Voigtlander Vitessa A (4) rangefinder repair

<p>Picked up a Voigtlander Vitessa A (4) in fair shape....cheap....and the only thing seemingly wrong with it (without actually taking pics) is the rangefinder function in the viewfinder is gone. Meaning, no "diamond" and no double image. But while turning the focussing wheel, the lens/bellows assembly does move back and forth in the proper manner (as far as relative positioning....dont know if it's exact tho). I've heard these <br />Vitessa "barn door" cams are a pain to work on. So, I'm hesitant to do my normal and just dig in, rip it apart, and figure out if it's fixable.........especially seeing as I probably will be able to focus reasonably well just using the distance numbers on the focus wheel.</p>

<p>Any opinions, or help on the issue? No, I'm not paying to get it repaired. It's cool enough just sitting on the shelf with the "barn doors" open and the occasional shooting tries...............f/8 and 15 ft will get a pic in focus no matter what.....heh</p>

<p>95% chance the mirror unglued itself, this is what happened on mine, I look through the finder, and can't see the patch - there are 2 possibilities: no mirror, or someone wiped off the beam splitter's silver layer (possible but unlikely as it seems to be a large unit of glass).<br>

Remove the back plate, rotate the film takeup spool so that the open notch exposes a screw, undo it, the other screw will be near the film compartment.<br>

Then the top plate should lift, unscrew the plunger's cap (might take some force), and carefully lift the top plate - it will take you some wiggling as the focusing knob is holding it.<br>

Once the plate is off, you will see the RF unit (angled), the half-mirror if unglued should fall out so don't lose it.<br>

Unscrew the RF unit (2 screws, bottom left and top maybe 1 cm from the left), it will come out.<br>

The mirror should be glued at a 45 deg angle on the back behind the diamond/square window - you would see where.<br>

Once it's in place you're up for quite some work to adjust the RF patch again.<br>

In my model (square patch, nearly the latest vitessa L), the vertical was very off after fixing the mirror, I had to turn the hex screw on the top of RF unit to move the beam splitter enough to bring the patch in-line. I haven't done the horizontal alignment yet.</p>

<p>Putting the plate back on requires you to kind of do it upside-down (watch out for the shutter release shaft), and when the plate is on, you need to move the lens bellows a tad so that the focusing knob goes all the way where it should.<br>

The sprint that might fall out should go between the knob and the round top plate.<br>

Have fun.</p>

<p><strong>Vitessa-L rangefinder adjustment</strong><br>

This is an old thread but I thought I would add the key simplification differences with the last barn-door model Vitessa-L. Though the early models are indeed difficult because the top plate must be taken off for any adjustments, the late model Ls can be adjusted (most of the time) by removing the accessory shoe.<br>

Remove the three small screws that hold the shoe in place. Through the hole in the top plate that it reveals you'll see about 1/3 of a brass sprocket. This is the vertical alignment adjustment. With a small screwdriver, a finger nail or the tip of your finger you ac gently rotate that sprocket one tooth at a time to align the rangefinder coincidence vertically. It is only held in place with friction, so don't lubricate it.<br>

Above it and to the left (when looking from the camera's rear) you will see a hole in which are a pair of sideways Vs cut into two black metal plates that press against each other with friction. They are offset making a diamond shape: <> This is the horizontal coincidence adjustment for infinity. With the lens extended, set the focus on infinity and find a clear object more than about 150 feet away. Insert the tip of a slot screwdriver into the diamond and gently twist to move the horizontal alignment left or right until the rangefinder aligns at infinity.</p>

<address>Assuming all else is well inside the rangefinder system this should realign the finder. You can test it through the range by removing the back and running some matte scotch tape across the frame hole. Set the shutter on B and lock it open with a cable release if you have one. Focus at the close point with the rangefinder, then place a loupe over the tape in the frame without moving the camera position. You should see sharp focus there. Repeat at infinity.</address><address> </address><address>If one end is sharp and the other not, the range is out of adjustment. For this you must remove the top plate. To do that, remove the screws as described above. With the lens folded shot (which disconnects the cam followers from the cam on the focus knob). Work the focus knob a little as you gently lift the top off of the advance post.</address><address> </address><address>Just above and to the left of where the knob sits you will find a second V pair with a lock screw. This is the range adjustment. Slightly loosen the screw and slip the range back and forth slightly to familiarize yourself with which direction it will move. Re-lock the screw and replace the top plate. Through the shoe hole realign infinity as above. Then using the tape and loupe, chce focus at the close point again.</address><address> </address><address>Because of the lock screw this adjustment is rare. First align at infinity on the assumption that a bump move the friction plates or the sprocket and that adjustment will get you back to sharp focus.</address><address> </address><address><img src="https://www.flickr.com/gp/76004407@N06/299NAD" alt="" /></address><div></div>