How to adjust vertical RF alignment in Bessa R3A

[chenick]

Is it straightforward to adjust the vertical RF alignment in Bessa R3A? (I have one on loan for a week, I might be buying it... )

I found instructions for an R and R2, but the R3A looks pretty different.
I removed the hotshoe plate, but only saw one accessible screw. There is another visible screw, but it is at 90 degrees and thus inaccessible this way.
See pic

Cheers!
Nick

[sf]

Careful, everyone. I tried this - followed careful directions from a professional camera fixer guy, and it is pretty sketchy. When I tried adjusting things, nothing was moving smoothly, things were sticking and it was horrible. It is NOT straightforward, unless you are a regular camera mechanical guru - or just someone who has very surgically precise hands and doesn't mind the intense work on little tiny things. I tried for several hours without any victory before returning the body to B&H for a replacement. THey were so kind, given that tinkering with the alignment screws voids any warranties.

[chenick]

I figured I could manage to remove 4 screws just for a peek
Didn't dare touch inside though!

-Nick

[f/stopblues]

Keep in mind that on these cameras the viewfinder is just so large that your eye placement makes a significant impact on how the vertical alignment appears. Try some different eye positions and see if you can get yourself centered. It may save some hassle with adjustments.

[sf]

I agree with Chris. I noticed that my RF645 was "out of alignment" until I learned that I just had to center my eye in the finder. Which means . . .my R3A may never have been out of alignment to begin with.

[ClaremontPhoto]

Vertical alignment is not relevant to focussing.

The patch moves left and right so it's the horizontal alignment that needs checking/adjusting.

Having said that rangefinder misalignment fear is way out of line with actual incidence of problems.

[siverta]

Personally, I think this is like jumping through a minefield on a pogo-stick.... Or trying to disarm a nuclear warhead :-) Too many things that can go wrong.

Sivert.

Personally, I think this is like jumping through a minefield on a pogo-stick.... Or trying to disarm a nuclear warhead

Priceless!

[chenick]

hi folks,

I understand the alignment doesn't affect focusing accuracy, but it does make it harder to focus in the absence of vertical lines as the image doesn't snap into position.

Fortunately the guy I was going to buy it from has agreed to fix it first... so I will almost certainly get it...

Cheers!!

Nick

Originally Posted by Jon Claremont

Vertical alignment is not relevant to focussing.

The patch moves left and right so it's the horizontal alignment that needs checking/adjusting.

Having said that rangefinder misalignment fear is way out of line with actual incidence of problems.