MP-240

[Guest]

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Well after a owning and selling the M9 a while ago due to its awful focus issues, I am now using the MP240, focus seems spot on! easy to use, lots of improvements and great service from the chaps at theclassiccamera in London.

[wda]

I presume a used one because I thought Classic Cameras had lost their Leica franchise. Hope you enjoy the enhancements although I never had trouble focusing my M9

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[bocaburger]

My M9 had awful focus issues too. A few hours of DIY (infinity and arm-sweep/gain adjustment) and it was spot on for the duration of my ownership of it. Thankfully whoever adjusted my M240 at the factory gave a sh!t what he/she was doing.

[lethbrp]

My M9 had awful focus issues too. A few hours of DIY (infinity and arm-sweep/gain adjustment) and it was spot on for the duration of my ownership of it. Thankfully whoever adjusted my M240 at the factory gave a sh!t what he/she was doing.

I sent mine back for infinity adjustment, and it came back exactly the same. I'd say its between .5 and 1mm out. I took it back to Mayfair and we tested another new 240 and it was exactly the same as mine (out). I'm guessing they err on the side of caution with regards to setting infinity focus, better to be long than not reaching infinity. I've been awaiting an explanation for a couple of weeks now.

 

Not sure I'd contemplate doing DIY myself, but how did you adjust yours?

 

Regards

 

Peter

[Teski]

I just ordered an MP 240 and 35 Chron which is my first foray into the Leica world. I've been dying to get one for years and I'm so excited to finally be getting my hands on one!

[MarkP]

I never had a focus issue with the M9 or Monochrom but I think that the M240's VF/focusing is better.

[indergaard]

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I sent mine back for infinity adjustment, and it came back exactly the same. I'd say its between .5 and 1mm out. I took it back to Mayfair and we tested another new 240 and it was exactly the same as mine (out). I'm guessing they err on the side of caution with regards to setting infinity focus, better to be long than not reaching infinity. I've been awaiting an explanation for a couple of weeks now.

 

Not sure I'd contemplate doing DIY myself, but how did you adjust yours?

 

Regards

 

Peter

 

I've also experienced the same on my M240 even after being to Leica twice for rangefinder calibration. It's now in for the 3rd time for infinity focus issues. Everything is spot on in regards to focus up till like 5 meters, after 5 meters and up to infinity things are usually not in focus when shot wide open at f/1.4 on my 50. And the rangefinder window is never in focus at infinity, but the lens is (when I use the EVF/LV) so there's some weird stuff going on. I hope Leics CS are able to fix it on their 3rd attempt

[bocaburger]

I've also experienced the same on my M240 even after being to Leica twice for rangefinder calibration. It's now in for the 3rd time for infinity focus issues. Everything is spot on in regards to focus up till like 5 meters, after 5 meters and up to infinity things are usually not in focus when shot wide open at f/1.4 on my 50. And the rangefinder window is never in focus at infinity, but the lens is (when I use the EVF/LV) so there's some weird stuff going on. I hope Leics CS are able to fix it on their 3rd attempt

 

First of all, do you have more than 1 lens and is this happening the same with all of them? If not then the problem may well be with the lens camming not the camera, and that is why it keeps coming back the same, as Leica adjusts the rangefinder to a standard.

 

If the problem happens the same with several lenses, then as a first step the infinity adjustment needs to be done so the images align at a target at true infinity like the sharp details of a cloud, or some physical object a mile or two away. At that point the error will reverse itself...things will be in proper focus from 5m on out, but increasingly oof below 5m. So the arm length (arc sweep or "gain") is then adjusted so close focus is spot-on at .7m. Then infinity has to be re-checked and re-adjusted if it has changed. And then close-focus is fine-tuned again, and then infinity once more. That is what I had to do with my M9 and it was perfect from then on.

