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...You do need a good 2.5 mm screwdriver (mine just happened to be made in Germany!) and allen wrench, some amount of mechanical acuity, a good infinity, close up, 3 meter and 10 meter references, a lens you know is correct, a gentle touch, and a lot of patience.

 

...

 

what did you use for a 3m and 10m reference?

 

thanks

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I use something generally in those distances with good definition. For example a book cover with a high contrast type at around 3m and a car hubcap around 10. What you're shooting for is a pinpoint accuracy close up that then doesn't throw off your mid to long distance focus. And you achieve that by an adjustment dance between the infinity wheel and the pivot point whilst checking actual close and mid focus with pictures, and the alignment of the infinity horizontal window in the rf by itself.

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  • 1 month later...

As I understand it, this tuning concerns the rangefinder coupling, not the rangefinder operation itself.

 

Just out of interest, would this tuning be enough to correct for all typical focus deficiencies, or would there be some issues that would require a rangefinder re-alignment?

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  • 5 months later...

Can some please help me with the midrange calibration?

I adjust the roller and the length of the arm.

At 0.7m-1.5m focus is spot on, altough at >5m,

but between I have frontfocus.

I checked booth lenses on my M9 where all is ok,

so I dont think that I have a problem with my lenses.

Any suggestions?

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After getting the camera 3 yrs or so ago and running focus tests, M9 + 3 lenses were off to DAG and back within a week at a reasonable charge.

 

All well since then, I use any of 15 very old to brand new lenses with fine results.

 

Glad I did cuz I'm chicken to mess with the RF mech!

 

Only recently actually cleaned the sensor for the 1st time, but not until after a month of study. One speck was driving me mad. Gave me the shivers but glad I lost that virginity - maybe this one will be next.

 

Only one 1st time, eh?

 

Thanks to all of you for the lengthy work and experimentation that went into crafting this thread!

 

I think my new M-E is a tad off... :)

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  • 1 month later...

I found the info here immensely useful. My first M (M6 0.72) worked fine with an assortment of lenses. I just bought an M6 0.86 and a new 50 Lux ASPH and the RF wouldn't coincide at infinity. This M6 has slotted screw heads for all internal adjustments. I moved the 'B' head slightly counter-clockwise to 'lengthen' it and it went past infinity so I backed it up a little and now it matches at infinity just fine. We've got some weather here so it's been a little hard to see distant objects but I'll be doing some additional testing this week to confirm that it is matching properly at all distances. Thanks again!

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  • 6 months later...

Thank you so much for this information.

 

I use the pictures here to guide me on the infinity focus adjusment. Mine was very slightly off on my M240, both horizontally and vertically. No problems with focus, however the slight fuzziness was just enough to annoy me (especially if one has ever tried a brand new, perfectly Leica aligned rangefinder - the aligned images are so perfect that the rangefinder patch disappears).

 

When making these adjustments, use a L shaped hex wrench and insert the short end into the slot. Turn the screw with the very slightest pressure then recheck again. I was able to correct the infinity within 5 minutes. Luckily my lenses are still sharp throughout the range.

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Thanks so much for all the good advice on this tread.

 

I've had my M-E for a while now and couldn't understand why I got sharper pictures with my old M8. Focusing with the M-E was getting really frustrating and I had to stop down quite a lot to get sharp results. Since I live out in the woods in Thailand and the camera was bought in Norway I didn't know what to do.

 

An hour adjusting the infinity with the hex tool, testing, adjusting and testing again did the trick for me.

 

A big thank you.

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  • 1 month later...

Hi everyone, I have a really dumb question so please don't be too hard on me...:):). The question is: How do I test my M camera to find out if the rangefinder is out of adjustment?

 

I had an m8, m9, and now the m240. I never noticed a focusing issue, but then again I do not know what to look for?

 

Thanks !!

Dan F.

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If you think everything is Ok then it probably is. Personally I find even the slightest rangefinder calibration issues very annoying.

 

You must have a lens that you know is perfect and preferably a fast one. Elmarits aren't really stressing the RF too much compared to a lux. Then test infinity first (a couple of km distance should do it). Then test minimum and a few in between.

 

A tripod is useful for consistancy. Load the files into your favourite program. Errors will be obvious. I can get away with using the rear screen of the camera for checking, if I'm careful.

 

Gordon

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Hi everyone, I have a really dumb question so please don't be too hard on me...:):). The question is: How do I test my M camera to find out if the rangefinder is out of adjustment?

 

I had an m8, m9, and now the m240. I never noticed a focusing issue, but then again I do not know what to look for?

 

Thanks !!

Dan F.

 

Yes - look at your images. If you don't have an issue you don't have an issue.

Edited by jaapv
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Do not adjust your camera unless this is happening at infinity with multiple lenses! I had the exact same problem with my 50lux aspherical. It focused fine at close distances but beyond about ten feet it was off. I have adjusted my rangefinder myself before but I have many lenses, so I knew that it was a problem with the lens. I sent the lens to Leica and they indeed had to make an adjustment. They added a small shim in front of the lens mount and the lens is dead on at all distances now.

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If you think everything is Ok then it probably is. Personally I find even the slightest rangefinder calibration issues very annoying.

 

You must have a lens that you know is perfect and preferably a fast one. Elmarits aren't really stressing the RF too much compared to a lux. Then test infinity first (a couple of km distance should do it). Then test minimum and a few in between.

 

A tripod is useful for consistancy. Load the files into your favourite program. Errors will be obvious. I can get away with using the rear screen of the camera for checking, if I'm careful.

 

Gordon

Gordon, When testing is there a particular aperture I should set using a new 50 lux? Thanks, Dan

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Calibration checks at minimum and mid distances should always be performed wide open. That's where you'll see the finest tolerance for error and at other apertures you may be fooled by focus shift (although not with the 50 lux). Remember to check infinity coincidence in the RF first. Only look at doing the other adjustments if infinity is out and it should be out with most/all your lenses to be sure it's the camera body that has the issue.

 

Gordon

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Calibration checks at minimum and mid distances should always be performed wide open. That's where you'll see the finest tolerance for error and at other apertures you may be fooled by focus shift (although not with the 50 lux). Remember to check infinity coincidence in the RF first. Only look at doing the other adjustments if infinity is out and it should be out with most/all your lenses to be sure it's the camera body that has the issue.

 

Gordon

 

Ok, will do. Thanks for your time and help. Dan

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  • 2 months later...
Julian--

 

That's totally brilliant! I don't know how I missed this before. If you're ever near Toronto, the beer's on me :)

 

Thanks again!

 

Brilliant, but I wouldn't dare to do it on my M240.

So as it's heavily frontfocussing it will be back to Solms with lenses.

A bit discouraging Leica did not find a way to set this spot on.

Of my 7 lenses, 5 are frontfocussing.

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