Kalart rangefinder

I have a Crown Graphic w a 135mm.

Have any of you ever disassembled a Kalart rangefinder to clean up the
inside of the glass and maybe the mirrors.

Also, I have heard of re-silvering the mirrors in rangefinders. I don't know
that this one needs it, but anyone know anything about it?

One more thing - Is there supposed to be an eyepiece of some sort on the
rangefinder so I don't have to press my face up against the side of the
camera to use it?

My plan is to use the camera without using the ground glass, in general, so
I need the rangefinder to work and be bright enough to focus so I can have
the darkslide pulled and the exposure set in advance to do some street
photography. Anyone ever do this?

Thanks for any info,
Matt A.

"Matt Ashbrook" wrote

I have a Crown Graphic ... rangefinder ....

The source (and destination) of all Graphic knowledge:

http://www.graflex.org/

The cover of a Kalart comes off if the obvious screws
are removed.

The beam splitter and prism can be cleaned with a swab
soaked in Windex. Use several applications if needed.
Use _very_ little pressure or things will jiggle out of
alignment. Don't scrub, the silver on the beam splitter
will come off.

There is normally (often?) an 1 1/2" 'telescope' on the
rangefinder's eyepiece. But it is perfectly useable
without one & you shouldn't have to do any contortions
to use the RF.

--
Nicholas O. Lindan, Cleveland, Ohio
Consulting Engineer: Electronics; Informatics; Photonics.
Remove spaces etc. to reply: n o lindan at net com dot com
psst.. want to buy an f-stop timer? nolindan.com/da/fstop/

"Matt Ashbrook" wrote

I have a Crown Graphic ... rangefinder ....

The source (and destination) of all Graphic knowledge:

http://www.graflex.org/

The cover of a Kalart comes off if the obvious screws
are removed.

The beam splitter and prism can be cleaned with a swab
soaked in Windex. Use several applications if needed.
Use _very_ little pressure or things will jiggle out of
alignment. Don't scrub, the silver on the beam splitter
will come off.

There is normally (often?) an 1 1/2" 'telescope' on the
rangefinder's eyepiece. But it is perfectly useable
without one & you shouldn't have to do any contortions
to use the RF.

--
Nicholas O. Lindan, Cleveland, Ohio
Consulting Engineer: Electronics; Informatics; Photonics.
Remove spaces etc. to reply: n o lindan at net com dot com
psst.. want to buy an f-stop timer? nolindan.com/da/fstop/

On 10/31/2004 4:52 PM Nicholas O. Lindan spake thus:

"Matt Ashbrook" wrote

I have a Crown Graphic ... rangefinder ....

The beam splitter and prism can be cleaned with a swab
soaked in Windex. Use several applications if needed.
Use _very_ little pressure or things will jiggle out of
alignment. Don't scrub, the silver on the beam splitter
will come off.

Or the coating may already have come off, as on mine. Which means it must be
replaced. (Forget about resilvering it.)

Fortunately, beamsplitter material is pretty easy to get. Edmund Optical sells
it at a reasonable price (I've bought it from them). Unfortunately, I've lost
the link to it on their web site, and it ain't easy to find.

I'll post it when I find it again.


--
.... voting for John Kerry now is like voting for LBJ in 1964 with full
precognition of what he was going to do in Vietnam for the next four years.

- Alexander Cockburn in _Counterpunch_
(http://counterpunch.org/cockburn10282004.html)

On 10/31/2004 4:52 PM Nicholas O. Lindan spake thus:

"Matt Ashbrook" wrote

I have a Crown Graphic ... rangefinder ....

The beam splitter and prism can be cleaned with a swab
soaked in Windex. Use several applications if needed.
Use _very_ little pressure or things will jiggle out of
alignment. Don't scrub, the silver on the beam splitter
will come off.

Or the coating may already have come off, as on mine. Which means it must be
replaced. (Forget about resilvering it.)

Fortunately, beamsplitter material is pretty easy to get. Edmund Optical sells
it at a reasonable price (I've bought it from them). Unfortunately, I've lost
the link to it on their web site, and it ain't easy to find.

I'll post it when I find it again.


