Possible to calibrate one lens using another lens as reference?

[pmrogers]

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My 50 lux asph focuses past infinity, severely enough to lose sharpness at every aperture.

 

This can be fixed by pulling back from infinity the tiniest amount, but this drives me a bit bonkers as I feel like I have to take every infinity shot two or 3 times in case I misjudged the adjustment.

 

The 35 cron that came with the camera, on the other hand, is perfectly adjusted. From F2 onward I can reliably crank the focus ring to the infinity stop and snap away with perfect sharpness.

 

I know I can send in the 50 lux and body together for calibration, but would rather not be without the M9 for multiple weeks/months.

 

So my question is, is it possible to send in just the 50 lux and 35 cron without the body and have the 50 adjusted to match the cron?

 

Thanks,

Paul

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[LeicaBraz]

No.

[pico]

Doesn't Leica use a body standard and then adjust the lens to the standard, thus obviating having to send in both the lens and body?

[M. Valdemar]

Exchange it for another one.

[hoppyman]

Exactly as Pico said. That was my experience visiting Solms Customer Service too. When my M8 shutter and finder were upgraded it was calibrated as part of that service. They checked my 50 & 75 on the spot and offered to adjust them and returned them to me later, which they did all for free under guarantee. "Your lenses are good. We can make them better" They told me then that there was no reason to adjust the lenses to a specific camera if the camera is adjusted correctly. They had recorded the calibration results from my camera of course.

 

Both lenses were perfectly accurate on my M8 on return and now on my M9.

I suggest just contacting Customer Service in the first instance and explaining your situation. Decide with them what you are trying to do and the best way to achieve that.

[jaapv]

Geoff is right. Lenses can be - in fact always are- adjusted without the body. A reference body may be used, but not the one that has been sent with the lens (if it has been sent.) Similarly bodies are not adjusted to the lenses. This is a fully calibrated system and the adjustments must be to a standard that any lens can be used on any body. When Leica asks that both body and lenses are sent in it is because they want to be certain all components are within tolerance.

[ho_co]

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Since the 35 is fine, just send the 50.

 

Leica will test the lens, and likely adjust it.

• If they find that there's nothing wrong with the 50 (unlikely), they'll ask you to send in the body.
  
• If that happens, send the 35 with the body, since otherwise the body's adjustment would no longer match the 35.
  

[pmrogers]

Thank you everyone for the helpful responses. I will send in just the 50.

 

At this point I'm thinking that if Leica does request the body I'll just ask them to send the lens back. I use it 80% or more for closer subjects where it's perfect, and I'd hate to do anything to risk the 35 cron calibration since it is my most-used lens.

[jaapv]

A well- calibrated system is a joy to use - don't worry, Leica will not spoil it - only make it better.

[tobey bilek]

There is always the possibility the 35 and camera are both off in different directions that cancel and the 50 is correct.

 

But start with the 50 and see what happens.

 

Man with two watches is never sure of the time.

[pmrogers]

There is always the possibility the 35 and camera are both off in different directions that cancel and the 50 is correct.

.

 

This awful possibility hadn't occurred to me. Thanks for sharing :-P. I think I'm probably in the clear, though, since 2 of my 3 Zeiss lenses and 2 rental Leica lenses have worked perfectly with the body.

 

-Paul