calibrating a lens with a digital camera

[A miller]

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How critical is it that a lens that is having a (6-week long) CLA be sent to Leica along with the digital camera with which it will be primarily used? In my case the digital camera is brand new. I'm I missing out on an opportunity to achieve even more spot on focus by not also sending in my camera? Or, if the camera is new, will the CLA process achieve the max spot on focus even w/o the camera?

 

Thanks in advance for answering my silly question.

 

Adam

[Fgcm]

Adam, camera and lenses are set to a standard, never matched.

If you match a camera to a specific lens (or the contrary) you mess up your system.

 

In many years, I sent to Leica for calibration only an old 90 Elmarit-M, without the camera.

The lens was short by 0,15 mm, which is quite a lot, but knowing my stuff I knew how to compensate for the miscalibration.

To check the calibration is easy, but you need a Palmer micrometer or a digital caliber.

 

After several years, I decided to have the lens calibrated and CLAd.

The lens came back better than new and the focus is spot on.

 

If the camera needs calibration, you see a systematic error with all your lenses.

 

Franco

[A miller]

Thanks, Franco. Your response is consistent with my intuition. Really appreciate your time. Best, Adam

[Jeff S]

If the camera needs calibration, you see a systematic error with all your lenses.

 

Not exactly, as there is a tolerance range and some lenses (or camera) might be in one direction and a lens in another, all still meeting 'standard.' Leica Service often likes to have both camera and lens, but not for matching as much as eliminating variables and user misconception. I've also read reports of some sending in a Noctilux and camera (by request) to optimize focus at full aperture. But generally what you say is true.

 

Live View on the new M more easily helps identify focus mis-calibration, but that won't always isolate the culprit.

 

Jeff