colonel Posted February 1, 2014 Share #1 Posted February 1, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) I just wondered how many of you have had to have the M240 focus adjusted. I read somewhere that the RF was more sensitive to the lens then previous versions. I just picked up a second hand M240 and its backfocusing just outside the point where the RF says it should (with a 35mm Summicron ASPH). I can give it back and buy a different one, or just send it to Solms. I guess (in UK) it would take at least a month to be adjusted. Deciding what to do. rgds Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted February 1, 2014 Posted February 1, 2014 Hi colonel, Take a look here RF Focus Adjustment Required. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
jaapv Posted February 1, 2014 Share #2 Posted February 1, 2014 Depends where you send it I would send it to a third-party and expect it back within the week. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
colonel Posted February 1, 2014 Author Share #3 Posted February 1, 2014 Depends where you send it I would send it to a third-party and expect it back within the week. Do they do it as well ? I understand that Leica use laser sights in Solms and adjust the back and front to be perfect. I have heard stories of local shops doing it and just doing the near focus and not the infinity, or the other way round. (Can you reach both from the front hole ? or do you need to take the top off) rgds Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted February 1, 2014 Share #4 Posted February 1, 2014 I have always been completely happy. On the M with the EVF it is even more simple than on the M9/8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thighslapper Posted February 1, 2014 Share #5 Posted February 1, 2014 I just wondered how many of you have had to have the M240 focus adjusted. I guess (in UK) it would take at least a month to be adjusted. Deciding what to do. rgds Half an hour if you do it yourself. I had to adjust mine to work perfectly with my Nocti 0.95. Only difference from the M9 is they have put some gloop on the near adjustment screw to stop it moving that needs dissolving with acetone etc. first. Although it's a bit of a seesaw process where adjusting infinity alters near (and vice versa), once it's just about right you can make final tweaks to the near point without infinity shifting. Once you have done it once.... and got the hang of it you will wonder why anyone bothers to send the camera back to Leica. ....... and I am not sure what you mean about BF compared to the RF .... do you mean as regards LV and peaking ?? I'd check with a 50/75 or 90 lens before coming to any firm conclusions .......... Adjustment is accessible easily through the front - you just need a small allen key for the roller (infinity) and a modified screwdriver for the near point lock screw..... courage ..... and patience ... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephenPatterson Posted February 2, 2014 Share #6 Posted February 2, 2014 Once you have done it once.... and got the hang of it you will wonder why anyone bothers to send the camera back to Leica. Absolutely agree, especially for anyone who lives in a location where shipping to and from Leica presents a daunting challenge. For me that entails having to travel to Hong Kong to ship and receive (not exactly convenient or inexpensive), but for friends in the Philippines, Thailand and Burma there are many instances where packages either go missing or spend months in customs awaiting hefty payments for release. I also bought the vertical alignment tool (available on ebay) so that I could correct any rangefinder alignment issues myself. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
A Sfeir Posted February 2, 2014 Share #7 Posted February 2, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) Absolutely agree, especially for anyone who lives in a location where shipping to and from Leica presents a daunting challenge. For me that entails having to travel to Hong Kong to ship and receive (not exactly convenient or inexpensive), but for friends in the Philippines, Thailand and Burma there are many instances where packages either go missing or spend months in customs awaiting hefty payments for release. I also bought the vertical alignment tool (available on ebay) so that I could correct any rangefinder alignment issues myself. Actually you do not need the vertical alignment tool, check out this thread "M 240 rangefinder vertical adjustment" Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephenPatterson Posted February 2, 2014 Share #8 Posted February 2, 2014 Actually you do not need the vertical alignment tool, Thanks for the heads up, and I will have a look at the vertical alignment set screw for the M240, but the tool is needed for my older M bodies. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
A Sfeir Posted February 2, 2014 Share #9 Posted February 2, 2014 Thanks for the heads up, and I will have a look at the vertical alignment set screw for the M240, but the tool is needed for my older M bodies. Yes sure it is needed for the other bodies. The set screw is a hex 2 same size key than the one used to set the infinity cam. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephenPatterson Posted February 3, 2014 Share #10 Posted February 3, 2014 Yes sure it is needed for the other bodies. The set screw is a hex 2 same size key than the one used to set the infinity cam. This is very good news for all Leica M owners, as it means that every rangefinder adjustment can now be made with tools available from any hardware store. A 2mm hex wrench and a large handle, flat blade screw driver that properly fits the locking cam screw. Thanks for sharing this very valuable information!!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
