M8 question: when to service?

[hteasley]

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My first post, I hope this isn't a stupid question.

 

I just purchased a used M8, which should arrive tomorrow, and I'm pretty excited. This will be my first rangefinder since my first camera when I was a kid, an Olympus XA (which I still have, but haven't shot for, hmm, thirty years now...) I've been shooting Nikon SLRs, and have a DLux 4 as my tiny always-with-me camera. The DLux 4 is clearly a gateway camera to harder glass....

 

I've been reading the forums for a longish while, and there's a lot of mention of folks sending M cameras and lenses to Solms for adjustment. What I'm wondering is if there are basic tests that I can run the camera through to determine if it's in need of adjustment. What's going to tell me that things are out of whack, and that it's not my fault?

 

The only specific thing I've seen so far is seeing if there's a vertical discrepancy in the viewfinder by focusing on some printed text. That's the sort of test I'm wondering if there's more of... what other things can one check very explicitly that will show that the camera and/or lenses are in need of adjustment?

 

Thanks for any pointers or other help.

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[wstotler]

What I'm wondering is if there are basic tests that I can run the camera through to determine if it's in need of adjustment. What's going to tell me that things are out of whack, and that it's not my fault?

 

Welcome to the forum! Your question isn't stupid, but probably premature.

 

The sanest answer, I think, is that you should shoot quite a bit (1000+ shots, as wide open as your lens allows) over the next few weeks and see if you have a common, persistent error: "Dammit! I know I focused on the eyes and they're out of focus but the hairline is in focus." Over and over again. Then, come back with some sample shots and forum members can give you advice based on your actual problem, if you find one. While you can test your kit extensively now using the "ruler test," it may also prematurely "reveal" issues that you will not encounter in actual practice. Assume first the problem is with your technique--although the forum might lead you to believe it's the gear.

 

I'm being a bit forward here, but this is a post I wrote on focusing practice and expectations. Have a look?

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m8-forum/99742-focussing-tips.html#post1050857

 

Cheers!

Will

[Xmas]

If the rangefinder images don't quite line up vertically then that is a simple adjustment, a local repair person familiar with a film M or digital M should be able to fix it easily and cheap.

 

It is mainly annoying provided the horizontal calibration of the rangefinder is ok, I might live with a vertical error until the first time the M8 needs service for a more major problem.

 

But it is a subjective thing, the vertical error annoys lot of people.

 

Noel

[jaapv]

Any competent Leica service person can adjust vertical misalignment within minutes.

[hteasley]

Welcome to the forum! Your question isn't stupid, but probably premature.

 

Yes, I just like being prepared. I'm willing to put in a lot of effort to make things work, but when it comes to making the shift from SLR to rangefinder, I just wanted to know if there's anything that is trivially measurable, that would keep me from banging my head against a wall, should that come to pass. If there's something extremely obvious, that's particular to rangefinders, that I don't know about... that's all I was wondering about.

 

But the camera arrived today, apparently in impeccable condition, an hour before the C Biogon 35/2.8 arrived. So I'm in business. Could not be more pleased.

 

EDIT: and thanks for the link to your focusing post. Very helpful.

[jaapv]

Enjoy!

[khiromu]

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Don't test your gear unless you see something wired from your real life experience using your camera.

Enjoy!

[wstotler]

Yes, I just like being prepared. I'm willing to put in a lot of effort to make things work, but when it comes to making the shift from SLR to rangefinder, I just wanted to know if there's anything that is trivially measurable, that would keep me from banging my head against a wall, should that come to pass. If there's something extremely obvious, that's particular to rangefinders, that I don't know about... that's all I was wondering.

 

Glad the link was helpful. One more trick? When focusing on something close (3 to 5ish feet), dial in focus fast and get it mostly, then lean your body forward/back (a little or a lot, depending) without touching the focus ring to see small differences--shoot when things line up. No need to twiddle with the focus ring--use your body or your feet to make adjustments. Fast. BTW, I'm exactly the same way when it comes to preparation--know what you were after, which is why I suggested you shoot--a lot--and see if you get anything back that's suspicious first. Sane. Glad your M8 arrived, BTW! Enjoy. . . . And post/share some of your shots on Flickr.

[hteasley]

Glad the link was helpful. One more trick? When focusing on something close (3 to 5ish feet), dial in focus fast and get it mostly, then lean your body forward/back (a little or a lot, depending) without touching the focus ring to see small differences--shoot when things line up. No need to twiddle with the focus ring--use your body or your feet to make adjustments. Fast. BTW, I'm exactly the same way when it comes to preparation--know what you were after, which is why I suggested you shoot--a lot--and see if you get anything back that's suspicious first. Sane. Glad your M8 arrived, BTW! Enjoy. . . . And post/share some of your shots on Flickr.

 

One of the first:

 

 

I'm decent with fast manual focus on my DSLR: I was taking good pictures of my kids in a moon walk just this last weekend, where the auto-focus on my D90 only wanted the heavy black mesh of the outside, not the kids within. Focusing with the M8 feels better, but so far, I'm not getting the tack-sharp focus I feel like I'm shooting. I'll have to get used to this lens. Tomorrow when it's light, I'll stop it down and see how it goes. And I need to get an IR filter....