Quick Noctilux F1 question - calibration

[silverlight99]

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Any sense for how much it would cost to have Noc F1 calibrated (it's backfocusing by a couple inches!)? Is NJ Leica the best place to have it done? I'm sure there are independents as well, but would want to go.

 

Also, ideally would like to get the lens coded while it's in for work.

 

thanks!

[peter_n]

I had mine done by DAG (Don Goldberg) when I bought it several years ago and I think it cost $125 then but that included a CLA. I haven't had mine coded as I don't use digital Leica. DAG is excellent but takes ages to do the job as he's just drowning in work. I believe he sends the bayonets to John Milich (who is a member here) for coding.

[Xmas]

Hi

 

In '79 Leitz said send in the camera as well...

 

Noel

[marknorton]

Calibrating an F1 Noctilux is at the nightmare end of the scale. The lens uses only a single helicoid, meaning the rangefinder roller is simply sensing the position of the lens barrel. Fine tuning the rangefinder adjustment is done by grinding the focussing cam which is difficult and you can take metal away but you can't put it back. I sent mine in 3 times to Solms and in the end, they replaced the mount and started again.

 

The success of any attempt to improve the focussing accuracy is going to depend heavily on the camera as well, hence the comment about sending in the camera with the lens. The lens ideally needs to be calibrated against the camera it's going to be used with.

 

The desirability of the F1 lens stems from the way it draws images, not from the ability for those images to be pin sharp. I have a love-hate relationship with mine, mostly hate.

[silverlight99]

Thanks for the feedback everyone. Will probably send it into NJ and keep my fingers crossed.... although I hate to be without my M9 for too long as we just had another child and you know how everyone wants pictures!

[aesop]

 

...<snip>The lens ideally needs to be calibrated against the camera it's going to be used with.

 

The desirability of the F1 lens stems from the way it draws images, not from the ability for those images to be pin sharp. I have a love-hate relationship with mine, mostly hate.

 

 

...the excerpt above says it all, really. Unique fingerprint notwithstanding, practicality always tops my hierarchy when considering a lens. The Noctilux F1 (and its many foibles) would simply not work for me.

 

Great little toy, though.

[silverlight99]

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I do use my 50 Summilux most of the time for that focal length as a result, but there are definitely times where I really like the look of the F1. I also have a couple other vintage 50mm's which I kind of put into the unnecessary category but also have their unique "looks" - they were quite inexpensive to acquire but have their applications (f1.5 Summarit, f2 Summitar, although I prefer the latter for b/c of color and contrast).