I'm probably opening mself up for a flogging but here goes: I've had only one camera so far that didn't focus properly, by that I mean in-focus in the viewfinder wasn't in-focus on film. That was an MX, and it was off by a mile. What I wound up doing was re-shimming the mirror/lens mount assembly where it attaches to the body. It had been apart before and apparently some of the shims had been replaced in the wrong positions, or omitted. This was a matter of trial and error. Here's how I checked it, I have since used this method to test all my cameras for focus alignment. I cut a thin piece of "ground glass" to the size of 2 frames of 35mm film. I then placed this glass, ground side in at the film plane with masking tape. I focus an image on the glass with the shutter open on "bulb", using an 8x loupe. (Cool huh? A 35mm view camera!) After closing the shutter I check this focus in the viewfinder. All of my cameras have passed this test except the mentioned MX. It took 2 days of off and on messing with this one to get it right. I work mostly on ME, ME-S and MX bodies, and I can't for the life of me see how a mirror can be out of alignment without being actually bent, stops deformed or the mechanism very worn. I understand the LX can be out because of the rubber bumper problem but the other cameras don't use this method. In the ME for example the mirror comes to rest on a solid metal stop, it would take a LOT of pressure to bend this. The ones that do have bumpers you simply turn the bumper around to a "good spot" if it is flattened. The ist D seems to not have a bumper either. It of course can't be checked by the ground glass method since it has no "film plane". Hope mine stays aligned forever! I would be interested in hearing from others who have actually seen a mirror out of spec, I haven't.
Don (Who hasn't had a good flogging since the "worst eBay seller" thread) ;-) > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Thursday, November 25, 2004 1:58 AM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: RE: mirror damage,was:cleaning focusing screen / pentaprism > > > >>Don Said: > > > > I have however cleaned a number of mirrors, > > I buy a lot of "as is" or "for parts/repair" > > 35's and some are unbelievably filthy. > > The method I've used is this: > > 1. "Tease" the end of several Q-Tips (Cotton swabs) > > until they look more like a string mop than a swab. > > 2. Starting out with one very wet with glass cleaner, > > "drag" it (ZERO pressure) over the mirror several times. > > Prior to joining this list,and in a non thinking mode day, i > tried to field clean some > dust gunk, what have > you off my K1000 mirror. I used a lint free lens cloth bought at > a local store and tried > to rub off the > offending particals. I did use SOME pressure on the mirror. I > have always been a bit > worried i have > done some focus damage to the camera. It should go in for a CLA > anyway(one of my film > horse > cameras,so its a bit dirty)and was wondering if most repair shops > had equipment to check > mf cameras > for focus accuracy. Its still a great working camera but i just > can't help wondering. > Or will the responce be shoot a roll and see if its in focus.<g> > > Dave > >
