clat Posted February 23, 2011 Share #1 Posted February 23, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) I have a question regarding the focusing of my M8. I've had it a couple of months and have noticed my inability to get really sharp images. I tested my three lenses using the Tim Jackson test chart and have come to find that my Summicron 50mm back focuses (20mm), my Summicron 35mm front focuses (20mm), and my 90mm Tele Elmarit (thin) is right on the money. There is no question in my mind that rangefinder focusing is different than SLR's or DSLR's but I do have a couple of M6's and have always been able to generate good results if I take my time. Could I get some advice here? I have no appetite for a lengthy repair interval. Thnx. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted February 23, 2011 Posted February 23, 2011 Hi clat, Take a look here M8 focus issues. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
hunz Posted February 23, 2011 Share #2 Posted February 23, 2011 M8/digital files will magnify focus issues more so than from scanned film from your M6's The fact each of your lenses is focusing at a different tolerances makes it more difficult to isolate whats 'out' Perhaps run a second test. use a tripod to isolate possible shake and go from there. Alternatively if you can borrow another M8/M9 to test your lenses? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ho_co Posted February 23, 2011 Share #3 Posted February 23, 2011 At what distances did you test the lenses? You did the tests wide open, right? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
clat Posted February 23, 2011 Author Share #4 Posted February 23, 2011 Test distance was that recommended for the Tim Jackson test chart; instructions were to fill the frame with the chart so for the lenses in question it was a meter or less. Tests were done wide open at f2 for the 35 and 50 and at f2.8 for the 90. No M8 or M9 locally available to provide a "control" sample. I did not use a tripod but shot in good light and was able to achieve an appropriate shutter speed... while that would eliminate blur I suppose it would not eliminate wobble or bobbing of the head that could move the focus field back and forth. I have more work to do. Thx! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ho_co Posted February 23, 2011 Share #5 Posted February 23, 2011 You're on target; tripod is wanted. And just for completeness, you do rotate the camera to vertical for the test, right? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted February 23, 2011 Share #6 Posted February 23, 2011 If your lenses give different results it is likely that the lenses need to be calibrated to "M8/M9 standard" as Leica puts it and that the camera is OK. Not surprising as these are lenses from the film era. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
clat Posted February 23, 2011 Author Share #7 Posted February 23, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) Camera was held vertically and horizontally. Results were very similar. BTW I called DAG regarding possible adjustment (he's only about 100 miles from me) and the phone was always busy all day long. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
clat Posted February 23, 2011 Author Share #8 Posted February 23, 2011 Jaap, your comments are interesting about the lenses being from the film era. The 50 and 35 Summicrons are definitely from the mid 1970's. The Tele-Elmarit 90 (thin) is also from the 70's/80's but was at some point modified to 6 bit format by Leica (a new base ring?). The 90 is the only one that is right on. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted February 23, 2011 Share #9 Posted February 23, 2011 Well, tolerances can be wider for film, so these problems with older lenses are quite common. However, they are easily remedied. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamesk8752 Posted February 24, 2011 Share #10 Posted February 24, 2011 Camera was held vertically and horizontally. Results were very similar. BTW I called DAG regarding possible adjustment (he's only about 100 miles from me) and the phone was always busy all day long. Don can be hard to reach; he's a very busy guy. Try calling him in the late afternoon, or send him an email. If you haven't used his services before, he's worth it! Regards, Jim Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombii Posted February 25, 2011 Share #11 Posted February 25, 2011 Don can be hard to reach; he's a very busy guy. Try calling him in the late afternoon, or send him an email. If you haven't used his services before, he's worth it! Regards, Jim He's very busy and he may have your lense for a long time. He's had one of mine for 6-7 months now although mine isn't a simple CLA. If you're going to get a simple CLA, send it to Leica NJ. They're not fast but they're faster and they'll do a good job. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlesL Posted February 28, 2011 Share #12 Posted February 28, 2011 He's very busy and he may have your lense for a long time. He's had one of mine for 6-7 months now although mine isn't a simple CLA. If you're going to get a simple CLA, send it to Leica NJ. They're not fast but they're faster and they'll do a good job. Also good for CLA is Gus Lazzari. Several weeks round trip for a CLA. Here's an interesting post from him about the Summaron 35/3/5 in LTM. Disassembled Summaron Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
clat Posted March 2, 2011 Author Share #13 Posted March 2, 2011 Just as an FYI I corresponded with Sherry Krauter of Golden Touch today and she informed me that she did no work on digital Leicas. I had reached out to her regarding potential focus adjustment prior to a trip out of the country. I did not realize that she didnt do digital. She was very polite and responded to me very promptly Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted March 2, 2011 Share #14 Posted March 2, 2011 However, she is the only Leica repairperson who doesn't do RF adjustments on digital Ms that I know of. There is no difference between the rangefinder of film Ms and the M8/M9. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
canetsbe Posted March 3, 2011 Share #15 Posted March 3, 2011 Just as an FYI I corresponded with Sherry Krauter of Golden Touch today and she informed me that she did no work on digital Leicas. I had reached out to her regarding potential focus adjustment prior to a trip out of the country. I did not realize that she didnt do digital. She was very polite and responded to me very promptly I have a 35mm summicron that is misfocusing on my M8 AND M6.. The lens also has a tiny bit of play in the focus ring. I have other lenses that focus just fine on the those cameras. Sherry told me the same thing.. Do you guys think it's the lens that's out of whack or could it be that the cameras aren't coupling to it correctly or something? I am in a bit of a pickle as to what to do about this one. I replied and told her it wasn't focusing well on the M6 also, and she said, "understand that if I repair the lens for your M6, it does not mean it will work properly on the M8. If that is OK with you, send it in." What to do? I didn't know there was really any difference between the two in terms of focusing. Is there? -Cole Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted March 3, 2011 Share #16 Posted March 3, 2011 It has been explained before - The tolerances of a digital camera regarding focussing are considerbly narrower that those on film - due to the thickness of film emulsion and not-quite-flatness of film. Thus a lens may be fine on film and out of tolerance on an M8/M9. Leica adjusts lenses nowadays "to M8/9 specification". Obviously Sherry does not feel she has the equipment or expertise to do so. I think she is wrong in this respect, as most other equally respected camera repair persons seem to be doing fine. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ho_co Posted March 3, 2011 Share #17 Posted March 3, 2011 But infinity is only a part. My 75/1.4 was perfect at infinity but off at closer distances. Required Solms expertise. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wda Posted March 3, 2011 Share #18 Posted March 3, 2011 ..... The Tele-Elmarit 90 (thin) is also from the 70's/80's but was at some point modified to 6 bit format by Leica (a new base ring?). The 90 is the only one that is right on. That explains it. Leica would have checked the focusing against modern digital capture standards. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
canetsbe Posted March 3, 2011 Share #19 Posted March 3, 2011 Jim, Jaapv, thanks. I did focus tests on a brick building about 50m away (all throughout the aperture from f/2-f/16) and focus was consistently beyond the building with the summicron yet spot on with the summaron (f/3.5-f/22). I guess it seems to be focusing behind the subject? So what it comes down to is that if the lens is recalibrated for the M6 there's a chance it still won't be quite up to par on the M8. I would rather not have to send the lens to Leica USA as I have heard numerous horror stories about terrible correspondence and taking forever to get the work done. Does anyone know offhand if Youxin Ye will calibrate lenses to the "M8/9 standard?" Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted March 3, 2011 Share #20 Posted March 3, 2011 No, all lenses are calibrated to the tighter tolerance nowadays. If it is fine on the M8, it will be just as fine on the M6. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.