Btbowie Posted October 15, 2009 Share #1 Posted October 15, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hey Everyone My new M8 came this morning and I went ahead did the normal test shots...I find I'm having a problem with my 50mm 1.5 Nokton...my 40 Cron seems to be focusing ok, but the 50mm is back focusing everything, close up and far... is this because of the screw to M adaptor? I never had problems on my M6 with it and didn't think the extra tiny bit of thickness would effect it on the M8, but I could be wrong, either way the focus on it is off.... I suppose my main worry is it a lens problem, or is the body off and I need to do a switcheroo, if so luckily its new from the dealer and Im pretty sure I can exchange it for a new one. Thanks in advance for the info! Best Bryan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted October 15, 2009 Posted October 15, 2009 Hi Btbowie, Take a look here Brand New M8 - Back Focus Question...Before Returning:(. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Btbowie Posted October 15, 2009 Author Share #2 Posted October 15, 2009 In case it's relevant the 40 Cron is modified to bring up the 35 lines. And I was hasty, its front focusing! I attached a photo, the focus was on the tip of the pen. Thanks Bryan Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/100278-brand-new-m8-back-focus-questionbefore-returning/?do=findComment&comment=1076466'>More sharing options...
wda Posted October 15, 2009 Share #3 Posted October 15, 2009 I am confused over definitions: your picture seems to show a near focusing error, the opposite of what I expected to see. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Btbowie Posted October 15, 2009 Author Share #4 Posted October 15, 2009 That was my fault when I first posted, its focusing in front of the object thats the point of focus like you say. I just couldnt edit the post to fix the title Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
delander † Posted October 15, 2009 Share #5 Posted October 15, 2009 If one lens is backfocusing and the other front focusing it would suggest that it is not the camera. Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Btbowie Posted October 15, 2009 Author Share #6 Posted October 15, 2009 Actually one lens is fine, and one is front focusing. The 50mm 1.5 CV Nokton is front focusing, while my (modified for 35 lines) 40 Summicron is focusing fine. Just dont want to be too hasty in sending the body back if its a lens prob. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest mc_k Posted October 15, 2009 Share #7 Posted October 15, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) I thought the OP meant one lens was o.k. and the other front focusing. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest mc_k Posted October 15, 2009 Share #8 Posted October 15, 2009 How far apart are the grid lines, what angle did you shoot at, and how far away were you? You should also do several trials. That is a good target...is that a desk blotter or something? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Btbowie Posted October 15, 2009 Author Share #9 Posted October 15, 2009 Its actually just a cutting mat on my work desk, each block is a square inch. I was maybe 4 feet or so back maybe a tad more....but Ive tested it on a bunch of things around the house and outside, but the shot of the pen best illustrates it since you can see the grid lines in front that are in focus. 40 Cron is doing fine though, but I had a used M8 I was testing out a few weeks back that had a hot pixel, so I traded up for a brand new one, the thing is I dont remember the other M8 having a focus prob with this 50 so its a weird why a 40 works and a 50 with adaptor wont. Just didnt want to send the body back before I narrowed it down to that Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest mc_k Posted October 15, 2009 Share #10 Posted October 15, 2009 That one camera-lens combination is off more than it should be. If one lens is off and the other perfect, and your technique is good...then you know at least one lens is off. I would really try a couple more lenses before you make a guess what items are off. I know you have to make a decision about returning the camera. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Btbowie Posted October 15, 2009 Author Share #11 Posted October 15, 2009 Yeah, thats the problem, I only have two lenses here, and there aren't any dealers in my area so, I'm out of luck there sadly, Ive been shooting film Ms as my main bodies for a long time, and ironically sold some lenses I didnt use much, and bought an M8, so as for use, Im confident its not my technique etc, I suppose I can order another adaptor to see if that does anything at all. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted October 15, 2009 Share #12 Posted October 15, 2009 Un-calibrated CVs are not a rare instance... I remember to have red of similar complaints and examples hereby... I'm prone to think is not the adapter: they are very simple devices... if you verify with a caliper the ring's thickness (must be 1mm exactly) difficult that there is in it something wrong. Try another adapter if is easy to find another, but probably the issue is in the lens RF cam. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Btbowie Posted October 15, 2009 Author Share #13 Posted October 15, 2009 Now that I had a few minutes to myself to get some more tests done....Im leaning towards the body....Once i hit f5.6, focus gets normal again. I suppose it is the RF being off. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest mc_k Posted October 15, 2009 Share #14 Posted October 15, 2009 Again, if your technique is good, you know you have at least one lens off from the standard. There is no way for you to know if this M8 is off from the standard. I think one needs to have a few lenses to make good guesses about what is off, or be resigned to have things calibrated at Leica. Whether you replace this M8 or not, you can always send an M8 in during the warranty period and have it checked. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest mc_k Posted October 15, 2009 Share #15 Posted October 15, 2009 I think Luigi's advice is good. Supposedly film is more forgiving, so you may not have noticed a lens that was off. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Btbowie Posted October 15, 2009 Author Share #16 Posted October 15, 2009 Hey Guys Thanks for that input! I really appreciate itI decided to just hold onto it, I dont want to have a 3rd body with any quirks, so I figured, given Luigis advice, that it may be the lens, I can always send it into Leica NJ for a calibration / check up. The 50 has always seemed fine on my M6, I always shot it wide open, is film that much more forgiving? Or the M6 body that much more forgiving? Anyway, input is still appreciated! We'll see what Leica says! Also, given that the 40mm is sharp at f2, and the 50mm doesnt get sharp until f5.6...think thats more evidence to the lens being off? Or still a body RF possibility? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Btbowie Posted October 15, 2009 Author Share #17 Posted October 15, 2009 Hey Jim Its dark now, but Ill do that first thing in the morning from my balcony...I will say though earlier I used the 50 and shot wide open at infinity at a building across the street and the focus was still in front even then at wide open. Just seems to be a little in front of RF focus area, the pen shot is pretty standard for what everything else has been like, but again once I stop down the focus is normal. Ive been shootings Ms for a while and never noticed a prob like it, maybe Ive been lucky, or maybe shooting film with this 50 on my M6 it wasnt noticeable for some reason, which again, would be weird, to me anyway. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
delander † Posted October 15, 2009 Share #18 Posted October 15, 2009 Sorry I mis-understood your initial posts however I dont see how you can return an M8 body on the basis that you have front focus using a non-Leica lens. It is very common for lenses to shift focus backwards as you stop them down, this is more of a problem with large aperture lenses. If you are saying that you have front focus at f1.5 but correct focus at f5.6 this is what is happening. You could get your CV lens adjusted but Leica wont do it for you. Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest mc_k Posted October 15, 2009 Share #19 Posted October 15, 2009 I don't think it's the body that forgives, but the film that doesn't exactly lie flat. I am sure a lot of M8's are returned for focus issues that are o.k. Personally, if I were in your situation (and I have been in your situation) I would keep the current M8. But I would thoroughly check out everything else about it. If you have not already done so, check the alignment at infinity (I usually check it against a star at night). with a 40 f/2 you should also be able to check focus at 8-10 ft. Yes, there is always the chance the camera is off, and even the chance all three items are off from the standard. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest mc_k Posted October 15, 2009 Share #20 Posted October 15, 2009 I think all lenses have focus shift. The 50 may be focusing o.k. stopped down just because it has more depth of field. I think Leica lenses are calibrated wide open so they should be tested wide open. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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