How to clean and adjust the Rangefinder in a Konica Auto rangefinder Camera

[@alexclemens1109]

This is such a fantastic resource! i'm brand new to the world of camera tinkering and thought i was start off trying to overhaul my Auto S. Could not do it without this guide though!

[@RobMoses]

Thank you so much for making this video. I have an S2 that the rangefinder is way off vertically. Now I can fix it! Keep up the good work.

[@WesleyAlcoforado]

How do you know you need to adjust the camera? And could you make a video on how to fix the lagging shutter on this camera? Thank you so much.

[@SeanMcGown]

Curious if you have any plans on videos about the Konica Auto S3. Unsticking shutters, fix common problems...

[@craigcumming8722]

Alex thanks so much for this video.. it helped me so much.. I did this to a Auto S .. rangefinder was way out.. All good now.. Regards Craig

[@johnprinos]

Many thanks! I just acquired an Auto S which had no focusing image. With this video I was able to disassemble the camera to determine that a mirror detached. I now have a focusing image but I’m afraid that the focusing distance is off. Oh well, an issue for another day.

[@duratorque]

Excellent, I have an Auto S2 that need cleaning. The range finder is very cloudy. I will do this this weekend.

[@raylinmaldonado]

Could you please make a video on how to fix the film counter?? 🙏🏼

[@rob4715]

Very useful, thanks! One thing: what is the cleaning fluid?

[@sharpvolt2669]

Can you do a repair on a Konica IIIM too please. The shutter cocking mechanism is stuck and i don't know how to disassemble this thing.

[@gregpys]

Hi, great video. Any chance you could show how to fix the frame counter. Accidentally broke mine - I think the spring detached and now am having difficulties getting it to work again. Perhaps you can advise how to fix it. Much appreciated

[@SrirajaPanich]

Awesome! I was able to clean up my Auto S2 a fair bit. I do have a question though, when I adjusted the rangefinder (parallax or yellow square) on a far away object and got it perfect. However, when I tried to focus on something an intermediate distance away, I could never get the yellow to line up no matter what focal length. What gives?

[@LetsMakeGhosts]

Wow. Was about to get rid of my eematic S as didn't know how to adult the rangefinder. It was way off. Must try this. Thanks.

[@rlk2140]

Can you provide more detail regarding adjustment of the viewfinder. You say you look at a distant object and adjust. When you view the distant object with a properly adjusted rangefinder should you see only one image instead of a double image? If this is so and you do see a double image do you turn the screw until a single image is seen? In the video you describe a double image too far to the right so you turn the crew to the left. In this instance is your goal to end with a single image, at which point you consider the adjustment to be proper? My Minolta Hi-matic 7s has a diamond shaped rangefinder patch however I don't see any double image throughout the focus range. Rather than an adjustmant does this indicate a more involved problem? Thank you for yor response.

[@usmalibu]

Awesome videos! Thank you for such a good videos that make us try something new. Do you think you could find a way to adapt Yashica 45mm f1.8 from Yashica 1C Lynx 5000E 35mm Film Camera as well as UVTOPCOR 53mm f2.0 from TOPCON UNI 35mm SLR?

[@aRietD]

Do you have any advice on how to check if the celenium meter is working and how to repair it maybe. My camera works fine just stuck in using manual.

[@alfredobustamante3770]

Great video. Does a Konica S require light seal replacement? I looked and I don't see residue where they usually go. Thank you!

[@Zetaphotography]

Will this video show me how to repair the lever?

[@drmlnr5872]

hey, thank you for the helpful video! i just got my S2 and turns out it's rangefinder misaligned, and keep changing position every time i take it out from my bag, i tried to adjust it but then it always happened again the rangefinder keeps changing and misaligning. do you have any idea on how to fix this? thanks a lot!

[@johnsoreilly]

can the same process be used for a Minolta HI-MATIC AF (1979)? thanks

[@megansterenchock4971]

Do you have any videos on fixing a jammed film advance lever on a s2?

