There’s only one word to describe the Konica Auto S1.6 rangefinder camera – tank !
This camera is solid. It’s built like, well, a tank. Luckily the only things it shoots are photos !
My Konica Auto S1.6 had a bizarre sticky / drifting rangefinder patch problem. When I moved the focus ring in the infinity direction then in the opposite direction towards a closer distance, the rangefinder patch seemed stuck. Initially I thought I was going insane, because sometimes when I looked into the viewfinder after some time, the rangefinder patch seemed to be in the good position. Was I going insane ?
Upon closer inspection I realised that the rangefinder patch wasn’t stuck, but drifting. I repeatedly moved the focus ring in the infinity direction then in the opposite direction towards a closer distance. I observed the rangefinder patch slowly moving (drifting) back to the correct position corresponding to the lower focus distance set on the focus ring. It was at this point I realised that I was not insane, but that the rangefinder mechanism was sticky and needed cleaning.
The sections below describe how I resolved the Konica Auto S1.6 sticky / drifting rangefinder patch problem.
ATTENTION: Before starting camera maintenance work I recommend that you undertake the steps in a well lit area, far away from the edge of a table so there is minimal risk of loosing small screws on the floor. To avoid stress and brusk motions, practice deep breathing techniques to remain zen. The maintenance will go well when in a zen mode :-). I am lucky enough to have a Foldio studio that I use to take photos of old camera gear that I sell on my website. It provides a superb lighting environment. My deep breathing technique is somewhat to be desired, however, although I still manage to perform the maintenance tasks without loosing small screws. Magnetic screwdrivers are also useful to help you avoid loosing small screws.
To access the rangefinder mechanism, remove the top cover to the Konica Auto S1.6. To do this, remove the film advance lever and its associated parts, and remove the film spool winder and associated screw underneath.
Removing the film advance lever and associated parts
- Firmly grip the threaded disk (A) and turn it anti-clockwise to release it from the film advance lever.
Note: For me it was easy to remove by hand. If it cannot be removed by hand, apply iso-propanol to free up the thread mechanism. Some people recommend using thin nosed pliers, but that risks deforming the circumference of the threaded disk. If you have to resort to using pliers, protect the circumference of the threaded disk with a cloth or rubber strip. - Remove the securing disk (B) taking note of its orientation (i.e. the curved angled edges are oriented upwards).
- Remove the film advance lever by pulling it away from the threaded column of the film advance mechanism. This reveals a butterfly washer (C).
- Remove the butterfly washer (C). This reveals a threaded washer (D), which secures the top cover in place.
- Firmly grip the threaded washer (D) and turn it anti-clockwise to release it from the threaded column of the film advance mechanism.
Note: For me it was easy to remove by hand. If it cannot be removed by hand, apply iso-propanol to free up the thread mechanism. If you are unable to remove by hand, use thin nosed pliers or a small flat head screwdriver, taking care to not scratch the surface of the top cover.
The film advance lever side of the top cover is now free. The next step is to remove the screw underneath the film spool winder.
Removing the film spool winder and associated screw
- Pull upwards the film spool lever (A) to open the door (C) of the camera.
- Push down the film spool lever (A) to reveal the notch (B).
- Place a small flat head screwdriver in the notch (B) to hold the film spool column in place, and turn the film spool leaver (A) anti-clockwise.
- Keep turning the film spool lever (A) anti-clockwise until it disengages from the thread of the film spool column. The small screw (D) is now accessible.
- Close the door (C) so it is easier to handle the camera, and keep dust from going inside the film chamber while you are working on the camera.
- Use a small flat-head screwdriver to remove the small screw (D). Carefully turn the small screw anti-clockwise to disengage it from the thread of the film spool column.
- Carefully lift the top cover away from the camera body, paying attention to not damage the thin flash cable (E) inside.
- Remove the shutter button (F) from the shutter column (G) so that it does not fall out and get lost while you are working on the camera.
The viewfinder area (H) and rangefinder area (I) of the camera are now almost accessible for maintenance work. They are covered by a large metal plate and underneath that, a small metal plate.
Note: On my version of the Konica Auto S1.6 rangefinder camera only one small screw (J) keeps the large metal plate fixed in place on the camera body. Other versions of the Konica Auto S1.6 rangefinder camera may have a second small screw in the position of the indent (K) on the large metal plate at the front of the camera body. My version of the Konica Auto S.16 rangefinder camera did not have a missing screw, as there was no screw thread at the front the camera body. I can only assume that my version was an early production model and at a later date Konica introduced a second screw and corresponding screw thread on the camera body. Interestingly my version has the top metal plate with a second indent at the front which could be fitted to a different version with the screw thread existing at the front of the camera body. I can only assume that at the manufacturing site Konica had a mixture of component versions mixed the modern top plate with and older body. Enough of this pondering, on to the next steps in the section below !
