M6 Rangefinder problem.

[Landberg]

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Hi!

 

My M6 (classic) is a it off at infinity. That is not the strange thing, all my photos seems to be sharp even att large apertures. I shot a test film and all photos looked really sharp even att f/2. Could the rangefinder be correct even if the infinity is off?

 

I hope you understand my question:P

[BrianUK]

Landberg,

 

Help me out here …

 

When say your “M6 (classic) is a it off at infinity” and that “I shot a test film and all photos looked really sharp even att f/2. Could the rangefinder be correct even if the infinity is off?” is the lens at infinity and the rangefinder not?

 

Or is it the other way around, i.e. the rangefinder at infinity and the lens is not?

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[Landberg]

Landberg,

 

Help me out here …

 

When say your “M6 (classic) is a it off at infinity” and that “I shot a test film and all photos looked really sharp even att f/2. Could the rangefinder be correct even if the infinity is off?” is the lens at infinity and the rangefinder not?

 

Or is it the other way around, i.e. the rangefinder at infinity and the lens is not?

 

Damn i wrote that description bad!

 

It´s a bit off. When the lens is at infinity the RF goes past it.

[BrianUK]

I’m sure you know that the rangefinder spot in the viewfinder is moved by a mechanical cam connected to the lens.

 

If your lens’ distance scale is set at infinity and your photos are sharp, even though the rangefinder spot is showing otherwise ("goes past it"), it’s a fair guess that it is your rangefinder that needs adjusting.

 

Have you experimented by focussing at closer distances – say 2m? Is the distance correct on the lens and does the rangefinder accurately indicate this closer distance?

[Landberg]

I’m sure you know that the rangefinder spot in the viewfinder is moved by a mechanical cam connected to the lens.

 

If your lens’ distance scale is set at infinity and your photos are sharp, even though the rangefinder spot is showing otherwise ("goes past it"), it’s a fair guess that it is your rangefinder that needs adjusting.

 

Have you experimented by focussing at closer distances – say 2m? Is the distance correct on the lens and does the rangefinder accurately indicate this closer distance?

 

Yes!

I have tested closer distances and it all seems sharp. Yeah i had rangefinders for a long time but i have never seen this before. When my M5 had the same problem it showed in the pictures.

[NJH]

I have seen this at distances which are not quite infinity on say a 50 lens, the RF will look spot on with the lens a hair back from infinity. I tried with my M8 taking several images and inspecting them at 100% but couldn't detect any obvious difference between the infinity setting and the hair back from infinity. Is this what you are experiencing?

[Landberg]

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I have seen this at distances which are not quite infinity on say a 50 lens, the RF will look spot on with the lens a hair back from infinity. I tried with my M8 taking several images and inspecting them at 100% but couldn't detect any obvious difference between the infinity setting and the hair back from infinity. Is this what you are experiencing?

 

I almost only take pictures from 2m-5m. I have not compared infinity pictures.

[Michael Geschlecht]

Hello Landberg,

 

Welcome to the Forum.

 

You might begin by putting your camera ON A SOLID TRIPOD and then putting a ruler on the floor pointing straight away from you. First set the LENS FOCUSSING SCALE to a distance of 3 meters. Place the ruler so its mid-point with the ruler pointing away from you is positioned so that the middle number (ie:50cm) is where the range/viewfinder rectangles coincide. Take a photo. Do the same things with the LENS FOCUSSING SCALE set @ 5 meters. Don't forget to use a CABLE RELEASE.

 

Do this @ F2, F4 & F8. Adjusting exposre accordingly. Even if you never use some of these apertures.

 

Do this again on a CLEAR day with a subject AT LEAST one (1) km away (ie: the Moon on a CLEAR nite.) Again, adjusting exposure for F stop: @ F2, F4 &F8.

 

Do this: With the lens SET at the Infinity mark. And then do it again after refocussing the lens with the range/viewfinder MEASURING Infinity.

 

Some lenses are misadjusted for infinity & need correction.

 

Some lenses are PURPOSELY designed or/& built so their lens barrels focus beyond Infinity. Including many Leitz/Leica lenses.

 

What is important for this part of the test is that: What your range/viewfinder shows you to be correct focus: IS correct focus.

 

NEVER focus on, or use, the Sun as a subject. NEVER.

 

Stars & Planets, though nice to look at, for the most part, are simply points of light on a negative/transparency. Most out of focus, etc, images you see from them will be lens abberations. Not focussing errors..

 

Now you have photos to compare @ known distances @ known F stops & you can BEGIN to determine whether the differences you have observed are from: Misaligned range/viewfinder, misaligned lens, lens focal shift @ various apertures, operator error, or something else.

 

We begin by looking at the printed photos, or transparencies, to see IF that midpoint of focus is the sharpest point of focus. Then we count how many increments on either side of the mid point are equally in, or out focus. At each aperture.