--
.... voting for John Kerry now is like voting for LBJ in 1964 with full
precognition of what he was going to do in Vietnam for the next four years.

- Alexander Cockburn in _Counterpunch_
(http://counterpunch.org/cockburn10282004.html)

David Nebenzahl wrote in
:

Fortunately, beamsplitter material is pretty easy to get. Edmund
Optical sells it at a reasonable price (I've bought it from them).
Unfortunately, I've lost the link to it on their web site, and it
ain't easy to find.

I presume you're referring to http://www.edmundoptics.com -- Edmund
Industrial Optics? This is the optical company that was formerly part of
or the parent of Edmund Scientific. "The world's largest inventory of
optical components", it says on their lead-in page...

--
The challenge to the photographer is to command the medium, to use
whatever current equipment and technology furthers his creative
objectives, without sacrificing the ability to make his own decisions.
-- Ansel Adams

Donald Qualls, aka The Silent Observer http://silent1.home.netcom.com

Opinions expressed are my own -- take them for what they're worth
and don't expect them to be perfect.

David Nebenzahl wrote in
:

Fortunately, beamsplitter material is pretty easy to get. Edmund
Optical sells it at a reasonable price (I've bought it from them).
Unfortunately, I've lost the link to it on their web site, and it
ain't easy to find.

I presume you're referring to http://www.edmundoptics.com -- Edmund
Industrial Optics? This is the optical company that was formerly part of
or the parent of Edmund Scientific. "The world's largest inventory of
optical components", it says on their lead-in page...

--
The challenge to the photographer is to command the medium, to use
whatever current equipment and technology furthers his creative
objectives, without sacrificing the ability to make his own decisions.
-- Ansel Adams

Donald Qualls, aka The Silent Observer http://silent1.home.netcom.com

Opinions expressed are my own -- take them for what they're worth
and don't expect them to be perfect.

On 11/1/2004 6:22 AM Donald Qualls spake thus:

David Nebenzahl wrote in
:

Fortunately, beamsplitter material is pretty easy to get. Edmund
Optical sells it at a reasonable price (I've bought it from them).
Unfortunately, I've lost the link to it on their web site, and it
ain't easy to find.

I presume you're referring to http://www.edmundoptics.com -- Edmund
Industrial Optics? This is the optical company that was formerly part of
or the parent of Edmund Scientific. "The world's largest inventory of
optical components", it says on their lead-in page...

Aha--found it! Actually, it's not Edmund [Industrial] Optics; it's Edmund
Scientifics: http://scientificsonline.com/Default...cd2=1099328081

Here's the link to their beamsplitter material:
http://scientificsonline.com/product...cd2=1099328016


--
.... voting for John Kerry now is like voting for LBJ in 1964 with full
precognition of what he was going to do in Vietnam for the next four years.

- Alexander Cockburn in _Counterpunch_
(http://counterpunch.org/cockburn10282004.html)

On 11/1/2004 6:22 AM Donald Qualls spake thus:

David Nebenzahl wrote in
:

Fortunately, beamsplitter material is pretty easy to get. Edmund
Optical sells it at a reasonable price (I've bought it from them).
Unfortunately, I've lost the link to it on their web site, and it
ain't easy to find.

I presume you're referring to http://www.edmundoptics.com -- Edmund
Industrial Optics? This is the optical company that was formerly part of
or the parent of Edmund Scientific. "The world's largest inventory of
optical components", it says on their lead-in page...

Aha--found it! Actually, it's not Edmund [Industrial] Optics; it's Edmund
Scientifics: http://scientificsonline.com/Default...cd2=1099328081

Here's the link to their beamsplitter material:
http://scientificsonline.com/product...cd2=1099328016


--
.... voting for John Kerry now is like voting for LBJ in 1964 with full
precognition of what he was going to do in Vietnam for the next four years.

- Alexander Cockburn in _Counterpunch_
(http://counterpunch.org/cockburn10282004.html)

"David Nebenzahl" wrote in message
...
On 11/1/2004 6:22 AM Donald Qualls spake thus:

David Nebenzahl wrote in
:
Fortunately, beamsplitter material is pretty easy to
get. Edmund
Optical sells it at a reasonable price (I've bought it
from them).
Unfortunately, I've lost the link to it on their web
site, and it
ain't easy to find.

