MPP USERS CLUB - RANGEFINDER CAM PLATES

Rangefinder Cam Plates - General Information

Each Cam Plate is unique to the lens for which it was made. They are therefore not interchangeable between lenses, even if both are of the same nominal focal length and manufacture.

A Mk VII / Mk VIII Cam Plate.

Cam plates for Mk VI and S92 cameras fix with a screw from the outside but cam plates for Mk VII and Mk VIII cameras have a retained knurled fixing screw on the inside of the mount (see images). The two types are not interchangeable.

Cams for use with wideangle lenses of 90mm etc. are thought to be different between Mk VII and Mk VIII cameras. They are used with a cone lens panel (see other data on lens panels) and have different registers, being 55mm for the Mk VII and 50.5mm for the Mk VIII. Various cone panels have been noted but insufficient information is to hand to be definitive. Cam plates are therefore not readly interchangeable between models and in any event need to be used with the correct cone lens panel.

MicroTechnical Cameras Mk's IIR and III do not have Rangefinder Cam Plates.

Right - Mk VII Cam Plate and Inner Knurled Fixing Screw

Mk VIII MicroTechnical cam plates were made to a three way match i.e. Camera - Lens - Cam Plate. Cam plate markings are as per the table below.

..

Cam Plate Markings
Lens Maker	Lens Variant			Lens S/No.	Camera S/No.
S = Schneider	S = Symmar	X = Xenar	A = Angulon	Yes	MkVIII Only
V = Voigtlander	-	-	-	Yes	MkVIII Only
Z = Zeiss	-	-	-	Yes	MkVIII Only
R = Ross	-	-	-	Yes	MkVIII Only

It is the angle and profile of the edge of the plate above the three fixing holes that matches the individual lens. The cam follower correctly adjusts the images in the rangefinder viewing window by tracking this profile.

MicroTechnical Camplates

Focal Length (mm)

Image No.

Camplate Length (mm)

90.75

1

64

127.66

2

56

134.37

3

57

148.74

4

57

179.88

5

61

210.92

6

62

241.81

7

65

266.70

8

65

Click Image for Larger Numbered View

Camplate Profiles

Camplates are shown by lens focal length.

Length of camplates is given as the greatest distance from L to R.

The MPP Users' Club is not able to supply Cam Plates. It is posssible to make cam plates. This requires precision marking out of materials, drilling, profiling and thread cutting in addition to being able to make accuracy / calibration tests with the camera and lens for which the plate is being made.

For Information On Making Cam Plates CLICK HERE