[@ChrisEbbrsen]

Hope youll cover the Nikon S view fider mirror. Im scared to even touch it unless I follow the leader and i figure your in japan with many knowlefgeable camera people who might assist you if things go wrong. Thays the nikon S range mirror prism assembly. Thanks very much. I f your not able then its ok.😅

[@tominjapan4759]

Hi thanks for this video, when I removed the top of the camera, the mirror got loose basically two pieces one rectangular that was glued with a hole the other mirror is smaller yet a little thicker + a little larger than the hole in the first mirror. I am lost :( how do I put the mirror back, especially the smaller one for which I have no clue where it initially was ?

[@japanvintagecamera8869]

You can replace the mirrors with contact cement. The small mirror is likely the rangefinder mirror which is glued to a small rectangular block about 3/4 inch behind the small rangefinder window, it sits at about a 45 degree angle.

[@tominjapan4759]

@@japanvintagecamera8869 that worked, thanks !!

[@hafidznailalauthor4803]

Can you make reparation video about yashica lynx 14e?

[@Lamboxinaga]

I have Auto S2 but split images not move when I twist the focus lever. Any suggestion which part should I fix ?

[@powderhounding]

Thanks!

[@fotolookconde]

@Japan Vintage Camera thank you for this video. I have a Konica Auto S2 that had its shutter stuck. I took the front and back lens elements, cleaned the blades and managed to get it working. However when I reassembled the lens the barrel after the focusing mechanism is loose! Could you guess what I have done wrong? I did screw back both back and front elements but didn't screw the front rigs yet...

[@japanvintagecamera8869]

The front part of the lens assembly is supposed to be a little loose, otherwise the rings can be hard to turn. The looseness is usually limited to the shutter speed and aperture rings, and not the lens itself, so even if they are loose, it has no effect on the photos. When you reinstall the lens, face plate, and lock ring, it will be a little less loose. If it is really lose, the 3 screws which hold the aperture and shutter speed ring assembly to the front plate of the shutter have likely backed out and need to be tightened. This is a little hard to do, but you line up the shutter speed to B, the aperture to f/1.8. Then remove the brass lock ring on the front of the shutter and lift off the rings (be careful of the wires). Then tighten the 3 screws, and apply a little lacquer (nail polish) to prevent them from backing out in the future. Then reinstall the front rings on the shutter, replace the lock nut, etc.

[@fotolookconde]

@@japanvintagecamera8869 thank you so much for your help! All the best.

[@fotolookconde]

@@japanvintagecamera8869 I managed to tigth everything. Shutter and apertures are now working. However the auto is not working despite the battery test indicating plenty of charge. The iso/asa position is now stuck on 100 iso. Do you think if I unstuck the iso knob the the automatic will work?

[@japanvintagecamera8869]

​@@fotolookconde There is a metal tab which moves on a ring, this ring moves when you change the ISO. The metal tab must fit into the slot one the back of the lens face plate (where the meter cell is). If the slot is pushed all the way to the end, either way, the meter may not work. You must also be careful that you do not break or disconnect any wires.

[@fotolookconde]

@@japanvintagecamera8869 thank you very much, I am going to open the lens face plate again and see if I can sort it out.

[@williamknott8042]

Hi, great video. I hope you can help me on a related topic - I can’t find any answers so far. I am short sighted and wear spectacles. When I look through the viewfinder of my Fujica Compact Deluxe with my distance spectacles on, the view is not as good as when I am not wearing my spectacles. This means the adjustment is off for people who have good vision. The Fujica Compact Deluxe has no external dioptre adjustment. Perhaps an adjustment has been bumped - can this be fixed ? Thanks in advance, William.

[@japanvintagecamera8869]

There is no diopter adjustment for these cameras, but I have come across cameras in which their owners have installed a diopter lens. This is usually put in place of the glass, or overtop the glass on the viewfinder. If it is installed over the original glass, you can remove it, if it has been installed in place of the glass, you can remove it, find a small piece of glass to replace it. A microscope slide is a good source of glass, and it can be trimmed into shape (very carefully) with a small set of side cutters.

