Like most Eastern Block and many вЂњWesternвЂќ lens manufacturers the industry could not keep pace commercially with the innovative Japanese companies from the 1960вЂ™s. When the company was merged into the Pentacon conglomerate many if not most of its then current range of lenses continued to be made and sold under the new brand name. Lenses seem to have ranged from entry level to some that were pitched higher up the scale. Therefore the company was a respected German brand but perhaps not as widely known as it deserved. The Hugo Meyer firm was an ancestor firm I believe and these early lenses are still held in high regard and seem to fetch considerable prices. Unfortunately after WWII it eded up in вЂњEast GermanyвЂќ and the Cold War meant that there was some difficulty selling their products outside the Russian Zone of influence - especially in the US I would imagine and effectively unknown in Australia. I will kick it off by simply stating that it was (I believe) the third largest German lens manufacturer after Zeiss and Leica. Therefore I вЂњspeakвЂќ from the shaking tower of faulty memory. But this is just a thread to get the ball rolling quickly. The procedure automatically adjusts the rangefinder for the focal lengthД«rought to you by Speed Graphic FAQ.This is just a placeholder for a discussion of Meyer Optik lenses in general.ДЇorgive me if I am a bit rough around the edges with my вЂњfactsвЂќ - correct me if I stray.

Check the lateral adjustment at infinity before doing the rest of the.

Check in middle distances for coincidence.

Two adjustments until there is no further change. The camera on a target at infinity and adjust the upper screw for

With the camera set at 36 inches adjust the lower adjustment for.

There is a lateral coincidence adjustment on the side of the Through which the adjustments can be reached. To remove the screws, just loosen them and the label will swing away

There are three adjustments on the rangefinder.

Hold the actuating lever against the cam and tighten the lock screws.

Focus the camera carefully on the target and tighten the focus lock.

This is to avoid parallax which can make adjustment impossible. The cross lines for the rangefinder are drawn at the same distance from the lens target as the rangefinder upper window is from the lens. Using a target similar to the one used for Kalart rangefinders with a separate target for taking lens and rangefinder.

Set the camera up 36 inches from film plane to focusing target.

To its maximum forward setting, the slot will be horizontal.

Set the eccentric on the camera bed, on which the actuating lever rides.

Focus the lens manually on a target at least one half mile away and set the infinity stops at this position.

Generally Speed Graphics are set up with the lens infinity stops set with the bed extended about 1/16 inch from it maximum rearward position.

First check the infinity setting for the lens.

To set up the rangefinder, use the follwoing procedure: With two small screws, one at the top and one at the bottom. The mirrors can be accessed for cleaning by removing the windows. They shouldД«e cleaned with a suitable degreasing solvent like lighter fluid (Ronsonol) and The cover plate on the camera side is held in place by a single center There is a torsion spring associated with the actuating arm, be careful no to loose it and note its position. Removing it requires removing the actuating arm from the shaft and removing the four screws holding the rangefinder body to the camera. If the rangefinder is sticky it should be removed from the camera and the cam surfaces cleaned. These rangefinders can be identified by their oblong windows, Kalart rangefinders all have round windows. Offered as an alternative to the more common Kalart rangefinder on both civilian andmilitary models. The Hugo Meyer rangefinder is found on many Speed Graphics. Adjusting Hugo Meyer Rangefinders Adjusting Hugo Meyer Rangefinders

Hugo meyer rangefinder model 4p