Rangefinder focus question?

[dant]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

A post mentioned that the M9's rangefinder went out of adjustment 2 x a year and the user had to adjust it for correct focus.

 

What causes a rangefinder to go out of focus...is 2x a year normal for adjustment?

 

Is the M(240) any better in this area?

 

Will I be able to adjust it myself or is it a very technical repair?

 

Thanks

[Advertisement]

The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[jaapv]

My M3 hasn't been adjusted since 1973 and is in perfect focus. My M9 is a bit younger but only needed adjustment of the vertical when it fell off the seat of my car onto the concrete. A rangefinder will keep its focus virtually indefinitely and will only go out of adjustment if subjected to a really hard knock or strong vibration. 2x per year is simply bollocks. Heck, my iiif keeps perfect focus...

There are extensive threads on DIY adjustment which is perfectly doable but it is a simple operation for any competent Leica repairshop.

[lct]

Any rangefinder may go out of focus due to handling or transportation. Happened to me twice in 30+ years but twice per year is not normal at all. Simple job for a good workshop.

[thighslapper]

A post mentioned that the M9's rangefinder went out of adjustment 2 x a year and the user had to adjust it for correct focus.

 

What causes a rangefinder to go out of focus...is 2x a year normal for adjustment?

 

Is the M(240) any better in this area?

 

Will I be able to adjust it myself or is it a very technical repair?

 

Thanks

 

The roller adjustment for infinity is not that tight and slippage is not impossible.

 

This actuates the lever that moves the finder mechanism and another eccentric adjustable cam alters the near focus. This is usually frighteningly tight in new cameras, but you can see how a sharp jolt transmitted through the lever could shift the adjustment if not tight enough.

 

There are presumably other bits in the light path from lens to viewfinder eyepiece that could shift with rough handling and time that may necessitate adjustment....

 

I have to say that in 4 years and 5 digital M's I haven't had to re-adjust alignment once it was corrected by me to be perfect .... and I am now very sensitive to mis-focussing as 4 of the 5 have been maladjusted from new......

 

You will find divided opinion on self-adjustment ....... ranging from the 'never touch it or you will void your warranty' brigade to the gung-ho 'fiddle with everything' camp.

 

Depends on your abilities/confidence/courage/foolhardiness......

[bocaburger]

I have owned an M8 and M9 and neither has ever required periodic rangefinder adjustment. The M9 however did need a complete readjustment when it arrived, as it came misadjusted from the factory.

 

The eccentric on the cam follower arm is or at least should be very tight considering the amount of force required to move it despite the leverage afforded by the allen key I use (which is about 100mm long). I can see where the rangefinder mechanism itself could be upset by a strong impact or continuous harsh vibration (like a 1000 mile road trip on a motorcycle in an unpadded box), and that would require readjustment. But the cam follower eccentric itself shouldn't be prone to moving unless it is defective. The arm length adjustment won't move if it is properly tightened and a dab of clear nail polish applied at the junction with a toothpick.

 

I am not familiar with the construction of the M240 rangefinder and how if any it differs from the M9's. However from my experience and the anecdotes I have read, it would appear that the biggest issue by far with the M9's rangefinder was imprecise adjustment in final assembly and failure of QC to find and remedy it before it got shipped out.