Peter H Posted March 1, 2013 Share #1 Â Posted March 1, 2013 Advertisement (gone after registration) My M9 has just come back from Solms along with four of my most used lenses, for re-calibration. Â I am utterly delighted with the service from Leica. Not only are all the lenses now spot-on with the camera at all focussing distances as far as I can judge, which they weren't before, but everything has been beautifully cleaned, the focussing rings on all the lenses now have a consistent resistance, and the sensor has been cleaned. Â I wasn't really conscious of just how far out the focussing had become on the 50 Summilux in particular, assuming focussing errors, especially at wide apertures, were my errors, but its now simply a joy to use, accurate and easy to focus at any distance, any aperture. Â Wonderful! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted March 1, 2013 Posted March 1, 2013 Hi Peter H, Take a look here M9 Calibration. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Peter H Posted March 1, 2013 Author Share #2  Posted March 1, 2013 Paul, the camera and three of the lenses were just about still under warranty, so no charge at all for them.  They asked if I wanted the other lens included in the work for around £200 so I went for that too. Expensive I know, but it was the 28mm Summicron ASPH, such a beautiful lens, so it was well worth it to me.  I don't know how much it would have cost if it was all out of warranty though.  They collected and delivered at no charge, also because of the warranty. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
batmobile Posted March 1, 2013 Share #3 Â Posted March 1, 2013 How long did it take? Â Ive just found out my new Monochrom is quite some way out with my 75 and 90mm lenses, but fine with the short ones. I need to get it sorted but am left wondering how long I will be without the camera. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thighslapper Posted March 1, 2013 Share #4  Posted March 1, 2013 How long did it take? Ive just found out my new Monochrom is quite some way out with my 75 and 90mm lenses, but fine with the short ones. I need to get it sorted but am left wondering how long I will be without the camera.  An hour if you do it yourself and it's not miles adrift.  At least couple of weeks if you send it to Solms.  They check the 'infinity' adjustment with a 50/2 and a distance which is patently not infinity (from the factory video) so its not surprising its out. Mine was .... and only apparent when I tried to use my 135 and 75/2. Took 1/2hr to self adjust .... but there again I've done it on 3 other M9 bodies ... and several times..... there is a knack.... once you get the hang of it its quite simple.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter H Posted March 2, 2013 Author Share #5  Posted March 2, 2013 How long did it take? Ive just found out my new Monochrom is quite some way out with my 75 and 90mm lenses, but fine with the short ones. I need to get it sorted but am left wondering how long I will be without the camera.  Five weeks in total, from the Highlands of Scotland to Solms and back.  I also hesitated long and hard, but I have to say it was well worth the wait and relatively small expense (none if its under warranty).  Obviously, if its work you're confident you can do yourself like Mr. T Slapper above, you'd do it yourself, but if like me you wouldn't risk it even if you know where to start, its definitely worth it. Its like getting a new camera and lenses all perfectly in sync with each other, probably for the first time, in my case! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted March 2, 2013 Share #6 Â Posted March 2, 2013 If you see the rig that Leica uses plus the interference instruments and collimator you realize that they can simply do it better. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
darylgo Posted March 2, 2013 Share #7 Â Posted March 2, 2013 Advertisement (gone after registration) Leica USA coded my 75 Summilux, cleaned lubed and adjusted it along with my M9 to give proper focus for slgihtly more than the 6 bit coding cost, the camera was under warranty. This is a spectacular deal and like the OP I was quite impressed with how they check many areas of the camera and service or fix things they deem necessary. Leica deserves credit for their excellent after sales service. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
darylgo Posted March 2, 2013 Share #8 Â Posted March 2, 2013 If you see the rig that Leica uses plus the interference instruments and collimator you realize that they can simply do it better. Â jaapv, do you have any pictures you could post of this rig? Interested to see what it (they) looks like. Thanks. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted March 2, 2013 Share #9  Posted March 2, 2013 When I was there, no photos allowed . Just imagine a series of giant Focus Checker setups maybe two meters high and ten meters long. But have a look here at 11:00 minutes. Not something the average DIY camera tinkerer has in his living room. http://www.luminous-landscape.com/videos/m9-video.shtml  Notice btw that they check all distances twice, both coming from infinity and from 0.9 m. