Petri RF

[puderse]

I spent way too much for this 6 X 4.5 rangefinder through the mail. Allthough I am not dissatisfied enough to ask for refund etc. I discovered upon first inspection that the focus is tight and up to snuff when on infinity but seens to get looser and looser as one screws the lens out to minimum focus. Someone in the camera's past has tried to address this issue and only succeeded in buggering the tiny brass screws that hold the front element to the second.

Here I stopped.

Is there a way to seperate the elements after I take out the focus stop screw and remove the elements in front of the shutter? I could always drill out the screws and install three slightly larger screws after threading the holes. My arthritic hands might leave an ugly mess and/or F--- it up beyond all recognition. I have a small drill press and the taps and screws. Could even go on an expedition to find a small backward drill that might get the screws out and not mess up the threads. These set screws are brass and very tiny so that possibility is not bloody likely!

I've had a well known Penn. repairman CLA and replace bellows on a couple of AGFA RF folders and it took a return but it was made right in the end.

Advise on repairs or repairmen?

[FallisPhoto]

Originally Posted by puderse

Advise on repairs or repairmen?

Best I know of is Essex Camera Services, in NJ. http://www.essexcamera.com/

[charjohncarter]

Here is my FirstSix made by what would become Petri. I have taken the focusing ring off and the screws were buggered, I use a little liquid wench and a very small screwdriver. With the focus ring off you can unscrew the front element (marking infinity position first) and then clean the thread throughly. Then reassemble with the very thinnest oil you can find. Replace the focus ring at the infinity setting and either do as I did live with the buggered screws or re tap.

[Windscale]

charjohncarter,

I am glad that you have actually started to do something to your First Six. I am sure once you got rid of internal reflections and adjusted the focus and added a hood you will be surprised what it can do provided you did not shoot into the sun. Please let us know how you got on. Good luck.

Sorry for sidetracking from this thread.

[charjohncarter]

I will, Windscale.