 

If a different number than the midpoint number is the sharpest point of focus then we have a perspective to begin from.

 

Once you have this data there is more help available here on the Forum.

 

Best Regards,

 

Michael

Edited April 15, 2014 by Michael Geschlecht

[Landberg]

Hello Landberg,

 

Welcome to the Forum.

 

You might begin by putting your camera ON A SOLID TRIPOD and then putting a ruler on the floor pointing straight away from you. First set the LENS FOCUSSING SCALE to a distance of 3 meters. Place the ruler so its mid-point with the ruler pointing away from you is positioned so that the middle number (ie:50cm) is where the range/viewfinder rectangles coincide. Take a photo. Do the same things with the LENS FOCUSSING SCALE set @ 5 meters. Don't forget to use a CABLE RELEASE.

 

Do this @ F2, F4 & F8. Adjusting exposre accordingly. Even if you never use some of these apertures.

 

Do this again on a CLEAR day with a subject AT LEAST one (1) km away (ie: the Moon on a CLEAR nite.) Again, adjusting exposure for F stop: @ F2, F4 &F8.

 

Do this: With the lens SET at the Infinity mark. And then do it again after refocussing the lens with the range/viewfinder MEASURING Infinity.

 

Some lenses are misadjusted for infinity & need correction.

 

Some lenses are PURPOSELY designed or/& built so their lens barrels focus beyond Infinity. Including many Leitz/Leica lenses.

 

What is important for this part of the test is that: What your range/viewfinder shows you to be correct focus: IS correct focus.

 

NEVER focus on, or use, the Sun as a subject. NEVER.

 

Stars & Planets, though nice to look at, for the most part, are simply points of light on a negative/transparency. Most out of focus, etc, images you see from them will be lens abberations. Not focussing errors..

 

Now you have photos to compare @ known distances @ known F stops & you can BEGIN to determine whether the differences you have observed are from: Misaligned range/viewfinder, misaligned lens, lens focal shift @ various apertures, operator error, or something else.

 

We begin by looking at the printed photos, or transparencies, to see IF that midpoint of focus is the sharpest point of focus. Then we count how many increments on either side of the mid point are equally in, or out focus. At each aperture.

 

If a different number than the midpoint number is the sharpest point of focus then we have a perspective to begin from.

 

Once you have this data there is more help available here on the Forum.

 

Best Regards,

 

Michael

 

Thank you! I will try this! But it really feels like it is in focus. So there is lenses that will go past infinity without being wrong?

[Landberg]

I have a M4-P with a RF that is spot on. If i focus at a target with the M4-P and then remove the lens and put it on my M6 (without moving the focus ring) the m6 RF is as spot on as the M4-P. So at the same distance with the same lens with two cameras the RF show the same result.

[Michael Geschlecht]

Hello Landberg,

 

What about @ Infinity with both camera bodies on a tripod with the Moon as a target?

 

First with the lens SET at Infinity.

 

Second with both lenses FOCUSSED on the Moon.

 

Best Regards,

 

MIchael

Edited April 17, 2014 by Michael Geschlecht

[Landberg]

Hello Landberg,

 

What about @ Infinity with both camera bodies on a tripod with the Moon as a target?

 

First with the lens SET at Infinity.

 

Second with both lenses FOCUSSED on the Moon.

 

Best Regards,

 

MIchael

 

They both go past the moon. And they both show the same on the lens.

[Michael Geschlecht]

Hello Landberg,

 

What do the developed photos from the 2 different cameras show?

 

1. Separate photos of the Moon with 3 photos from each camera with the same lens SET at marked Infinity.

 

2. Separate photos of the Moon with 3 photos from each camera. With each camera's range/viewfinder DETERMINING correct focus with the same lens. Refocussed for each exposure. With each camera.

 

You can do this all on one (1) roll of film.

 

Don't forget the TRIPOD & CABLE RELEASE.

 

Best Regards,

 

Michael

Edited April 17, 2014 by Michael Geschlecht

[Landberg]

Hello Landberg,

 

What do the developed photos from the 2 different cameras show?

 

1. Separate photos of the Moon with 3 photos from each camera with the same lens SET at marked Infinity.

 

2. Separate photos of the Moon with 3 photos from each camera. With each camera's range/viewfinder DETERMINING correct focus with the same lens. Refocussed for each exposure. With each camera.

 

You can do this all on one (1) roll of film.

 

Don't forget the TRIPOD & CABLE RELEASE.

 

Best Regards,

 

Michael

 

I gave up and sent it off ta a CLA;)

[k_g_wolf ✝]

That´s the most sensible thing you could do ...

Enjoy the camera when it´s back!

 

 

Best

GEORG

[Landberg]

That´s the most sensible thing you could do ...

Enjoy the camera when it´s back!

 

 

Best

GEORG

 

Thank you! I have a M4-P as a backup camera, so i will manage!

[Jessestr]

So did it fix the problem?