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thighslapper Posted March 2, 2013 Share #10 Â Posted March 2, 2013 If you see the rig that Leica uses plus the interference instruments and collimator you realize that they can simply do it better. Â err..... then why are so many of them incorrectly calibrated .... ???? Â I have had 4 digital M bodies and only one was ok out of the box. Â ..... and how come I can get it adjusted perfectly without these gadgets and they can't ??? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter H Posted March 2, 2013 Author Share #11 Â Posted March 2, 2013 Are you saying there's a perfect setting for the camera regardless of which lenses are attached? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted March 2, 2013 Share #12 Â Posted March 2, 2013 That is correct. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
darylgo Posted March 2, 2013 Share #13 Â Posted March 2, 2013 err..... then why are so many of them incorrectly calibrated .... ???? Â I have had 4 digital M bodies and only one was ok out of the box. Â ..... and how come I can get it adjusted perfectly without these gadgets and they can't ??? Does the camera need to be recalibrated at regular intervals or with certain handling? Â Are you saying there's a perfect setting for the camera regardless of which lenses are attached? Â Not 100% sure, maybe jaapv can help here but I had heard the camera and lenses have a range of calibration that would be correct, the adjustment is finer than the range and an optimum is reached when sending into Solms or Leica NJ for the focus-particular sensors we have in our M8 and M9. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thighslapper Posted March 2, 2013 Share #14 Â Posted March 2, 2013 Are you saying there's a perfect setting for the camera regardless of which lenses are attached? Â Yup. Â I have 3 bodies and 13 lenses and they all work ok. Â As long as they are all (lens and camera) in the mid range of the tolerances required then all will be ok. Â Having said that, I adjusted all the cameras to be spot on with my Noctilux and the handful of rogue lenses that were then off went back to Solms for adjustment.... and now they all live harmoniously together without me periodically shouting at them for producing rubbish pictures..... Â Unfortunately this means everything is now my fault .... Â Re-adjustment is only needed after camera abuse (accidental or on purpose). The near point lock screw is very tight and it is hard to see how the infinity adjustment could go out ..... unless there is very rough treatment indeed...... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
darylgo Posted March 2, 2013 Share #15  Posted March 2, 2013 Yup. I have 3 bodies and 13 lenses and they all work ok.  As long as they are all (lens and camera) in the mid range of the tolerances required then all will be ok.  Having said that, I adjusted all the cameras to be spot on with my Noctilux and the handful of rogue lenses that were then off went back to Solms for adjustment.... and now they all live harmoniously together without me periodically shouting at them for producing rubbish pictures.....  Unfortunately this means everything is now my fault ....  Re-adjustment is only needed after camera abuse (accidental or on purpose). The near point lock screw is very tight and it is hard to see how the infinity adjustment could go out ..... unless there is very rough treatment indeed......  Very encouraging:) to give it a try myself, but then I think about past success and failure with self-repair of cars and lenses, the encouragement wanes:(. Nonetheless, how did you learn to adjust the focus and can you explain more about the knack part? Thanks for all the information, understanding adjustment to camera and lenses helps even if sent out. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thighslapper Posted March 2, 2013 Share #16  Posted March 2, 2013 Follow this thread .... all thanks to Julian Thompson.....  http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m9-forum/122176-m9-coincidence-infinity.html  As for the knack...... in addition, or to emphasise Julians excellent advice....  * The close adjustment lock screw is VERY tight, and you need a bevelled snug fitting screwdriver with a reasonable sized handle to get enough torque to shift it. This is the bit that frightens most people when they give it a try. You also need to steady the cam by sticking a finger on the roller as you undo it. Getting light in to see what you are doing with this selection of tools and hands in a black hole can be a problem .... you need an adjustable light over your shoulder. Some magnification helps if you are getting on in years as well...  * Use a longish lens to adjust the infinity point first and use a DISTANT point ..... preferably 1km +, and an eyepiece magnifier if possible. This is dead easy and just needs an allen key. If you are very lucky that might be all you need .... BUT....  * Every adjustment you make for distance alters the near point, and vice versa...... so make small undercorrected adjustments to the near point before going back to the distance adjustment ... you will then creep up on the correct position for both, rather than constantly over-shooting and getting monumentally pi**ed off with Leica for such a stupid mechanism.  * write down on a piece of paper in large letters what moving things in which direction does.... you will get confused very easily and start doing the wrong things if you don't...  * It is impossible to move the near adjuster smoothly and tightening the lock nut tends to shift it again, so yet again the answer is tiny incremental adjustments .... this is where experience and getting a feel for it comes in.....  * If you use something like a 75/2 wide open you can quite easily see if things are ok or not, even on the crappy M9 rear LCD.... no need to look at the pics on a computer.  * Always check with another lens (or more) ..... if there is a big difference you will have to either choose a compromise setting or decide which lens is dodgy and send it back for checking.  * Without several lenses ....or more than one body it is impossible to be sure where the exact problem lies... but generally it will be the Rangefinder.  * When everything is ok it will be very obvious in terms of focussing reliability...  * Don't neglect rangefinder vertical adjustment .... if you cannot get crisp exactly aligned images this may be slightly out as well. Only using a magnifying eyepiece will show up subtle misalignment. You need another special gadget for this (easily found on ebay).  * Unless you have perfect vision , or exact eyepiece correction for your vision you are wasting your time even trying, particularly for focussing for the near point. You MUST exclude all causes of potential user error ..... and take multiple shots to make sure you are consistent .... with some focussing in from behind the target and some from in front .... you may be surprised by the amount of user variation there can be..... at least with lots you get a feel for where the point of focus actually is... I do all this hand held and use a page of type propped up at 30deg under a desk lamp. Nothing fancy.  * Be aware that although with most lenses the infinity stop, rangefinder image coincidence and the image being in focus are the same point ..... there are some lenses where this occurs before you reach the infinity stop and there is some extra play before you reach the end point on the lens. This is NOT a problem, as long as the image is in focus when the rangefinder images coincide that is all you want.  My first M took me all afternoon The MM took me half an hour.  I suppose if you have two left hands you might cause some damage, but generally the worst that will happen is that you will fail to get it right ...... then it can go off to Solms. Most of the adjustable bits already have scuffs/marks where they have been fiddled with so your ham fisted bungling will probably go unnoticed... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter H Posted March 2, 2013 Author Share #17 Â Posted March 2, 2013 Thanks for the above. Very interesting and informative. Â And its clarified one point for me beyond doubt: the next time I have a Leica that needs rangefinder and focus adjustments, it's going straight to Solms! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thighslapper Posted March 2, 2013 Share #18 Â Posted March 2, 2013 Thanks for the above. Very interesting and informative. Â And its clarified one point for me beyond doubt: the next time I have a Leica that needs rangefinder and focus adjustments, it's going straight to Solms! Â Chicken .... Â The whole process was actually quite entertaining and instructive...... Â ...... but there again my day job involves living daily with taking risks, winging it, and dealing with defective mechanisms..... no.... you don't want to know.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlesphoto99 Posted March 2, 2013 Share #19 Â Posted March 2, 2013 Everything thighslapper writes is great advice. I did this on several occasions with my M8's but haven't had to go there on my M9's. It can take the better part of afternoon! I recommend using a tripod (body sway is just one more variable). Esp good if you can set it up so you can just swing the tripod head from a distant object out of a window to a near one (books stacked on a bookcase work well, with the spines set a millimeter or so difference apart) . You may also need to check a mid-distance (7-10 meters) because being a bit out on one end or the other (or both) can throw your mid-distance out quite a bit. It's a pain but worth it if you can't be separated from your camera for weeks. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter H Posted March 2, 2013 Author Share #20  Posted March 2, 2013 Chicken .... The whole process was actually quite entertaining and instructive......  ...... but there again my day job involves living daily with taking risks, winging it, and dealing with defective mechanisms..... no.... you don't want to know....  Chicken? Dead right!  The sort of defective mechanisms I'm used to dealing with have arms, legs and big holes to make noises with, not cams and adjustment locks.  Quite a few loose screws though! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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