I had just adjusted my FED2 horizontal rangefinder earlier today which was way off as the rangefinder linkage had been bent when I got the camera. I had to straighten the linkage arm and this morning I adjusted the horizonal screw. It seems to have worked for infinity and close focusing. I'm doing test photos. I kind of wished I watched this video first! =)
@@heyboyer well, it will be here in case you need it afterwards. I try not to use rangefinders of this kind for pinpoint sharp, close focusing, wide aperture shots anyway.
I made some measurements tonight with my micrometer depth gauge (Suhl, GDR). You can make quite precise measurements with it (slightly better than 0,01 mm). But there is a similar issue as with the gauge with a spring: there is no certainty as to when you make contact with the pressure plate. Consequently you press down the plate before you notice it. The remedy is as you suggest: fix the plate with some foam or the like. Then you can clearly feel the contact point. I noticed that Maizenberg used a modified gauge (with clock readout): he just removed the spring inside. So, I suppose, the measuring rod moves freely and just "falls" onto the plate. Arresting the plate and using an unmodified micrometer serves the purpose just as well. ADDED: Found another way. Place the lense mount on a plane surface. (I use a polished steel disk.) Then place the gauge on the inner pair of rails on the back (!) of the film gate. Allow for 0,04 mm of film bulging so that you aim for 28.84 mm. You get precisely repeatable measurements for the centre and two corners. Unfortunately you can't quite reach the other two corners, since the sprocket shaft is in the way. But with the measurement point you can access, you get a good enough idea of the situation.
My gauge is new and I'm extremely reluctant in taking it apart and removing the spring. I might actually look for a vintage one that I could modify. Your upside-down idea is actually very nice and can be 'modified' by using a block of metal sized so that it sits on the inner rails and has a rectified surface. Then all doubts are gone. Unfortunately neither of these approaches will work with the bottom loaders, so a second gauge is probably the way to go.
Mine is from Insize www.insize.com/Contact.html But there are multiple options depending on your budget. Ideally you'd need a micrometer or a springless gauge so nothing pushes against the pressure plate (for the most accurate results).
@@AlinCiortea A depth micrometer (German: "Tiefenmesser") is the tool of choice. They are precision instruments and fairly undestructable. They used to be very expensive but can be had cheaply these days. Good used ones go for 50 to 70 Euros. Mine was made by Suhl Feinmeß (former GDR). If you buy one in the (former) Imperial World, make sure that you get one with metric gradation -- inches are fairly useless for camera work. Be aware: There are also old depth micrometer gauges with a clocklike readout. Most of these served a different purpose and cannot be nulled. Not what you want!