I presume you're referring to
http://www.edmundoptics.com -- Edmund Industrial Optics?
This is the optical company that was formerly part of or
the parent of Edmund Scientific. "The world's largest
inventory of optical components", it says on their
lead-in page...

Aha--found it! Actually, it's not Edmund [Industrial]
Optics; it's Edmund Scientifics:
http://scientificsonline.com/Default...cd2=1099328081

Here's the link to their beamsplitter material:
http://scientificsonline.com/product...cd2=1099328016


This stuff works fine and is the right thickness. The
piece costs about $15 US and is enough to make several
mirrors.
I've meant to write a procedure for replacing it to
supplement the one already on the Graflex.org site. That one
says you must break out the old mirror. This is not so. the
mirror is held by two spring clips but it has some wax like
material to cement it. This can be removed by using a little
acetone or even lighter fluid. The clips are removed
carefully because you will reuse them. Note how they are
oriented. Use the old mirror as a pattern to cut the new
one. Use a carbide scribe to mark the glass, it will snap at
the scratch. I got my scribe at Home Depot for $5 US. This
is also the right tool to use for ground glass.
Its much easier to remove the old mirror and replace it if
you remove the entire mirror assembly. However, once its
remounted you must make sure the mirror is at an exactly 45
degree angle. A small drafting triangle will work for this.
When the mirror is replaced place a drop of cement at the
corners to make sure it doesn't drift with time. Airplane
glue works fine and is easily removed if you have to. If the
mirror is cut accurately it will just drop in.
The coated surface of the mirror must fact the eye window
of the rangefinder. Because it is a 50%-%50% splitter is
difficult to see which side the mirror is on. However, this
can be done by looking at the reflection of a small light
placed near the mirror. When the mirror is facing you light
must travel through the mirror coating twice to be refected
by the inside surface of the glass so the second reflection
will be much dimmer when viewed this way. The other way the
two reflections will be nearly equal in strength. If the
mirror is placed backward it will throw all the adjustments
way off plus it may result in a double reflection.
Once the mirror is mounted the mirror assembly is
replaced (held by one screw) and adjusted for 45 degree
angle. Then you will probably have to readjust everything
although you may be lucky. Start with the lateral
coincidence adjustment. I've posted instructions on setting
up Kalart rangefinders to the Graflex.org site, but again
want to post a revised and clarified version. The key is to
get the infinity adjustments right to begin with. This
involves making sure the actuating arm is set right and the
initial infinity setting of the lens frame are correct. On
Speed and Crown Graphics using the Kalart the infinity stops
should be set so that the camera must be racked out perhaps
1/16th inch from the mechanical stop. I recently posted a
letter to the Graflex.org help board in the Speed Graphic
section on how to set the actuating arm correctly.
Faded beam splitter mirrors seem to be very common on
Graphics of a certain age. I don't know what happens to
them. Fortunately, they are easy to replace and once done
will probably never have to be done again.
A makeshift fix is to place a neutral or colored filter
over the upper window of the RF. This will increase the
contrast of the two images although it is no substitute for
replacing the beam splitter.

There is no eyepiece on the rangfinder but most came with
a plain tube to shield image. This was not supplied on all
Graphics or it may be missing. Some RFs have coarse threads
in the eyepiece for this to thread into, some have a bracket
on the back of the camera in line with the eye window of the
RF for this tube.
There were also telescopes made to fit the Kalart. One
was made by Kalart but there were others. I've never managed
to find one. A telescope on the eye window has the effect of
having a greater base distance for the rangefinder and thus
increasing its accuracy. Back when the Contax camera came
out to compete with Leica it advertised it had a greater RF
base so was more accurate. The Leica, however, had a 2X
telescope built in so the _effective_ base of the two was
about the same.
The Kalart is very accurate when set up correctly.
Correct set up is tedious but once done will not have to be
done again unless the lens is changed.

--
---
Richard Knoppow
Los Angeles, CA, USA