indergaard Posted February 4, 2015 Share #1 Posted February 4, 2015 Advertisement (gone after registration) My M240 recently came back from Wetzlar after about two months of a big service, and the main reason I sent it back was to re-calibrate the rangefinder as it was a wee bit off at infinity. I also for some reason got a new shutter, and got a complete cleanup of the viewfinder internals and a new top cover which now says "Leica Camera Wetzlar - Made in Germany" instead of "Leica Camera - Made in Germany" as the original one did. I took the camera for a spin with my Lux 50 ASPH and everything seemed spot on from wide open and stopped down. I then attached my Lux 35 FLE and did some tests wide open. Everything seemed great. Finally! spot on... Or so I thought. I've been photographing with the 35 FLE at f/2, f/2.8, f/4 and f/5.6 lately and I seem to find the lens back-focusing consistently as I stop it down. I have never had focusing issues with this lens before but now I'm experiencing something that is very easily reproduced with at tripod, a subject and the EVF/LV. The distance doesn't matter. The FLE is spot on at f/1.4. But as soon as I stop it down to f/2 it back-focuses very slightly. If I stop it down to f/2.8 it backfocuses a little bit more, and this continues until I reach f/8 where I simply cannot detect a difference any more. Come to think of it, I haven't really used this lens at mid apertures a lot. It's either been at f/1.4, 5.6 or 8 usually. Is this normal behavior? I was out shooting some days ago, and used the lens at f/2 and f/2.8 a lot, and I came home with many pictures that was slightly backfocused. Quite strange when the 50 is spot on at all apertures - not something I would expect from the 35. I am suspecting that what I am seeing might be related to the large amount of field curvature that this lens has? The funny thing is that at f/1.4 dead in the center the subject is in perfect focus. But if I stop the lens down to f/2 or f/2.8 the subject in the center is not in focus, and is slightly backfocused. But other items in the mid frame and toward the edges at the same exact distance can be in focus... Just not in the center of the image! According to Lloyd Chambers the 35 FLE has a rearward focus shift, but also according to his article, from what I understand, the image is always sharp in the center. Which is the opposite of what I'm experincing; except at f/1.4 and f/8, strangely enough. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted February 4, 2015 Posted February 4, 2015 Hi indergaard, Take a look here Summilux 35 FLE focusing issues. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
CheshireCat Posted February 5, 2015 Share #2 Posted February 5, 2015 According to Lloyd Chambers the 35 FLE has a rearward focus shift, but also according to his article, from what I understand, the image is always sharp in the center. Which is the opposite of what I'm experincing; except at f/1.4 and f/8, strangely enough. The lens has some rearward focus shift, but I find mine always sharp enough in the center. The fact you see other objects mid frame and edges getting in and out of focus is due to the complex focus field of this lens. Did you send the lens in with the camera ? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted February 5, 2015 Share #3 Posted February 5, 2015 [...] The FLE is spot on at f/1.4. But as soon as I stop it down to f/2 it back-focuses very slightly. If I stop it down to f/2.8 it backfocuses a little bit more [...] Same with my CV 35/1.4 SC more or less but my 35/1.4 FLE doesn't show any significant softness in the center or elsewhere so i would send my lens in if i were you. Beware that i don't shoot rulers or brick walls and that i don't see the least focus shift out of my 35/2 asph though so you may wish to take what i say with a pinch of salt. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
piblondin Posted February 6, 2015 Share #4 Posted February 6, 2015 My M240 recently came back from Wetzlar after about two months of a big service, and the main reason I sent it back was to re-calibrate the rangefinder as it was a wee bit off at infinity. I also for some reason got a new shutter, and got a complete cleanup of the viewfinder internals and a new top cover which now says "Leica Camera Wetzlar - Made in Germany" instead of "Leica Camera - Made in Germany" as the original one did. I took the camera for a spin with my Lux 50 ASPH and everything seemed spot on from wide open and stopped down. I then attached my Lux 35 FLE and did some tests wide open. Everything seemed great. Finally! spot on... Or so I thought. I've been photographing