Topic: fading overlap images, anyway to bring it back?

[mijonju]

I got a problem I kept forgetting to ask for many years.
I got some compact range finder cameras, that's got a faded split image, you can see it, but its really diluted.
I dont mind opening up the camera, but what should i do next?

[DS]

Try this:
http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/index-165.html

It works

[mijonju]

Oh, dear, such a simple mod, such perfect results :)thanks a million!
his way will take off the overlapping effect, now i tried it with a light nd filter.
its better.

[DS]

Yeah- it does block out the overlapping images. I also find it really hard to get the spot in the right place. I've tried a small piece of red gel-filter that worked well too.

Otherwise it's a matter of taking them apart and cleaning every single piece of glass in there, being sure not to touch the little mirrors etc. This takes time and often the finders aren't that great anyway so now I don't bother.

There's also a nifty trick involving moving the camera away from you while looking through the viewfinder- the RF spot will suddenly become much more visible at the right distance. Hard to explain but it works for me....