Rangefinder calibration in NYC

Hello everyone,

 

I just acquired Noctilux after searching for one for a long time and I will be

using it on a brand new Zeiss Ikon. I understand that Noctilux requires very

precise and well calibrated rangefinder. I don't have lens yet so I don't know

if my camera will require calibration but I would like to know who is known to

be handy with rangefinders in NYC and could calibrate Ikon if needed.

 

I'm overly excited and can't wait to start using it...............big thanks to

anyone with any helpful info :-)

 

Tom.

OH boys................

Torben, are they in NYC ?

No; they are out of town taking pictures!

<p>If your Zeiss Ikon is brand new, why do you think it will require a calibration? Every single Zeiss Ikon item (lenses, camera, etc) is sent to Germany for testing and comes with a quality control certificated...</p>

 

<p>I don't know if you have used a rangefinder camera before. If you don't, probably you'll get several unsharp images until you get used to the focusing system... at least in my case it was like that ;-)... for your peace of mind, if you want to test the calibration of your rangefinder, you can do the ruler test described here (and please use a tripod when taking the pictures of the ruler): <a href="http://www.photo.net/learn/focustest/" >http://www.photo.net/learn/focustest/</a></p>

 

<p>cheers, <i>Alejandro</i><p>

A photo net member (I think Marc Williams?) had a Noctilux that he put on an M5 and left it

there. He had the camera and lens calibrated so that the focus of the nocti and the

rangefinder were "synched". That said, I don't remember who did it or how you 'ask' for that

service. He was very happy with the results, if memory serves.

Torben, this must be a crazy bunch.

Alejandro, Noctilux requires highest precision from the focusing system

and while my Ikon is brand new and may not require calibration I want

to do it anyway just to be sure, I don't want to wonder if it was my or

cameras fault when I'll get soft image :-) <br>

<br>

I have used Bessa R3A with Nokton 40mm for a year now so I'm fine with

rangefinder, I'll even have some pictures to prove it :-) Well, not to

prove anything, I just like showing my pictures :-) Thanks.<br>

<br>

<a href="http://www.tomwidlak.com/alan/" target="_blank">LINK</a>

- pictures from my Bessa except the square and 6x4.5 images<br>

<br>

<a href="http://www.tomwidlak.com/shoot/" target="_blank">LINK</a>

- pictures 67-104 are from Bessa, the rest is from Canon 30D<br>

<br>

And here is one from the Noctilux:

John, this is exactly what I want to do, calibrate Ikon to Noctilux and leave it there as this will be the only lens I'll be using on this camera. I will look him up, thanks.

Tomasz, I have had great services with Berry Camera Repair, 844 6th Avenue at 29th Street.

212-685-9334.

Hey--Keith, is Professional Camera Repair still around? Started by the late, great Marty

Forscher it was over around 47th St or so? I can't remember if I saw something about them

closing, or not? I hope all's well, btw. All okay here.

John, no, they closed years ago.

Try Nippon Photo Clinic. They are a good operation and they know their stuff. Just do a

google search on them to find their information.

Keith, thank you very much, I'll keep them in mind.

Stuart, this is where I'll be going tommorow, thanks. This place was reccomended to me on rangefinder forum and after short research I've found that everyone praise them. I hope I will too :-)

Thank you all for help, I got the info I was looking for :-)

Right....as I suspected, Keith. Thanks for the Berry Repair recommendation.

Tomasz, was the calibration necesary? I'm curious if the quality control of Zeiss worked with your Noctilux.

Well, yes it was :-) I used Nippon Camera Clinic - amazing shop, real craftsmanship there - and the technician said that my Ikon rangefinder was off, just by looking at infinity setting. He also said that for a lens like Noctilux it's a good idea to calibrate the body anyway to have it adjusted perfectly. The cost was $120 and after few rolls I can say that the focusing is spot on.

mmmhhh... that with the focus at infinity seems to be a common issue. I have the same problem with my ZI. But, since the infinity range is not that critical and the close range seems to work fine (I did the focus test that I mentioned above: http://www.photo.net/learn/focustest/), I did not payed much attention to it... On the other hand, I never used the camera with less than f/2 (I only have ZM lenses).

 

Now, I have to write an email to Zeiss and see what they say about that.

It seems to be a common problem, it was even suggested that it's normal thing with Ikon but now I have perfect infinity as well as close distance focus, even with Noctilux. Well, it's Cosina after all, I went through four Bessas before I've found one with well adjusted rangefinder out of the box :-)