essphoto Posted April 25, 2013 Share #1 Posted April 25, 2013 Advertisement (gone after registration) I've been using my 35 Summilux FLE on my M9P, and I've noticed that the focusing patch goes blurry at infinity, but it seems aligned just a bit before hitting it. However, the images I take at both locations appear in focus. Does anyone know of this issue happening -- and any fixes to it? Thanks very much. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted April 25, 2013 Posted April 25, 2013 Hi essphoto, Take a look here 35 'lux fle focusing past infinity (?). I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Fgcm Posted April 26, 2013 Share #2 Posted April 26, 2013 Nothing to be scared of. If you get good images, do not care about this Franco 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
essphoto Posted April 26, 2013 Author Share #3 Posted April 26, 2013 Nothing to be scared of.If you get good images, do not care about this Franco Thanks for your response. I'm concerned that maybe I'm not seeing a problem in the images focused past infinity. I will post two test shots hereafter today. Still, it's frustrating and there shouldn't be a problem with such a high quality lens. I also wonder if it points to other issues with the lens. Does anyone have any idea what the issue is? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill W Posted April 26, 2013 Share #4 Posted April 26, 2013 I would say if it bothers you, send it back to have the focusing ring adjusted. Some SLR lens are designed to focus past infifnity but it is my understanding that rangefinder lens are not designed this way. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
essphoto Posted April 26, 2013 Author Share #5 Posted April 26, 2013 Just got off the phone with Leica USA and a man there told me that it is the normal functioning of some lenses. I asked which ones, and he basically said that he doesn't have a list but knows that some lenses do it and some lenses don't... So, I guess I'm fine. But still, I wonder why anyone would want to focus past infinity anyway... argg. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
essphoto Posted April 26, 2013 Author Share #6 Posted April 26, 2013 Just got off the phone with Leica USA and a man there told me that it is the normal functioning of some lenses. I asked which ones, and he basically said that he doesn't have a list but knows that some lenses do it and some lenses don't... So, I guess I'm fine. But still, I wonder why anyone would want to focus past infinity anyway... argg. I conducted a more formal "test" this afternoon, focusing to infinity and then what appears to be infinity according to the focusing patch. Both images are focused the same way once they're shot. Weird that the focusing mechanism does this in the viewfinder... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
microview Posted April 26, 2013 Share #7 Posted April 26, 2013 Advertisement (gone after registration) Just got off the phone with Leica USA and a man there told me that it is the normal functioning of some lenses. I asked which ones, and he basically said that he doesn't have a list but knows that some lenses do it and some lenses don't... So, I guess I'm fine. But still, I wonder why anyone would want to focus past infinity anyway... argg. To get beyond the edges of our flat earth, perhaps? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kokoshawnuff Posted April 26, 2013 Share #8 Posted April 26, 2013 This is definitely not a 'function' of my FLE. Is this your only lens, or do you have others to determine if it is perhaps the camera at fault? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
essphoto Posted April 26, 2013 Author Share #9 Posted April 26, 2013 This is definitely not a 'function' of my FLE. Is this your only lens, or do you have others to determine if it is perhaps the camera at fault? Yes, it doesn't happen on my 50 cron. Also, the 35 does this on my M3. So, koko, when you focus all the way to infinity, your focus patch is in focus? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kokoshawnuff Posted April 26, 2013 Share #10 Posted April 26, 2013 Yes, the focus patch with my FLE is as it should be on all my cameras. I agree that it is annoying for a $5k lens to do this, so I'd try to find a way to have them fix it Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
essphoto Posted April 27, 2013 Author Share #11 Posted April 27, 2013 Well I'm curious what the problem is, exactly, because like I said the pictures come out in focus even when it's out of focus on the focus patch... Any ideas anyone? Does the lens need to be calibrated? If so, how long does this take and can it be done by a third party around NYC? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
k-hawinkler Posted April 27, 2013 Share #12 Posted April 27, 2013 An FLE lens, it's probably best to send it to Leica. Most other lenses I would send to DAG. If Leica also has the camera available then Leica can independently adjust both against a standard. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kokoshawnuff Posted April 27, 2013 Share #13 Posted April 27, 2013 Well I'm curious what the problem is, exactly, because like I said the pictures come out in focus even when it's out of focus on the focus patch... Perhaps you are getting pictures in focus because shooting at something in the distance, far enough to use infinity, with a 35 would be hard to tell regardless of where infinity is determined on your mount. As K-H said, its best to send a rather complex lens like the FLE to Leica (even if it will take 6-8 weeks), not one of the local repair people--though DAG would be the best of the bunch if not Leica. Ltmately I'd call Leica USA again and try to speak to Carmen or Sarah. Don't mention that your images are in focus regardless of what the RF patch looks like, just tell them the lens focuses beyond infinity on multiple Leica cameras--something that doesn't happen with your other lenses. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
