So, how often do you need your rangefinder adjusted ?

[digbyhp]

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Not just a question for the Film Forum, but lets start here. Interested to hear from the forum how often, based on age or usage, you actually need, or get, the rangefinder mechanism in your Ms adjusted or serviced ?

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[redbaron]

Not once yet, in over 20 years.

[andybarton]

Never so far. My M2 is 50 in November.

 

(One for the Customer Forum.. )

[digbyhp]

Ta Andy, thx for moving, and thx for feedback.

[250swb]

Over the years I've had one or more of each M model (excepting the M8) and have never had the rangefinder mechanism adjusted on any of them (even during a clean, as far as I know).

 

Steve

[stunsworth]

M2, M3, M6, M8, no rangefinder adjustments on any of them - though I no longer have the M2 or M3.

[tobey bilek]

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Just My M6 which was off when almost new. The Leica rep looked at few pic and told me. I do believe I repaired it my myself with a meter stick, a nice bright star, and a 50 mm lens. It has been so long now, 25 years.

 

 

I did a vertical alinment only on a M2 or 3 one time. I bought it used and it came that way.

 

 

Other than that, I check them occasionally. Rough treatment seems to cause the problem if there is one. I treat mine as precision instruments.

[vertekijker]

Never, in 25 years with 8 cameras.

--------------------

Frans

[dicko101]

Never (although I have not been the only owner in my M4's 44 year existence). To check it now and again, I use the mirror test: That is, stand in front of a mirror and focus on the edge of the mirror glass or frame. Check that distance on the lens markings and then focus on your reflection. That should be roughly double your initial focus distance. If it's way off, you're in trouble, but mine always seems to be perfekt.

[MPerson]

Never on any of mine. One of my M2s I have had 41 years and even after being blasted 250 feet across the Falklands has just carried on working perfectly.

[bill]

Never, on M (2, 4, 6x2, 7) or Barnack (II, III) in 20 years of use.

 

Regards,

 

Bill

[spydrxx]

My M4 needed it twice in 41 years. Once it was because the adjustment screw locked up when I was trying to tweak it, the second time the camera dropped to the ground (actually blew off the table it was sitting on during a wind storm), and hit on the rim of the lens which apparently knocked the cam akilter. Everything came back fine, lens and body.

[Xmas]

Hi

 

Never several Ms over 40 years or so...

 

If you use them as a slab hammer, maybe.

 

Noel

[Marty]

My M8.2s never in the one year I owned them, my M9 is going away for adjustment after 9 months. I wish I knew how it went off but I don't. What I do know is that - at least on the M9 - rangefinder accuracy appears to be extremely critical. A slight misfocus is quite obvious at 100% on screen, not necessarily print. I wonder how many owners should have it adjusted but don't?

[wilfredo]

I've had 5 Leica rangefinders and never had any of them adjusted (I currently own 2, an M2 and M8).

[andym911]

Never....but don't go by me, Have also never cleaned a sensor on my M8;)

 

and don't intend to unless it becomes a jungle

 

andy

[gregoryniss]

My 50 year old M3 got it's first CLA this year from me. I've only had it for 6 months though, but since it had the original seal, im going to assume that no one ever adjusted it. Pretty impressive how long the classic M's stay in good, usable condition for being 40-50 years old. Good job leica!

[digbyhp]

Thanks for all the feedback folks. I simply asked the question because I saw somewhere that suggested it gets out of alignment every so often, but based on the responses here, really it sounds like the problem is rare.

 

 

Cheers

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Hallo,

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[digbyhp]

Never (although I have not been the only owner in my M4's 44 year existence). To check it now and again, I use the mirror test: That is, stand in front of a mirror and focus on the edge of the mirror glass or frame. Check that distance on the lens markings and then focus on your reflection. That should be roughly double your initial focus distance. If it's way off, you're in trouble, but mine always seems to be perfekt.

 

Richard, thanks for the tip on this home-test. I tried it and my M7 and CLE came out the same - yeah, roughly times 2, but both the same, so either they're both ok, or both not, hehe.

 

Does anyone else out there have similar home tests ? The only other one I've heard is setting to infinity and then checking the focussing?

[jaapv]

Each time I drop them