How to Adjust Helicoid on Minolta Rangefinder? – Detailed Guide with Tips, Tricks, & More

People often ask, how to adjust back focus on Minolta fixed lens rangefinder?

Let’s find out!

How to Adjust Back Focus on Minolta Fixed Lens Rangefinder?

To adjust the focusing distance, look at the focusing screen. The distance scale will appear in the lower-left corner of the viewfinder. Move the focusing screen to the right until the image is sharp.

Note: If you want to know a complete guide about rangefinder click HERE.

Minolta A

Minolta A is a fixed lens rangefinder camera. The shutter mechanism is unusual. The shutter is a Prontorshutter mounted backward. The dial on top connects to the regular shutter speed dial through an idle gear. You can’t clean the shutter without dismantling it.

Bottom cover removal. Peel off the leather around the tripod socket and remove the three bolts there. Remove the bolt on the end of the camera and the bottom cover will come off. Note: The screw on the lens counter dial is left-handed. Turn clockwise to loosen it.

Before starting, set the focus on infinity. Lift the focus ring off. Remove the three screws holding the focus ring. Unscrew the focus ring. Remove the lens and diaphragm as a single unit.

Diaphragm removed. Unscrew the rear lens group and then lift out the nameplate. The diaphragms sit on the housing for the rear lens element.

If we unscrew the rear lens group, the diaphragms will fall out with it, but it’s better to remove the rear lens first before the diaphragm.

Front plate removal. Unscrew the ring on the flash connector and then remove the two screws at the bottom of the front cover.Remove the topmost screw onthe M/X switch coverplate. Remove the front cover by lifting it and sliding downward to clear the M/XswitchandMsynchcocklinglever.

Shutter removal The focus mechanism consists of two brass rings around the inside of the lens barrel. The outermost brass ring is the cam that controls the rangefinder. The second brass ring is the focus ring. To remove the shutter, you must first remove the focus ring. Then you can pull out the cam. Finally, you can remove the lens mount. This is how to disassemble and reassemble the camera.

To lubricate the focus helicoid, unscrew the set screws in the lens mount and remove the lens. Remove the helicoid barrel. Clean the shutter by removing the front plate and the speed setting cam. Flush clean the clockwork without removing the escapement.

To clean your camera lens, you need to take off the front cover. You also need to disconnect the battery and remove the memory card. Then you should turn the camera upside down and shake it vigorously until dust falls out. After that, you should put everything back together again.

Note: If you want to know How Accurate Are Rangefinders click HERE.

Focus Adjustment

Remove the focus scale. Lift it off. Turn the rangefinder cam away from the infinity stop. Loosen the set screws in the rangefinder cam and tighten them. Then tighten the set screws in the focusing ring.

Rangefinder Adjustment

Set the focus to infinity. Turn the ring until the horizontal lines match up on a distant object. Then tighten the screws.

Tools

A small cross-head precision driver is useful for adjusting the rangefinder.

A pair of dividers or something grippy to allow unscrewing of smooth retainer rings.

Removing the Rewind Crank

Always start with the reverse button. If there are no visible screws, then you should open up the back of the camera and place a screwdriver across the two prongs of the spindle. Then turn the crank clockwise until the screwdriver comes out.

Locating and Removing Screws

Just one screw under the rewinding crank for the Konica camera, but three screws dotted about the side of the top plate for the Canon camera.

The rewinding crank should be removed by unscrewing it from the top plate. Check around the body for screws. These may be hidden under where the rewinding crank was.

There may only be one (as is the case for the Konica) or there may be more dotted about the top plate (as with the Canon).

Removing the Film Advance

To remove the cap, wind-off lever, and springs, use a pair of dividers to carefully pry up the cap. Remove the lever and cam by using the same method.

The Canon camera has an adjustable shutter speed dial. There is a cam under the wind lever. To open the shutter, you need to turn the cam counterclockwise until the notch aligns with the divider. Then you can pull the lever out.

You can remove the top plate by lifting the wind-on lever. There’s a spacing washer under the wind-on lever, but you need to unscrew the screw holding it down first.

Note: If you want to know How Does a Rangefinder Work click HERE.

Lifting the Lid

Screws can be hidden under logos or other parts of the camera. Sometimes they can be found by removing the logo or trim. Hot shoes can also be used to hold screws in place. If in doubt, google it and see what others have done before.

Hot-shoe connections are usually made by soldering wires together. This is done to prevent accidental disconnection when the camera is bumped or dropped. These wires can also be used to connect accessories such as flash units.

Note: If you want to know How Do the Rangefinder Scale in Old Binoculars Work click HERE.

Konica Auto S3

The Konica Auto S3 was designed as a compact camera. It uses a fixed lens and an electronic shutter. It has a built-in rangefinder. It has a vertical adjustment mechanism. It shares some parts with the Minolta Hi-Matic 7SII and the Vivitar and Revision cameras.

Konica Auto S3 rangefinder with a hotshoe flash. This camera was used by many famous photographers such as Ansel Adams, Irving Penn, and others. The Konica Auto S3 had an excellent 35mm rangefinder lens, but it also featured a built-in flash.

Note: If you want to know How Do the Rangefinder Scale in Old Binoculars Work click HERE.

Conclusion

Canon rangefinder doesn’t use a moving mirror. Instead, it uses an optical unit attached to the lens’ focusing mechanism to get the coincident image. This technique reminds us of the rotating prisms found on Zeiss lenses. 

We hope that this article was helpful. If you have any queries feel free to reach out in the comments section below.

If you want to gain more information about rangefinder click HERE.