essphoto Posted April 27, 2013 Author Share #14 Posted April 27, 2013 Perhaps you are getting pictures in focus because shooting at something in the distance, far enough to use infinity, with a 35 would be hard to tell regardless of where infinity is determined on your mount. As K-H said, its best to send a rather complex lens like the FLE to Leica (even if it will take 6-8 weeks), not one of the local repair people--though DAG would be the best of the bunch if not Leica. Ltmately I'd call Leica USA again and try to speak to Carmen or Sarah. Don't mention that your images are in focus regardless of what the RF patch looks like, just tell them the lens focuses beyond infinity on multiple Leica cameras--something that doesn't happen with your other lenses. I spoke with the seller of the lens this morning. The thing is, the lens doesn't have a focusing issue besides this; it doesn't front/back focus. I've been told that some Summilux lenses do focus past infinity, and that this is not a "defect" of the lens. Can others confirm whether or not theirs do this? Thanks. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lucerne Posted April 28, 2013 Share #15 Posted April 28, 2013 I spoke with the seller of the lens this morning. The thing is, the lens doesn't have a focusing issue besides this; it doesn't front/back focus. I've been told that some Summilux lenses do focus past infinity, and that this is not a "defect" of the lens. Can others confirm whether or not theirs do this? Thanks. Without intending to suggest that your lens "should" focus past infinity, I'm reading (from the book "Leica Lens Practice by Dennis Laney" ) that "Leica lenses with focal lengths of 250mm or longer do not not have a stop at the infinity setting. This is to allow easier focusing on objects which are at that particularly critical distance just short of the point where they would have been in focus with the lens set to infinity, The absence of an infinity stop makes it possible to find the point of sharpest focus by focusing to and fro, beyond infinity and back" The facility doesn't appear to apply to standard lenses, however this confirms that certain lenses do deliberately incorporate this feature as the Leica technician suggested. Personally, I approve of this idea and can see the benefits. Hope this helps and informs. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
essphoto Posted April 28, 2013 Author Share #16 Posted April 28, 2013 Without intending to suggest that your lens "should" focus past infinity, I'm reading (from the book "Leica Lens Practice by Dennis Laney" ) that "Leica lenses with focal lengths of 250mm or longer do not not have a stop at the infinity setting. This is to allow easier focusing on objects which are at that particularly critical distance just short of the point where they would have been in focus with the lens set to infinity, The absence of an infinity stop makes it possible to find the point of sharpest focus by focusing to and fro, beyond infinity and back" The facility doesn't appear to apply to standard lenses, however this confirms that certain lenses do deliberately incorporate this feature as the Leica technician suggested. Personally, I approve of this idea and can see the benefits. Hope this helps and informs. That's actually very helpful, so thank you lucerne. I suppose it's possible that at 35 the need arises as well? In any case, the function that you mention is something I had not considered before: that it's easier to focus on objects slightly before infinity if the lens can focus slightly after it. Very interesting indeed. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lucerne Posted April 28, 2013 Share #17 Posted April 28, 2013 That's actually very helpful, so thank you lucerne. I suppose it's possible that at 35 the need arises as well? In any case, the function that you mention is something I had not considered before: that it's easier to focus on objects slightly before infinity if the lens can focus slightly after it. Very interesting indeed. Now everyone will want this feature and start hunting down lenses that exhibit this anomaly! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsjxyz Posted September 19, 2013 Share #18 Posted September 19, 2013 I have the same problem with my 35 Lux FLE with my M9, but when tested with my M6 is correct. I try to have RF adjustment for my M9, but the technician told me that my M9 is already perfect when tested with other 35, 50, 75 lenses. So I shouldn't be worried. But even himself (the technician) still confuse why my 35 FLE have a right infinity setting with some of other cameras but not with my M9. My M9 has correct with all the lenses that he tested. Only not with my 35 FLE, which goes just a bit of the infinity. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
0.95 Posted September 20, 2013 Share #19 Posted September 20, 2013 Is it possible to be a problem of RF misalignment of your cameras? Have you tried to test this lens on cameras other than your M9 and M3? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fgcm Posted September 20, 2013 Share #20 Posted September 20, 2013 Friends, don't forget tolerance. Nobody con make miracles, neither Leica. Are you sure you are experiencing an actual problem? put your camera on a sturdy tripod and braket focus around infinity (lens wide open) You will see that most of your lenses focus just a little before the infinity stop of the focus ring. If you move the ring by 1 degree, the barrel moves by less than a hair. So, when you focus at infinity, you can step back just a little from the stop. That's all. My suggestion is know your stuff and do not worry about non existing problems. If you enter into the loop of adjusting the finder, then all your lenses once at a time, then you discover that your old M3 is misaligned and so on, you will throw a lot of money down the pipe. Franco Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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