[@williamknott8042]

@@japanvintagecamera8869 Hi, thanks for such a rapid response :) . Ok, I'll look further once it's apart. Thanks for the tip - I had not thought of it.

[@邱文博-f4e]

Hello, respected camera blogger, sometimes the shutter of my camera will get stuck. Push the lens up and it will be fine. What is the problem? Can I ask you how to remove the lens of this camera and fix the shutter problem.By the way.my camera is also a Konica auto s1.6

[@imjusttoodissgusted5620]

Hi, I just looked at a few of your cameras and am very interested. i just got back into photography a year ago but I stayed with film. I have several SLR's, though i want a Minolta SRT101, and i would like to get a TLR medium format camera though i have never used that type of camera. and a Yashica 35 GN , though i have a yashica auto s2 with a very slighty loose lens, it does work fine.

[@renoronq]

Hi, can you do a similar video on how to CLA a Canonet 28? I have one in (almost) mint condition... except the light meter isn't working unfortunately. I was wondering if you have any knowledge on repairing this. Thanks in advance.

[@japanvintagecamera8869]

I am working on a video to overhaul a Canonet QL17, which, other than the lens, is the same as the 28. The video should ready by tomorrow.

[@renoronq]

@@japanvintagecamera8869 Thank you so much! Keep up the great work, your videos help out a lot!

[@dunderchief9763]

Great video! What type of cleaner are you using?

[@japanvintagecamera8869]

I am using Fujifilm cleaner, which works very well, and is easy to find here in Japan.

[@charleskoonu]

Just the video that I´m looking for, whats the liquid that you use, can I use Isopropilic Alcohol? great video mate.

[@NRoX2]

Hi anyone knows that’s the size of the flathead screw driver to use? I got 1.4mm but it still won’t work

[@in4kdaysaroundtheworld380]

I know the video is quite old, but I just cant figure out how to adjust the rangefinder horizontally on the Konica S3. Vertically is the same as In the video, and no problem. But just where to adjust it horizontally?

[@pontbwo7417]

Have you found the answer?

[@mbecker163]

I've watched other similar videos where they caution cleaning the center 45° glass as it had the frame lines. I'm pretty sure when I practiced on an Olympus 35 RC, the lines did disappear when I cleaned it. You state to clean all. Is this because they are different makes/models, or is there concern here? THANKS FOR THE VID!!!!

[@japanvintagecamera8869]

The beam splitting mirror does not have the frame lines, they are projected onto it from a mask located to one side of the view finder. If you rub off the mirror coating on the beam splitting mirror, the frame lines (and possibly the rangefinder patch) may no longer be visible. The masks on some cameras are made of glass or thin plastic and are painted with a water soluble paint on one side, so attempted to clean them on the painted side will wash away the paint and the frame lines will disappear. If there are bright spots or deterioration in the frame lines, the mask can be touched up with black paint. It is best to touch up the shiny glass side, so any mistakes can be cleaned up without making the problem worse.

[@mbecker163]

@@japanvintagecamera8869 sorry, I didn't mean the frame lines, I meant the focusing patch. I just checked and it's gone on the 35RC I cleaned. Again, maybe there's a difference because if make/model, but just wondering

[@emiliosanz]

Gracias! Tengo una Auto S2 y gracias a este tutorial he conseguido que el enfoque sea una delicia, tal y como debería ser de nueva. Y como por lo demás la cámara va razonablemente bien, pues encantado y muy agradecido!!

[@walterarroyo5220]

Como logro ajustar el enfonque? Yo no entiendo la forma que el lo dijo a que distancia Debo encontrar algun objeto para usar de referencia?

[@spencerelliott6993]

I can’t move my film advance lever in my clinics auto s2 Battery works but the film won’t advance Can you help me?

[@mrrybicki]

My film advance is stuck. Any advise?

[@japanvintagecamera8869]

The shutter may be stuck, which will stop the shutter from advancing. Also, the release pawl on the winding mechanism uner the bottom cover may also be stuck.