Tony Wright Posted April 17, 2013 Share #1  Posted April 17, 2013 Advertisement (gone after registration) I would be grateful for advice in respect of an apo 135mm lens and its focusing adjustment. I took a secondhand apo 135mm f3.4 lens from Ffordes which focused on a point 2m 80cm away when the rangefinder was coincident at 3m 30cm which works for portrait framing. Ffordes were very good and sent it to Leica and it came back focusing on a point 3m away when the rangefinder was coincident at 3m 30cm. I have 2 M9s purchased new from Ffordes which both focus spot on with a 135mm f2.8 lens and 5 other lenses. The lenses were tested using a viewfinder magnifier iso 160 delayed shutter release on a tripod with eye correction and 2 observers taking the average of 20 readjustments. Ffordes were very good and sent the lens back to Germany with a comprehensive description of the phenomenom. The lens has returned focusing on a point 3m 03cm away when focused on a target at 3m 30cm. My question is should I try again? I am wary of sending an M9 in case they adjust that instead of the lens. I have no problem in focusing the 135mm lens to within 5mm of the same point on 20 occasions using the magnifier and tripod. Is the warning not to use the apo lens on an m9 given because it cannot be suitably adjusted whilst the 135mm f 2.8 can - I have no problem with this lens at all? I am grateful for your advice.  Cheers  Tony Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted April 17, 2013 Posted April 17, 2013 Hi Tony Wright, Take a look here Help apo 135mm!. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
ho_co Posted April 17, 2013 Share #2 Â Posted April 17, 2013 I'd say send the lens again, explaining just what you just explained here. Â Leica may have messed up. Or they may send the lens back saying that it's in spec. If Leica did the work and charged for it, it's under a one-year warranty. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted April 17, 2013 Share #3 Â Posted April 17, 2013 The 135/2.8 is a different case, as it is goggled. The geometry of the focussing is completely different. Leica does warn that the APO 135 is not really suitable for focussing on the M9 unless stopped down two stops - I happen to disagree, but still... Anyway, you should ask them to adjust again. Or return the lens to ffordes and try another one. It makes a difference btw if you turn to focus from infinity or from closeup. Normally turning from infinity is more accurate. And don't go back and forth... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
algrove Posted April 17, 2013 Share #4 Â Posted April 17, 2013 jaap- Thanks for that hint about turning from infinity backwards. Never realized that would help. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Wright Posted April 18, 2013 Author Share #5  Posted April 18, 2013 The 135/2.8 is a different case, as it is goggled. The geometry of the focussing is completely different. Leica does warn that the APO 135 is not really suitable for focussing on the M9 unless stopped down two stops - I happen to disagree, but still... Anyway, you should ask them to adjust again. Or return the lens to ffordes and try another one. It makes a difference btw if you turn to focus from infinity or from closeup. Normally turning from infinity is more accurate. And don't go back and forth...  Thanks jaapv - as ever a mine of experience and information. I guess underneath it all I was worried that the advice not to use this lens on the M9 might because it was not possible to adjust it correctly - do you have an apo 135M which does focus accurately at portrait distance?  cheers  Tony Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted April 18, 2013 Share #6 Â Posted April 18, 2013 It serves for my purposes - I never had cause to test it extensively. What I did do was testing it with a Komura 2x extender - and was still able to focus acceptably wide open. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
scsambrook Posted April 18, 2013 Share #7 Â Posted April 18, 2013 Advertisement (gone after registration) . . . It makes a difference btw if you turn to focus from infinity or from closeup. Normally turning from infinity is more accurate. And don't go back and forth... Â That's interesting (and probably a very useful tip) but why is it so? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted April 18, 2013 Share #8 Â Posted April 18, 2013 http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m-lenses/254536-apo-telyt-m-135-3-4-a.html Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted April 18, 2013 Share #9  Posted April 18, 2013 http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m-lenses/254536-apo-telyt-m-135-3-4-a.html  Although he found it just the other way around, but on my camera it works as I said. It depends on the way it is adjusted I suppose. Something each of us should try out. I should have mentioned that in the original tip . I know Lars Bergquists camera works the way mine does. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
scsambrook Posted April 18, 2013 Share #10  Posted April 18, 2013 http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m-lenses/254536-apo-telyt-m-135-3-4-a.html  Thanks for the pointer ! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
UliWer Posted April 18, 2013 Share #11  Posted April 18, 2013 ... - do you have an apo 135M which does focus accurately at portrait distance? ...  I think mine does. It's the photographer who has some problems to get it right. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlashGordonPhotography Posted April 18, 2013 Share #12 Â Posted April 18, 2013 My APO telyt 135 focus very accurately when focused from the infinity direction. When focused anti clockwise the lens consistently backfocuses. My 90mm Summarit prefers focusing anti clockwise but thedifference is small. Â With a very tightly calibrated rangefinder (which I had to do as even a trip to Solms didn't get it spot on) and focusing the 135 3.4 the right way I have over 90% of shots in perfect focus. Â Gordon Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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