If rangefinder cameras have advantages, their viewfinder goes wrong regularly. Either the up-market cameras, like Leica's ones, or second-hand cameras paid 30 or 40 euros, like the Fed 3 presented here, have a rangefinder which needs to be adjusted now and again.

To make this maintenance operation easier, it is considerated right from the conception of the camera's body. An hatch often allows to slip an adjustment tool without dismantling the body. A screw hides this opening on the Fed 3, on the left of the viewfinder's window.

Let's see how to adjust the Fed 3's rangefinder :

Remove the screw which hides the adjusting hatch. It's situated on the front side of the body, on the left of the viewfinder's window.
	It makes it possible to introduce a little flat-headed srewdriver and to turn the viewfinder's adjustment screw. Check it's not seized up. The adjustment is done by turning this screw.
To adjust the rangefinder, an occurate focusing is needed first. Whereas, with a reflex camera, photographer sees the scene projected through the lens straight, with on a rangefinder camera the viewfinder is clear like on a compact camera. The only way to verify the focus is to watch... on the film!
	Leave the shutter openned at the 'B' setting. With tracing paper put in the film plane and a magnifying glass, verify the sharpness of the picture. Focus as sharp as possible for a mean distance (2 or 3m / between 7 and 10 feet).
Turn the adjustment screw to make the clear sight and the sight from the rangefinder meet exactly in the middle of the viewfinder.
	The rangefinder is well adjusted when the two sight meet horizontally.

The difficulty is to make the two sights meet for several focusing distances. Fot the Fed 3, mainly fitted with a 50 mm lens, it is better to adjust the rangefinder for a short distance (2 or 3m / between 7 and 10 feet) than for a long range. For a telephoto lens used for longer focus distances, the opposite may be better.

The distance read on the depth of field scale also may be different from the real focusing distance. This difference might be due to a not anough occurate manufacturing of the lens mount, especially ofr screw mount.

Obtain a perfect adjustment of the focusing for all the focal length, for all the distances and in accordance with the depth of field scale's indications requires an extrem manufacturing quality. It justifies the high price of the rangefinder bodies and their lenses. So, let's be indulgent with this old Fed 3 often bought the hundredth of the Leica M's price.


The adjusting screw may be seized up. In this case, camera's body must be dimantling. This operation will be presented soon in a new article. To be informed of the next updating, suscribe to the mailing list.

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