[lethbrp]

I've also experienced the same on my M240 even after being to Leica twice for rangefinder calibration. It's now in for the 3rd time for infinity focus issues. Everything is spot on in regards to focus up till like 5 meters, after 5 meters and up to infinity things are usually not in focus when shot wide open at f/1.4 on my 50. And the rangefinder window is never in focus at infinity, but the lens is (when I use the EVF/LV) so there's some weird stuff going on. I hope Leics CS are able to fix it on their 3rd attempt

 

I admire your patience. I didn't want the camera keep going backwards and forwards to Leica, so Mayfair offered to swap it out. Unfortunately, the new camera I tested had exactly the same issue. If I were to hypothesise, I suspect they camera is calibrated on the side of caution to allow for minor variations in the lenses - maybe. It would be better to have the RF screen long focus than the other way around. I could be totally wrong.

[indergaard]

First of all, do you have more than 1 lens and is this happening the same with all of them? If not then the problem may well be with the lens camming not the camera, and that is why it keeps coming back the same, as Leica adjusts the rangefinder to a standard.

 

If the problem happens the same with several lenses, then as a first step the infinity adjustment needs to be done so the images align at a target at true infinity like the sharp details of a cloud, or some physical object a mile or two away. At that point the error will reverse itself...things will be in proper focus from 5m on out, but increasingly oof below 5m. So the arm length (arc sweep or "gain") is then adjusted so close focus is spot-on at .7m. Then infinity has to be re-checked and re-adjusted if it has changed. And then close-focus is fine-tuned again, and then infinity once more. That is what I had to do with my M9 and it was perfect from then on.

 

Yes. Tried and tested on: 35 FLE, 50 Lux ASPH, 50 Noctilux ASPH, Voigtlander 21/1.8, Zeiss 25/2.8. Same issue. Same issue without a lens even. It's not lens-dependant. I also sent the M240+Noct together to Leica, and the camera and lens came back like that on my 2nd attempt...

 

Anyway. I've owned the camera for 14 months. It's in for it's third time... The two times prior Leica did not get the calibration right. It was not right when I purchased it new either. Leica even returned the camera to me with a damaged top-cover. But they're replacing it now. So in reality, it's the 4th rangefinder calibration in 14 months since it was new... I'm glad I have a Fuji and a Sony to use, otherwise I feel that the availability of a camera would be the same as the availability of sunlight here in Norway during the winter (basically non-existant).

 

I feel I should got one of those stickers that some people have on their cars "My Ferrari is being serviced" and similar. But I should get a smaller version that I can attach to my other cameras and my camera bag, which says "My Leica is being serviced" ... Cause that's what Leica ownership feels like

 

I had a MM that had to go back 3 times during 15 months before as well. And a new FLE that back focused. And a new Noctilux 0.95 where the focus barrel wasn't perfectly aligned with the focus scale, so it never seemed to be at infinity physically on the lens barrel...

 

Maybe I should take the hint... Or just accept the fact that my Leica will always be my sunday driver.

Edited December 10, 2014 by indergaard

[bocaburger]

Same issue without a lens even.

 

Someone will need to explain me how one would determine a rangefinder focusing problem exists without a lens. Vertical misalignment is the only issue I can think of that would be evident even without a lens.

[indergaard]

Someone will need to explain me how one would determine a rangefinder focusing problem exists without a lens. Vertical misalignment is the only issue I can think of that would be evident even without a lens.

 

Set the lens to infinity, dismount the lens. I have no idea behind the mechanics itself, but I thought maybe that the rangefinder mechanism stays put where you left it. Or maybe not. Anyway, that's not the point. The point is that, based on my experience, Leica ownership is rather hit and miss. I know many who have been more lucky though. I'm not bashing Leica here. Just stating my experience with the product and brand.

[edwardkaraa]

Set the lens to infinity, dismount the lens. I have no idea behind the mechanics itself, but I thought maybe that the rangefinder mechanism stays put where you left it. Or maybe not. Anyway, that's not the point. The point is that, based on my experience, Leica ownership is rather hit and miss. I know many who have been more lucky though. I'm not bashing Leica here. Just stating my experience with the product and brand.

 

Without a lens, the RF on my M is focused at around 2 meters.

[Alberti]

Without a lens, the RF on my M is focused at around 2 meters.

 

The RF defaults to about 70 cm without a coupled lens (no ring to read).

 

I have a Zeiss 28 and that can be turned closer than 70 cm (in fact, probably something like 35 cm), using the RF I can go down to 70 cm - after that the cam loses contact. I use the RF by ensuring the RF patch still moves.

 

- using LV I can now go closer.