Would a CLA help with focusing patch?

fraley · 11-12-2004

I picked up a Yashica Lynx 1000 which is a nice size, solid & with a bright 1.8 45mm lens, but the focusing patch is very faint. Would a CLA help make it brighter? I guess I'm wondering if there is anything I can do. The focusing ring is stiff on the 2.6 ft near end, so maybe that would benefit too. Any suggestions? Or am I throwing good money after bad?

Brian Sweeney · 11-12-2004

If the patch is dirty, a CLA will help. It would brighten things up.

BUT if the patch is very dim most likely the semi-silvered "beamsplitters" have lost their coatings and are not doing their job. Hold the eyepiece up to a light, and look through the RF window. If a lot of "haze" shows up, you may be in luck with a cleaning. If you see faded portions and blacked-out spots, the finish is probably going. A repair, ie replacement or re-silvering is required. This is not cheap, and will put the cost of a CLA and repair into the $100 and up range. If it was a Leica, it would be worth it. A Yashica Lynx 1000 is not that expensive of a camera. If you are handy, look for a parts camera with a broken shutter.

g0tr00t · 11-12-2004

Give me a week. I just sent one in. I think it would because I think they clean the glass and mirrors...IMO.

l.mar · 11-12-2004

The Lynx viewfinders are dimmer than most, in order to make the rangefinder spot show up better -- I have a Lynx 14e. I sent it to Mark Hama in Georgia to repair the meter (a common problem) and he also gave it a CLA. The meter now works and the finder is a bit clearer, with the rangefinder spot a bit brighter, but still darker than say, an Olympus 35 RC. On the other hand, Yashica glass is unbelievable . . .

fraley · 11-14-2004

Thanks everyone! With a little help from Brian I got the top off, glued a loose ground glass pane back in, and repositioned the black frame thingy behind it (I'm not too informed on what I'm doing, as you can tell!). End result was an easier to see focusing patch.

Brian Sweeney · 11-14-2004

That is great! Looks like you saved yourself $70 and got a great to use camera.

DIY is not so bad once you get a few under your belt. The fixed-lens RF's of the '70s and '60s are not too bad to give a best dumb look and grab the screw drivers.