Graflex.org

[Frank_Petronio]

I know it is hersay, but my Speed Graphic that I sent to SK Grimes to be married to an Aero Ektar (with side mounted Kalart RF) came back with the requested RF "adjustment" way, way off. The travelling arm was placed in front of the eccentric screw, which kept it from returning to infinity as you shorten the focus.

The RF worked perfectly before.

Of course, SK Grimes machining is excellent - they made a bracket to support the heavy lens, as well as a very secure custom mounting. So I can't fault them other than charging me $$$ for the bogus "adjustment." But I'd like to have the RF working properly! I've followed the instructions on Graflex.org and can't get the darn RF to focus at infinity without moving the eccentric screw out of the pre-drilled screws in the rear track. Which doesn't seem right to me. I haven't adjusted a RF before, so I am getting frustrated.

Are there any experts out there? Anyone near Rochester, NY (where they made the darn things - there has to be somebody)? At this point I'd pay to have it done right, although I hate to ship the camera off again (it's heavy!).

I'd also enjoy meeting up with a Graflexer. My treat of course.

Thanks,
Frank

[Dan Fromm]

[bertsaunders]

Email me
bsaunders1@bak.rr.com
I have instructions for the placement of the RF arm as well as the adjusting instructions for the RF itself w/photos and inst sheet!
Have a nice day....Bert

[mrektar]

Somewhere in the help files of this site is a long procedure I wrote for adjusting Kalart side rangefinders.
First, check to see that the actuating arm has not just slipped to the wrong side of the cam. This can happen. If it has just push it over so it goes back.
The Aero Ektar is near the limit of the range of focal lengths the RF can handle, but if it worked before it should work now.
The key to getting the RF right for any lens is to make sure the actuating lever is installed correctly. To do this set the adjusting cam on the camera bed so that it pushes the arm back, the slot will be horizontal. For some rangefinders you will need to make a small wrench or key to wind the actuating axel so that the RF is against its infinity stop. There is a flat end on the axel for this wrench. You can make one from a small bit of hard brass or aluminum. File a notch on the side near one end.
Later Kalarts must be opened to set the mechanism at the stop. After removing the outter cover you will discover a small threaded hole on the front of the frame. You can poke a small screwdriver into this and it will push the focus mechanism back. I don't remember the right thread for the hole but the official method is to run a long screw into it. This holds the axel still so that the set screw can be thightened. With either type of RF fix the actuating arm against the adjustment cam using rubber bands so its held tight against the cam. Run the focusing track back as far as it will go. Then tighten the set screw on the actuating lever. Then set the adjusting cam back so that the slot is vertical.
To set the basic infinity position run the camera focus track out about 1/16 inch from the back mechanical stop. On Anniversary Graphics set the focus scale in the center of its range and set the focus bed so that it reads infinity. Once this is set check the RF, it should be close to infinity or right on. If its much off the internal infinity adjuster must be set. This is the small screw under the prism on the deluxe version found on most Speed and Crown Graphics. There is an equivalent adjustment for RF's with mirrors rather than prisms at the bottom.
The next step is to set the two sliders for the starting values for the particular focal length lens. I don't think Kalart had starting values for lenses as long as the Aero Ektar but probably around 15 for the back slider and around 4 or 5 for the front one will be close.
Another infinity adjustment is necessary now, a very important one. Loosen the infnity stops for the bed. Set the rangefinder on a very distant object after setting up the arm and internal infinity adjustment. The RF should indicate focus when the bed is at the infinity mark. Lock the bed and slide the lens so that its in perfect focus at infinity as shown on the ground glass. Now fix the infinity stops and check again.
Now, set the camera up for a target at 15 feet. When its focused on the ground glass adjust the slider on the back so that the RF reads right. Normally, the front slider is set at 4 feet but the Aero Ektar probably will not focus this close. I would focus it as closely as the bed extension permits and set the front slider there. Then recheck the infinity setting and the middle distance setting. It will take some juggling to get the thing set for its full range. Again, the rangefinder will be operating somewhat beyond its normal range so it may be necessary to try other starting points for the two sliders. In general, the larger numbers are used for longer lenses. Remember, the Aero-Ektar is NOT a telephoto lens, its a long focal length normal lens.
This procedure will work for all lenses within the range of the RF.
Write me if this is not clear. I must re-write the instructions I posted earlier since I think I could do better with them.
Kalart rangefinders are capable of being very accurate despite seeming a bit crude.
I've found one problem in setting them up is focus shift in some lenses. This varies from almost none at all for Kodak Ektars to excesive for some other lenses. The problem is that if you set the RF for the lens wide open it may be slightly out of focus when stopped down. If you set for the lens stopped down it may be very blurry when wide open.



_________________
Richard Knoppow
dickburk@ix.netcom.com