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which lens goes for calibration?


leica1215

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Leica has not calibrated camera bodies to specific lenses since the introduction of the Leica Standard in the early 1930s. Matching a camera body to a specific lens is a recipe for disaster as the tolerance band can be seriously compromised making some lenses not work properly.

 

People wrongly assume that because they send in a camera and a lens at the same time that they are "matched". They are not. They never are.

 

"Oh no Stephen, you're wrong!!! Leica asked me to send BOTH my body and lens in!!!"

 

The simple answer is that Leica do not trust that people are smart enough to determine whether a focus problem lies with the rangefinder or lens, so they often ask for both to be sent in. When received both body and lens will be calibrated to the standard, and the only consideration that might be given is if the tolerance of a lens and body are in tolerance but at opposites ends of the scope, in which case the technician will attempt to get the calibration as close to centerline as possible. This is especially true of lenses with very shallow DOF, such as the OPs 50 Summilux.

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  • 2 weeks later...

I sent both Summicron 35 & 90 to Solms for calibration and having them digitized as well for the M240 I am waiting at. Although some time ago, they promised to do it for approx . 250 € each lens, I received an estimate now for 1400 € both. Having no mechanical defect whatsoever, I think this is quite exagerated and am in doubt now what to do. Being new here, thank you in advance for your replies ! Tom

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Are these Leica Solms prices, or as transmitted via your dealer? A couple of months ago I sent my APO Summicron 75 for recalibration through Leica Mayfair, London, after I fell on it. Bought s/h, not in warranty or within Passport. Total cost, zero. Maybe it didn't take much work to correct, but even so.....

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Leica has not calibrated camera bodies to specific lenses since the introduction of the Leica Standard in the early 1930s. Matching a camera body to a specific lens is a recipe for disaster as the tolerance band can be seriously compromised making some lenses not work properly.

 

People wrongly assume that because they send in a camera and a lens at the same time that they are "matched". They are not. They never are.

 

"Oh no Stephen, you're wrong!!! Leica asked me to send BOTH my body and lens in!!!"

 

The simple answer is that Leica do not trust that people are smart enough to determine whether a focus problem lies with the rangefinder or lens, so they often ask for both to be sent in. When received both body and lens will be calibrated to the standard, and the only consideration that might be given is if the tolerance of a lens and body are in tolerance but at opposites ends of the scope, in which case the technician will attempt to get the calibration as close to centerline as possible. This is especially true of lenses with very shallow DOF, such as the OPs 50 Summilux.

 

Stephen,

 

 

Sadly, I am not sure you are correct. The camera body should of course be calibrated to a standard as should the lens but I am not convinced that that is the way that Leica always do it. When I sent in my M240 and wrongly focusing Noctilux two weeks ago, I send a number of emails and included a letter all saying “do not alter the camera, only alter the lens.” I saw that that had been specifically noted in the work order. Originally Leica wanted to “match my camera to the Noctilux to ensure optimum operation”. I am not convinced that they are not altering the RF focus to work properly with a specific lens, which as you point out, should have been put “out to grass” in 1928/29. The whole concept of an interchangeable lens system, is that any properly calibrated lens should work properly on any properly calibrated camera.

 

Wilson

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