with the 35 FLE at f/2, f/2.8, f/4 and f/5.6 lately and I seem to find the lens back-focusing consistently as I stop it down. I have never had focusing issues with this lens before but now I'm experiencing something that is very easily reproduced with at tripod, a subject and the EVF/LV. The distance doesn't matter. The FLE is spot on at f/1.4. But as soon as I stop it down to f/2 it back-focuses very slightly. If I stop it down to f/2.8 it backfocuses a little bit more, and this continues until I reach f/8 where I simply cannot detect a difference any more. Come to think of it, I haven't really used this lens at mid apertures a lot. It's either been at f/1.4, 5.6 or 8 usually. Is this normal behavior? I was out shooting some days ago, and used the lens at f/2 and f/2.8 a lot, and I came home with many pictures that was slightly backfocused. Quite strange when the 50 is spot on at all apertures - not something I would expect from the 35. I am suspecting that what I am seeing might be related to the large amount of field curvature that this lens has? The funny thing is that at f/1.4 dead in the center the subject is in perfect focus. But if I stop the lens down to f/2 or f/2.8 the subject in the center is not in focus, and is slightly backfocused. But other items in the mid frame and toward the edges at the same exact distance can be in focus... Just not in the center of the image! According to Lloyd Chambers the 35 FLE has a rearward focus shift, but also according to his article, from what I understand, the image is always sharp in the center. Which is the opposite of what I'm experincing; except at f/1.4 and f/8, strangely enough. I had a similar issue with my FLE. I would send it in for adjustment-- Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
indergaard Posted February 6, 2015 Author Share #5 Posted February 6, 2015 Thanks for the response guys. This was more or less continued in another thread, see this post for more details and examples: http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m-lenses/279741-tim-ashley-35mm-fle-review-3.html#post2879745 I have sent a email to Leica CS with the same details as I posted in the other thread, and are awaiting feedback from them on what to do. As of right now the lens is only usable at f/1.4 or f/8. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted February 6, 2015 Share #6 Posted February 6, 2015 Leica will ask you to send them the lens, you will wait a couple of months (at best) and your lens will be spot on for shooting 3-D subject matters most probably. Rulers and brick walls may be another story. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
indergaard Posted February 6, 2015 Author Share #7 Posted February 6, 2015 Advertisement (gone after registration) Leica will ask you to send them the lens, you will wait a couple of months (at best) and your lens will be spot on for shooting 3-D subject matters most probably. Rulers and brick walls may be another story. Well, I do shoot "brick walls" sometimes as I have a interest for subjects and details that are on a flat plane. Both of these images were made with the 35 FLE at f/2.8, and both of them do not have the focus where it should be (in the center). So yes, I need a lens that performs well for this type of shooting, and which does not exhibit a large amount of rearward focus shift. Image one is not focused at all in the center. It only shows the subject in focus on the 1/3 top of the image. Image two was focused on the ice in the middle of the frame, what is in focus is the rocks behind the ice however. It's maybe not easy to see with these low resolution files, but it's quite easy to see in a print or on my monitor. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted February 6, 2015 Share #8 Posted February 6, 2015 Your lens should fulfill classical requirements like yours for sure so you will send it in presumably. Now you may wish to use your EVF if you have an M240. Focus shift, if any, should be compensated for when focusing at real aperture. Image magnification allows for accurate focusing at f/2.8 of f/4 with no problem at all if the light is good enough. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erik Gunst Lund Posted February 6, 2015 Share #9 Posted February 6, 2015 Chances are that the focus shift is just one out of several issues that could be wrong with an badly assembled/calibrated/damaged lens... If you’re a pro join LPS Leica Professional Service, they are very helpful and service turnaround times a just a few days Highly recommended. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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