AUTOCORD : the Minolta's TLR
by Fred
Principle
The lenses of the cameras intersect the light rays passing therethrough, the projected image on a surface is thereby reversed.
Up is down and left is right.
The mirror housed in the covered compartment returns the image vertically :
up back to top.
Thus, the image you see in the viewfinder is right - verticaly speaking.
However, this image is reversed horizontally .
Indeed, all that is to the left for your eyes is now to the right in the viewfinder.
This may seem confusing at first but you soon get used to it.
The important thing is to control the composition and framing .
Remember that everything will be in place once you'll have developed the shots
on paper.
Cleaning - replacement
The mirror can be dirty or broken.
In the first case , a cleaning will be sufficient
In the second case , plan to replace it with a new one.
You need :
-) a precision screwdriver 2.0 or 2.4 mm.
-) a soft cloth
-) a little undenatured alcohol
-) a round brush 10 or 12 mm large
-) a blower
Accessing the mirror :
Open the cover of the viewfinder and remove the four screws
that hold the viewfinder assembly to the camera .
If you want to clean the ground glass, read the "Viewfinder" page.
Removing the mirror :
Loosen the three screws without removing them and the small metal parts
just below : two half-moon slices and a flat angle .
Clear the tongue which holds the upper edge of the mirror then drag it up.
There may be a small cork piece laying below the lower mounting plate.
It serves to avoid shocks against the metal of the bottom of the compartment.
Below the mirror is a copper piece.
This is a springy blade , it serves to hold the mirror in place by pressing it
against the small plates.
The blade fits into the lower compartment through two flanges
taking on stops located at bottom of the compartment .
Cleaning :
Clean the mirror with a soft cloth and a little alcohol.
If the silver layer is too degraded, replace with a new mirror.
Attention to the sense : the silver layer up.
Clean the compartment with the brush and the blower.
Reassembly :
To implement the mirror, drag it between the copper plate
and platelets to the bottom, the upper tab of the blade must exceed
and raise along the upper edge of the mirror.
Place the block of sight and the four screws.
Tighten them a little, not too much, you should not break their head.
