M9 front focusing

[kenmedk]

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Hi I am new to the forum and thank you to all for tons of infos you contributing.

I just got a M9 a few weeks ago and really enjoying it.

But I found it does front focusing. I am using 50 lux,30 lux 90 cron and other various

lenses. Have you guys had problem like mine? Should I send it back to New Jersey?

I heard the turn around time is over 4 weeks.....

Thanks.

 

Kenneth

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[cliffp]

Mine had the same problem. As I live in the UK it was sent back to Solms via Milton Keynes, along with the three lenses most likely to exhibit a problem with focussing errors (a 90mm Summicron, 50mm Summicron and a 28mm Summicron). Solms turned it round in less than a week. I can't speak for turn round times in the US. Both Leica UK and Leica DE gave excellent service - hopefully you'll get the same!

[Shade]

Yes you should send it back and have it fixed, unless you want to keep on compensating your focusing for every shot. I had the same problem, but only with my 50/1 Noct wide open. So I ended up selling my Noct and exchanged it with a 50 and 35 lux.

 

 

I hate focusing inaccurately.

[digitalfx]

I would suggest testing the camera first with a chart to be sure its not operator error.

The best test is to put the camera on a tripod and shoot a ruler at an angle away from the lens. Similar to the image attached. Then you can determine exactly how far off the focus is. It is very easy to miss focus with a rangefinder and unless you are testing under controlled conditions its hard to determine if its simply operator error or not.

 

The Lens Align Pro is a great tool, but you can accomplish the same thing with a simple ruler.

 

Another tip is to bring the image into Photoshop and apply an emboss filter, then you can tell exactly where focus falls.

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[k-hawinkler]

I would suggest testing the camera first with a chart to be sure its not operator error.

The best test is to put the camera on a tripod and shoot a ruler at an angle away from the lens. Similar to the image attached. Then you can determine exactly how far off the focus is. It is very easy to miss focus with a rangefinder and unless you are testing under controlled conditions its hard to determine if its simply operator error or not.

 

The Lens Align Pro is a great tool, but you can accomplish the same thing with a simple ruler.

 

Another tip is to bring the image into Photoshop and apply an emboss filter, then you can tell exactly where focus falls.

 

Great tip. Very nice display. Thanks.

 

A focus chart can be found here on page 18: http://www.focustestchart.com/focus21.pdf

Some front focus discussion here: http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m9-forum/120468-summilux-50mm-f1-4-asph-chrome.html

 

K-H.

[Jamie Roberts]

Note that I'm not recommending this to everyone but often there is a very, very small amount of infinity RF adjustment that bring a set of different lenses into better alignment.

 

My M9 also front-focused a very small amount (my Nocti was out at f1, and since I had it calibrated at Solms it was spot on with my M8).

 

With the LensAlign above (or a ruler) and these instructions, I managed to get the Nocti in synch at f1 and improve the focus with a 28 cron, 50 Lux, 35 Lux and 75 Lux. This makes me extremely happy

 

My 90 pre-asph has some issues at distances of between 5 and 10 meters, but close focus is in and infinity works. Weird. But it had these issues on my M8 as well (worse, actually), so it's probably something with the lens... so back to Solms it goes

 

Here are the instructions for tweaking your M (good to know for a field adjustment too, if you have to do it):

 

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-wiki.en/index.php/M8_Rangefinder_Infinity_Adjustment

 

This is not a hard thing to do, but it does require time, a steady hand, a relatively dust-free environment, and the bravery to do it

 

If you're not comfortable doing this, send your camera and fastest, longest lens into Leica (here in Canada, Kindermann in Markham can also adjust the RF and tweak lenses for you. But for the ultimate fix, NJ or Solms has the stuff to make sure your lenses work with your M9).