A Sfeir Posted February 3, 2014 Share #11 Posted February 3, 2014 This is very good news for all Leica M owners, as it means that every rangefinder adjustment can now be made with tools available from any hardware store. A 2mm hex wrench and a large handle, flat blade screw driver that properly fits the locking cam screw. Thanks for sharing this very valuable information!!! Specially users like you and me who have problems with shipping to Solms with customs etc. As you say only 2 tools, the hex wrench size 2, and a screwdriver that should normally be filed to fit the locking screw without slip. I don't know if you have already explored the vertical alignement cam, but it does seem to me that the new design provides more accurate vertical motion. One last thing: I love the idea that a fine tool like the M has mechanical parts that can be serviced by a reasonably trained person with standard tools. German engineering at its best. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrh68uk Posted February 3, 2014 Share #12 Posted February 3, 2014 Are you absolutely certain that it's the camera, and not the lens? My 35 'cron ASPH back-focused slightly from new, so I sent it to Solms to be adjusted to what was then their "M8 standard". Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
colonel Posted February 3, 2014 Author Share #13 Posted February 3, 2014 Are you absolutely certain that it's the camera, and not the lens? My 35 'cron ASPH back-focused slightly from new, so I sent it to Solms to be adjusted to what was then their "M8 standard". Bingo! So I was at the Leica shop in London and they tested the camera and lens. Apparently it is the lens, the camera is spot on! The lens is effectively new so its going back to Solms (Wetzlar ?) for adjustment. In the meantime they loaned me an equivalent. Just managed to get out of there without buying anything ... best rgds Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephenPatterson Posted February 4, 2014 Share #14 Posted February 4, 2014 So I was at the Leica shop in London and they tested the camera and lens. Apparently it is the lens, the camera is spot on! Glad you got this sorted out, but I'm curious…didn't you try more than one lens on the M to try and determine if the fault was with the rangefinder? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
colonel Posted February 4, 2014 Author Share #15 Posted February 4, 2014 Glad you got this sorted out, but I'm curious…didn't you try more than one lens on the M to try and determine if the fault was with the rangefinder? only access to one lens at the moment rgds Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephenPatterson Posted February 4, 2014 Share #16 Posted February 4, 2014 only access to one lens at the momentrgds That does make it difficult to diagnose. Glad the Leica shop in London was so helpful!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrh68uk Posted February 4, 2014 Share #17 Posted February 4, 2014 Good stuff - glad it's being sorted. With this lens you don't want it to be on the back end of acceptable focus, as it were, at f/2 because on stopping down the plane of sharpest focus shifts backwards before it expands enough to cover the intended subject, again. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
schmolinski Posted February 4, 2014 Share #18 Posted February 4, 2014 Interesting and good stuff here! I am wondering how to test my equipment if there is any back or front focus. I have the new M and since I have some summiluxes and an old 75'lux I would like to know how to test if they are OOFor the new M has a focus issue. Thanks beforehand! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
colonel Posted February 4, 2014 Author Share #19 Posted February 4, 2014 Interesting and good stuff here!I am wondering how to test my equipment if there is any back or front focus. I have the new M and since I have some summiluxes and an old 75'lux I would like to know how to test if they are OOFor the new M has a focus issue. Thanks beforehand! you should see it as a matter of course however the easiest is to use the live view 1. use a tripod or a table and focus the 240 on an object with LV and then see if the RF is also at its best point. 2. or take a picture focusing with LV and the RF and compare 3. or take three pictures with the RF, (i) in focus (ii) focus wheel slightly to left and (iii) slightly to right. The one you thought was most in focus should be 4. lastly I use the Jeffrey's chart to also test at 25%: Jeffrey Friedl's Blog 5. Finally take it into your local Leica shop if you have one Note that its best to do a near and far focus to test both ends of the RF Generally though, if your pictures look sharp, e.g. on someone's eyes and also something at a distance its fine and don't worry. People get very highly strung about this. In my case it was quite obvious on normal shooting, just when I did some of the above tests they also showed it clearly. rgds Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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