Removing the large and small metal plates and rangefinder mechanism cleaning
- Use a small flat-head screwdriver to remove the small screw (A). Carefully turn the small screw anti-clockwise to disengage it from the thread of the camera body.
Note: Some versions of the Konica Auto S1.6 rangefinder camera have a second screw at the front of the camera body. In this case, remove the second screw. - Carefully lift away the sticky tape (B) that is attached to the rear side of the camera body.
- Lift away the large metal plate (C) to reveal the viewfinder area and small metal plate. The viewfinder area contains the sticky rangefinder mechanism (H), which needs cleaning.
Note: The next steps to remove the small metal plate and access the rangefinder area are not necessary. I include them as I recommend that you also clean optical elements in the rangefinder area while you have the top part of the camera disassembled. - Use a small flat-head screwdriver to remove the small screw (D). Carefully turn the small screw anti-clockwise to disengage it from the thread of the camera body.
- Lift away the small metal plate (E) to reveal the rangefinder area and small metal plate.
- Using swabs with iso-proponal or lens cleaner, carefully clean both sides of all optical elements in the viewfinder and rangefinder areas.
ATTENTION: The yellow mirror side (F) of the viewfinder mirror has a fragile yellow coating, so take care not to apply a lot of pressure when cleaning this side of the mirror.
Note: If you also want to clean the rangefinder mirror (G), you can bend a swab into an L-shape (using thin nosed pliers) to help access this mirror. - Before cleaning the sticky rangefinder mechanism (H), observe how the sticky issue exists. To do this, move the focal distance on the lens (I) back and forth. As the lens focal length is moved back and forth between infinity and 0.9 m an arm (J) that is coupled to the lens also moves back and forth. When the focal distance is at the infinity position, the arm (J) pushes the rangefinder mechanism to the back of the camera. When the focal length is reduced from infinity to a lower distance, the arm (J) moves towards the front of the camera. Under normal conditions (i.e. when clean) the rangefinder mechanism (H) will remain in contact with the arm (J) and follow it back to the front of the camera. However under abnormal conditions (i.e. when dirty and cleaning is required) a gap (K) exists and you can observe it close up as the rangefinder mechanism (H) slowly drifts back to the good position corresponding to the lower focal length setting on the lens. Once you observe and understand this issue, you can clean the sticky rangefinder mechanism (H).
- Clean the sticky rangefinder mechanism (H) until it is no longer sticky / drifting. To do this, perform the following sub-steps:
- Use a tooth pick to apply iso-propanol all around the rangefinder mechanism (H).
- Move the lens (I) back and forth between infinity and 0.9 m positions.
- Observe the gap (K) and watch how long it takes for the rangefinder mechanism (H) to return to the front of the camera.
- Also observe the rangefinder patch in the viewfinder and observe how it slowly drifts back as if it is sticky and lagging. This will be at the same speed as the closing of the (K).
- Keep applying a little bit of iso-propanol all around the rangefinder mechanism (H).
- Keep moving the lens (I) back and forth between infinity and 0.9 m positions, and observe the gap (K) and drifting of the rangefinder patch.
- After some time of iterative cleaning all around the rangefinder mechanism (H) and moving the lens (I) back and forth between infinity and 0.9 m positions, the rangefinder mechanism (H) becomes clean and will free up. At this point the rangefinder mechanism (H) remains in contact all the time with the coupled arm (J), you will no longer see the gap (K) and the rangefinder patch becomes responsive with no drifting/lagging.
- Once you are happy that the rangefinder mechanism (H) is clean and moving as expected, you can reverse the disassembly steps above to reassemble the parts of the camera. Before placing the top cover on the camera pay attention to the following:
- Ensure that the little spring (L) on the front of the camera above the lens is in place. You can observe how it moves the parallax correction windows when moving the lens (I) back and forth between infinity and 0.9 m positions.
- Stick back down properly the sticky tape if the large metal plate to the rear of the camera.
- Remember to put back the shutter button. There are notches to help you guide it in place.
- Pay attention to not damage the yellow flash cable in the middle at the rear side of the camera when you slowly put the slide down the top cover in place.
- You can start to screw the film spool lever in place without needing to open the door. You can the pull up the film spool lever to open the door, secure the column with the flat-head screwdriver and continue to tighten the film spool lever until it is secure.
- Hand tightening of the threaded washer of the film winding seemed sufficient to me. However, it is recommended to carefully use thin nosed pliers to apply additional torque to ensure it is securely tight.
