.nl>

That has been some time ago. I do not have his telephone number handy, but, if the email address doe not work, PM me and I will send you the address I have for him in Holland.

The Patient · Apr 9, 2010

thanks everybody,

I'm happy to report that a solution is made.

When I bought the camera the actual owner was abroad and I dealt with a friend of his. After I found the problem I've contacted the friend. He was very friendly and brought me in contact with the original owner.

We mailed a couple of times and then spoke on the phone. Turns out he is also a great guy.

We both contacted Wilco Jansen and i'll be sending the camera to him soon. Wilco mentioned what might be the problem, (I'n not sure how to translate this in English, my best try is that it has to do with alignement of the rangefinder). If this is the case the previous owner will take care of the costs. If it turns out there might be other problems we will try to find the best solution together.

Cheers

Daniel

jbbooks · Apr 10, 2010

Daniel,

Thanks for the follow up. Hopefully, it will be something simple and quick to fix.

The Patient · Apr 13, 2010

Something very weird happend

As I mentioned, I've discussed the situation with the previous owner and I wanted to send the camera for repair after the weekend. Because I wanted to finish the film before sending it, I kept on shooting. Somehow, after changing the lenses a couple of times, the problem seemed to get a little better. Because I noticed this, I kept on changing lenses a couple of times. The result: the 90mm seems to function all right and the 45mm also has a little improvement, although a lot slower.Before it wouldn't react under 1.2m, but at the moment it works from 1m, sometimes even between 0.8 and 1m.

Of course I told this to the previous owner and he contacted a friend that used a Hasselblad Xpan professionaly. This guy said it might have something to do with the fact that the camera was not used for some time and that it could improve itself over time.

Does anybody have any experience with this? As I've said, I know nothing about the technical side of things, but there is some improvement.

Thanks,

Daniel

Bob-D659 · Apr 13, 2010

It sounds like stiff grease is limiting the travel of a spring loaded cam follower in the rangefinder mechanism. Warming the camera body to 35-40C might help a lot, that will soften the grease and then using it warm will probably push some of the "stiff" grease out of the way.

MattKing · Apr 13, 2010

Bob-D659 said:
It sounds like stiff grease is limiting the travel of a spring loaded cam follower in the rangefinder mechanism. Warming the camera body to 35-40C might help a lot, that will soften the grease and then using it warm will probably push some of the "stiff" grease out of the way.

Bob is most likely right, but one caution:

Everybody from Winnipeg looks forward at this time of year to warming their body to 35-40C.

Sorry, just couldn't resist.

John Koehrer · Apr 13, 2010

You can exercise the RF follower by removing the lens & pressing the follower,in and allowing it to return a number of times.
It's the same thing the lens does but with less effort.

The Patient · Apr 15, 2010

Thanks for the replies

The 90mm is still functioning okay. With the 45 mm there is, compared with the beginning, improvement, but sometimes there's a little deterioration. Mostly it starts working at about 0.90/0.95m, which is a lot better then 1.2m but not as it's supposed to be.

If the problem was stiff grease in the rangefinder mechanism, wouldn't both lenses show the same improvement?

Cheers

Daniel

Zuikopath · Apr 16, 2010

I had a similar problem recently with a Zorki 4 rangefinder and I had to clean the rangefinder nechanism with lighter fluid and then carefully re-lubricate it to get things working correctly. All is perfect now.

It sounds as though you have a similar sticky RF mechanism as Bob-D659 said earlier.

Good luck.

The Patient · Aug 12, 2010

Problem should be solved

I'm glad I can report the problem should be fixed by now.

As I;ve mentioned the previous owner was very helpfull. We've send the camera to Wilco Jansen. This week I received an email from the previous owner that wilco cleaned and adjusted the rangefinder system, checked the camera and it's supposedly working perfect right now. Sadly I can't confirm this myself yet, I haven't received the camera back, but since Wilco is a highly regarded hasselblad repairsman in my country, I have no doubt about this.

Of course I will post a quick confirmation about this when I receive the camera, but I was so excited I had to post something now.

daniel

Sirius Glass · Aug 12, 2010

Welcome to APUG

Steve

papagene · Aug 12, 2010

Welcome to APUG... we will be looking forward to some photos taken with this camera when you get it back!

The Patient · Aug 26, 2010

Just received the camera,

and it's working perfectly again!!

Can't wait till I get time to shoot some photos.

Thanks everybody for all your advice.

Cheers,

Daniel

Focusing problem: any advice?

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