Konica Auto S2 - can't calibrate the RF!

dugrant153 · Aug 7, 2014

Hi all,

I recently picked up my Konica Auto S2 to play with and was working on trying to get the rangefinder adjusted. The problem is that, for some reason, even though I've adjusted the focus for infinity focus, all of my images (even at highest aperture) appear out of focus... as if what I'm seeing through the rangefinder viewfinder isn't lining up with what the camera is taking.

This Konica Auto S2 is old and I picked it up from a thrift store. That being said, I have found the horizontal adjustment screw and that's how I focused it to infinity to test. ...

Have I calibrated the viewfinder wrong? (focusing at a very distant object and ensuring that when it's at "infinity" marking on the focus lever that the very distant object is in focus?).

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Xmas · Aug 7, 2014

The focus at infinity is only good for a SLR.

A rangefinder needs

- the lens to be registered and matched to the heliciod.
- the range finder matched to the heliciod (or lens)

eg the M Leica rangefinder has two horizontal adjustments that simplistically have only one combination that works with a /0.95 lens and only at 1m 10m and infinity.

So you may have lots of work to do on your camera to get it back to factory settings.

Gunfleet · Aug 7, 2014

Sticking a bit of tracing paper to the film plane inside the camera may assist in checking your progress

naeroscatu · Aug 7, 2014

If I remember correctly the Konica Auto S2 has a fixed lens so adjustments of the RF should work unless there is damage inside the RF and adjustment cannot be done properly. The suggestion to stick some wax paper inside the camera and watch the infinity focus with magnifying glass should help.

dugrant153 · Aug 7, 2014

Thanks for the suggestion. So I did place a piece of very light paper (not translucent but thin) against the film plane in the back. I eyeballed what would be infocus in the distance and ... the focus ring is showing the 2.7 meter mark when the "film" should be at infinity. Something is really off. And looks like it's not the RF.

So all this time I've been messing with the RF but looks like it might be the lens itself is not aligned to the film...?

Xmas · Aug 7, 2014

It may be the Russian lens syndrome where some one has had the lens apart and reassembled without a shim.

But it is difficult to get the range finders back to factory even if you have all the parts.

The norm is I get cameras in zip lock bags as failed repair jobs...

dugrant153 · Aug 8, 2014

well, just check the lens to film plane and... contrary to what I thought, it's actually fine. I must've made a mistake earlier.

So... my rangefinder must be off. Still trying to figure it out. Going to recalibrate to infinity and then re-check if closer distances are accurate.

dugrant153 · Sep 4, 2014

OK, so I've done a lot of soul-searching and I am thinking towards having this Konica Auto S2 CLA-ed and recalibrated properly by a technician. I know this will cost a pretty penny but it seems there is a lot of potential locked up in this camera and my meddling has not made it any better.
I do have other cameras that I would use (i.e. Olympus OM and my Pentax cameras) so this would be kind of the small step into the RF world. Curious if you folks think it's worth it? I bought the camera for something like $30-$40. A CLA will set me back $100ish or so.

Xmas · Sep 4, 2014

Buy two more at 40USD...

zanxion72 · Sep 4, 2014

I think that it should be first calibrated at close focus and then at infinity. While trying to get it adjust it at infinity only, you might get past the actual infinity mark but not get it registered visually in the viewfinder as the rangefinder "sensor" cannot go any further than that.
I would adjust it first aiming at 1 meter at a printed target and then check infinity. Usually, when focus at 1 m is o.k. it will also be at infinity. If not then the lens has other issues to resolve first.

Konica Auto S2 - can't calibrate the RF!

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