Zeiss Ikon ZM allignment problem

[heidrich]

Hey everybody!

I bought my Zeiss Ikon ZM about four months ago, and it worked perfectly well until May. I accidentally dropped it on the ground, though not from somewhere that is very high (about 90cm), then I found that the camera was not focusing at infinity.

When I set my 35mm C Biogon lens to infinity and look into the viewfinder, everything beyond a certain distance (I guess it's 200 meters or so) cannot be properly focused. However, objects that are nearer, say 30 meters from the focal plane, are still "in focus" as seen from the focusing patch.

The focusing patch of the Zeiss Ikon ZM moves from the right towards the left in the viewfinder as you focus from 0.7m to the infinity. In my case, it seems the focusing patch should go slightly more towards the left at infinity, but it doesn't.

Anybody knows if this infinity misalignment issue affects shooting results for other distances shorter than infinity. Will I get misguided by the viewfinder reading? (That is to say, when I focus at 3 meters and the viewfinder tells me that the object is being properly focused, but the final result is either back- or front-focused?) I wonder if this only affects the infinity, or it acctually affects focusing at all distances.

Lokk forward to any insights^_^

[heidrich]

I think the problem lies in the camera body's RF mechanism, not in the lens, since I tested the lens on a friend's M3.

[jonmanjiro]

Originally Posted by heidrich

The focusing patch of the Zeiss Ikon ZM moves from the right towards the left in the viewfinder as you focus from 0.7m to the infinity. In my case, it seems the focusing patch should go slightly more towards the left at infinity, but it doesn't.

Anybody knows if this infinity misalignment issue affects shooting results for other distances shorter than infinity.

Yes, the error may not be that much, but if I'm understanding your explanation correctly you'll get back focusing across the entire focus range. You need to get your rangefinder adjusted.

[heidrich]

Originally Posted by jonmanjiro

Yes, the error may not be that much, but if I'm understanding your explanation correctly you'll get back focusing across the entire focus range. You need to get your rangefinder adjusted.

Thank you jonmanjiro. I guess an adjustment is needed.
Can I do it on my own? Can I just tweak the knob that lies underneath the shutter speed dial until things at infinity get clear on the focusing patch?

[jonmanjiro]

Originally Posted by heidrich

Thank you jonmanjiro. I guess an adjustment is needed.
Can I do it on my own? Can I just tweak the knob that lies underneath the shutter speed dial until things at infinity get clear on the focusing patch?

It is possible to adjust the rangefinder yourself, but its not a simple adjustment and not recommended for the faint hearted. More info here:

http://www.monopix.co.uk/zmadjust.shtml

[heidrich]

Originally Posted by jonmanjiro

It is possible to adjust the rangefinder yourself, but its not a simple adjustment and not recommended for the faint hearted. More info here:

http://www.monopix.co.uk/zmadjust.shtml

Yeah, I did a couple of test shots yesterday. I will wait and see the development first