w44neg Posted December 9, 2015 Share #1 Posted December 9, 2015 Advertisement (gone after registration) I've had a couple of M9s in the past and both of them, without any major knocks or bangs (just general use and moving against my body on a neck strap) managed to go out of alignment within a few months. I'm guessing the M-E is based on the same mechanicals etc so would I be right to assume an M-E could go the same way? I must add that I really do look after my kit, and I always knew knocks could cause inadvertent adjustment so I avoided and knocks as much as possible. The M240 I had seemed to be more robust and didn't go out of alignment in the time I owned it, but the M-E is the last of the CCD models and I'm tempted to buy an end of line model. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted December 9, 2015 Posted December 9, 2015 Hi w44neg, Take a look here M-E Rangefinder robustness vs. M9?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Maarten Posted December 9, 2015 Share #2 Posted December 9, 2015 As long as you carry a small hex-key and know how to correct the rangefinder alignment at infinity yourself, there is no good reason why not to buy an M-E. The out of alignment is always at infinity and can be corrected in five minutes (provided decent weather and a good target to check the alignment). Once I started to understand how to correct my M8, the camera never went out of alignment again. I assume the M8 and M9/M-E share the same mechanism. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
w44neg Posted December 9, 2015 Author Share #3 Posted December 9, 2015 Do you have a guide or instructions for this? Thanks Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pico Posted December 10, 2015 Share #4 Posted December 10, 2015 As long as you carry a small hex-key and know how to correct the rangefinder alignment at infinity yourself, there is no good reason why not to buy an M-E. While at altitude, standing in a stream during a pouring rain, or in a room full of children running around, or in a canoe ... Yeah. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jack-tucker Posted December 10, 2015 Share #5 Posted December 10, 2015 Do you have a guide or instructions for this? Thanks I would be really thankful for that, too! I have been searching for a while but could not find it. Regards, Florian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Ricard Posted December 10, 2015 Share #6 Posted December 10, 2015 Do you have a guide or instructions for this? Thanks Pretty sure all we are going to get is yet another link to that hand drawn diagram of how to adjust the rangefinder. For some, that post is the be all and end all on rangefinders. For others, like myself, it's confusing and basically useless -although I do appreciate someone going through the trouble of drawing it and posting it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
a.noctilux Posted December 10, 2015 Share #7 Posted December 10, 2015 Advertisement (gone after registration) I have done that with M8, some years ago. My short advice: that is simple but may be dangerous for the M8's rangefinder life. At your own risk + that could be expensive to repair. Here is a link to Dante Stella's opinion: http://www.dantestella.com/technical/leicadjust.html Arnaud Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted December 10, 2015 Share #8 Posted December 10, 2015 Maarten, on 09 Dec 2015 - 23:52, said: As long as you carry a small hex-key and know how to correct the rangefinder alignment at infinity yourself, there is no good reason why not to buy an M-E. The out of alignment is always at infinity and can be corrected in five minutes (provided decent weather and a good target to check the alignment). Once I started to understand how to correct my M8, the camera never went out of alignment again. I assume the M8 and M9/M-E share the same mechanism. Actually the adjustment that goes out of true often, normally by a -hard- bump or vibration, is the vertical adjustment, slightly less DIY, but quite doable. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted December 10, 2015 Share #9 Posted December 10, 2015 a.noctilux, on 10 Dec 2015 - 12:52, said: I have done that with M8, some years ago. My short advice: that is simple but may be dangerous for the M8's rangefinder life. At your own risk + that could be expensive to repair. Here is a link to Dante Stella's opinion: http://www.dantestella.com/technical/leicadjust.html Arnaud Dante knows about rangefindersand a lot of his blogpost makes sense, but I do not agree with him on all counts. IMO the rangefinder system is capable of high accuracy for all lenses intended for the system, including the fastest and the longest, but it does take careful calibration of the whole system by an expert although modern cameras and lenses are normally well adjusted for digital out of the box. Once it is calibrated and the infinity focus might be lost, which may happen by careless lens changes for instance, readjusting just the roller will bring the whole system into line again. However, if the RF arm in the camera gets bent out of true, adjusting infinity will only maladjust midrange and close up, The other point is user skill. Coincidence is fine for most subjects, but when things get more demanding one must take care that the contrast in the RF window gets optimized as well, for instance. That will only come with practise and experience. Look into the viewfinder window in the optical axis to avoid parallax errors. I have a post on RF focusing in the FAQ on the subject. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
w44neg Posted December 10, 2015 Author Share #10 Posted December 10, 2015 Thanks Jaap, I'll have a look at the guide. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted December 11, 2015 Share #11 Posted December 11, 2015 Pretty sure all we are going to get is yet another link to that hand drawn diagram of how to adjust the rangefinder. For some, that post is the be all and end all on rangefinders. For others, like myself, it's confusing and basically useless -although I do appreciate someone going through the trouble of drawing it and posting it. Here it is again for you to ignore... http://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/118043-m9-coincidence-at-infinity/?p=1292446 Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sblutter Posted December 17, 2015 Share #12 Posted December 17, 2015 I bought the tool - and chickened out. Sent it to DAG - no probs since Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
asiafish Posted December 18, 2015 Share #13 Posted December 18, 2015 I must be a rarity, neither my M-E, my M Monochrom (almost 3 years on original and now with a replacement) nor my old M5 have ever had RF issues. My M5 was out of alignment when I bought it more than two-years-ago, but that camera went right to Sherry for meter and shutter work as well as RF calibration and has stayed true and accurate ever since. My original Monochrom was with me just short of three years and for over 30,000 exposures and RF calibration was still perfect when I sent it off for sensor issues. The replacement Monochrom came back dead-on accurate, as has been my experience with my new M-E purchased in April and still perfectly aligned today.All three of my cameras focus with perfect accurate with my 50mm f/2 Summicron v5 (purchased new three-years-ago), 35mm f/2.5 Summarit, 28mm f/2.8 Elmarit ASPH, and all three front-focus very slightly with a 40+ year old 90mm f/2.8 Elmarit that I bought used, and will send to Sherry for adjustment in a few months when I send her the M5 to add a third lug and 28mm frame line. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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