Anyone in Houston know the Kalart RF?

[Daniel W.]

I've picked up a Crown Graphic in what would be pretty pristine condition (along with with a fair load of other bits and pieces), except that the Kalart "Synchronized Rangefinder" (of infinite inaccurate tomfoolery) is terribly off. Focusing at infinity (on the ground glass) , the images are at opposite ends of the finder and completely off beyond any closer focusing. Let's just say, the images never coincide.

Is there anyone in Houston who is familiar with adjusting it and wouldn't mind teaching? While I'm sure Pro Camera Repair would be great to do it, it's something I'd like to learn to "DIY," or at least understand how.

[heespharm]

There is an infinity stop... U gotta set the rangefinder to infinity then move the bellows to focus on infinity then move the infinity stop to match

[venchka]

What lens do you have? The infinity stops and lens must match. Is the focus scale present on the bed at the front of the rails? With the front standard against the stops on the rail & the focus index at infinity the image on the ground glass should be in focus. After that, adjust the rangefinder. There are directions online.

[Daniel W.]

I've got the standard Graphex 135/4.7. When the front std. is racked to infinity and the scale (front right edge of the track) has the arrow on the infinity marking, it's "infinitely" (haha) sharp on the GG.

My confusion is in the screw that adjusts infinity. I can't access it without moving the track past the 6' mark, and when I do adjust it, it seems as if there's no noticeable difference in the RF. When I move the track the secondary image does move though.

On a sidenote, the ghost image through the RF is pretty faint, the mirror that reflects it is not 100% opaque, but closer to glass than reflective. Is this normal?

[venchka]

tHE MIRROR DEGRADEs WITH AGE. i'LL HAVE TO DIG OUT MY 1953 MODEL sPEED AND SEE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE. Sorry. Not shouting. Old 35mm rangefinder cameras often suffer the same fate.
In fact, I need to put the Speed back together & use it hand held with the rangefinder & Grafmatic holder. Fun!
I'm also clueless about the rangefinder. Wish I could help.

[Daniel W.]

No worries, I'm enjoying it with the GG too!

(Delta 100, in HC110. Negative shot by a DSLR in front of the monitor... can't wait get back to a real scanner)

[venchka]

Are you up for a 4x5 outing this weekend? I still haven't opened the box of 1970-something Plus-X you gave me awhile back. I want to try it in my stash of Microdol-X.

[Daniel W.]

Shucks, already scheduled a shoot, polaroids and film and whatnot.

If you're up for a challenge: a fair number of the holders that came with the Crown kit were loaded (or at least I assume they are, as the ones I pulled were). No idea what, or when. It's imprinted with "3131 KODAK" and the notches say 160VC except the longer notch on mine are more "V" than flat indent. Oh and tw of the holders are loaded "1000ASA." Hmmm

Not sure if all of the holders are loaded with the same, but I'll be unloading them when UPS delivers my changing bag tomorrow.

[venchka]

Mystery film? That would be fun. Throw it all in Diafine or let it sit in very very dilute Rodinal for a day or so. Kidding. An hour or two is fine.