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Focus issue: lens or body? (M9 and 35 Summicron version 4)


shektau6

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Hi all,

 

When I mounted my 35 Summicron version 4 on my recently acquired M9, the focus ring does not rotate smoothly (it binds slightly). It is smooth from 0.7m to 3m but it becomes harder to turn from 3m to infinity.

 

However, if I un-mount the lens and rotate it when it's off the camera. the focus ring is as smooth as butter. I also mounted the same lens on my Ricoh GXR and on a M3 and have no problem with the focus barrel.

 

Is the problem with my lens or the camera? I have mounted different lens on M9 (Zeiss Sonnar 50mm and Voigtlander 15mm) and do not experience similar issue.

 

Would appreciate your advice if you have experience similar things. It's quite frustrate to focus smoothly with the 35mm compared to the other lens.

 

Rgds,

 

Vincent

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From the behaviour you're describing, it seems to me there's a problem with the camera. BUT, it also might be an issue with the lens too, in terms that the mechanism doesn't latch properly on your M9 due to some kind of misalignment on the lens side.

Are there issues with the actual photographs not focusing correctly from 3m to infinity? Do some tests and see if they are in focus. Use different apertures and see what you get.

My best advice, if there's nothing wrong with the photographs and it really bothers you, then send both to Leica for service. They should be able to fix it.

I hope this helps.

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If there is no comparable issue with other lenses, especially with other Leica M lenses, then the problem is with the particular lens.

 

When the new Super-Elmar-M 1:3.4/21mm was first delivered in the summer 2011, it was found that many of them had exactly that problem: Smooth off camera, binding on camera. They had to recall the lens and redesign the rear end. The final version, which I own, is a bit wider across the buttocks than the prototype lens in the early pictures.

 

It seems that in spite of high precision, or even because of it, mounting a lens in the bayonet can set up stresses that turn some mechanical fits with tight tolerances off kilter. Sometimes by pure chance tolerances add up in ways they shouldn't – and tolerance-free manufacture is an impossibility. Leica have not done anything wrongly with either the camera or the lens, it's just that you know what happens. If you can, try the lens on other M cameras. But the lens should be sent to Leica with an explanation, and a request for adjustment. Leica know the problem. They may ask you to send in both the camera and the lens for adjustment, of course.

 

The old man from the Brass Age

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