[k-hawinkler]

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Did you mean this link? http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-wiki.en/index.php/M8_Rangefinder_Infinity_Adjustment

[Jamie Roberts]

Did you mean this link? http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-wiki.en/index.php/M8_Rangefinder_Infinity_Adjustment

 

Yep--that's the one I thought I posted (and fixed due to your heads-up ) Thanks!

[kenmedk]

Thanks to all with great infos.

I will do the chart test but would like to send to Leica for adjustment.

When I called NJ Leica, they said it only takes a few hours to do the job but due to the

work load and lack of technician it will take around 3WEEKS!!!!

Should I send it to Germany?

 

Kenneth

[Jamie Roberts]

Thanks to all with great infos.

I will do the chart test but would like to send to Leica for adjustment.

When I called NJ Leica, they said it only takes a few hours to do the job but due to the

work load and lack of technician it will take around 3WEEKS!!!!

Should I send it to Germany?

 

Kenneth

 

Where are you? If you're in NA, it will be faster in NJ than shipping to Solms and back again. If NJ is backed up I can only imagine Solms is probably very busy as well.

[kenmedk]

I am in LA. I just can not think myself without M9 for 3 weeks....

May be it is about time get a OLY EP2(??)for back up.

Is it QC problem with Leica or just nature of RF camera?(for not accurate focusing)

Thanks...

[Alnitak]

I am in LA. I just can not think myself without M9 for 3 weeks....

May be it is about time get a OLY EP2(??)for back up.

Is it QC problem with Leica or just nature of RF camera?(for not accurate focusing)

Thanks...

 

Take it to Steve's Camera in Culver City instead. It will be cheaper than the insurance and shipping to NJ and he's an expert.

 

Jeff

[tdtaylor]

My front focused 3 cm with all six of my lenses. Sent it to NJ, kept on them, and had it back in 3 1/2 weeks, with the focus right on the money. Not exactly the way a new $7k camera should work, but at least they got it corrected fairly quickly.

 

edit- My dealer hesitated sending it in, so I ended up sending it insured. That was the part that soured me the most.

[kenmedk]

Terry, did you send all six lenses with the body?

[carcam]

My new M9 focuses perfectly with my 28 Summicron and 50 Summilux even at f1.4, everytime. However, I have tried 3 different 90mm lenses and all 3 front focused 1 cm wide open (f2.5 and 2.8). I suspect it is just me and something in my vision or focusing ability. I'm using a +.5 diopter and 1.25x VF magnifier. Any reason it could be the camera or rf if it's only on the 90mm focal length? Thanks.

[Jamie Roberts]

The problem is often that you have a new M9 and older lenses, and sometimes those older lenses aren't at the same tolerance level as the M9.

 

Happened with my M8 as well. Some adjustments are just necessary (and if they weren't, Canon and Nikon wouldn't be inlcuding lens adjustment mechanisms in the their current bodies).

 

@carcam... it could be your eyes, but it could be all three 90s too. You just never know with older lenses.

[tdtaylor]

Terry, did you send all six lenses with the body?

 

No. Just the M9. From what I understand form the far more knowledgeable people on this site, they use a reference lens. I do have a 35 with the focus shift, and if I wanted it spot on I would have to send it in, but then my other lenses would be off. Just send the camera.

[jaapv]

My new M9 focuses perfectly with my 28 Summicron and 50 Summilux even at f1.4, everytime. However, I have tried 3 different 90mm lenses and all 3 front focused 1 cm wide open (f2.5 and 2.8). I suspect it is just me and something in my vision or focusing ability. I'm using a +.5 diopter and 1.25x VF magnifier. Any reason it could be the camera or rf if it's only on the 90mm focal length? Thanks.

It could be the magnifier. For a number of users (me included) it does not help, but magnifies the problems.

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[carcam]

Thanks Jaapv- I will re-try it without the 1.25x magnifier. I assumed that it couldn't do anything but help.

[ppolla]

I would like to try and test my M9....but can I do this test using 35 Cron lens?

How far should I place the camera from the test focus point?

Please let me know your thoughts.

Thanks,

P