Zeiss 50 F2 Focusing Tolerance?

[youngjohn]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Just bought a ZM 50 F2 Planar from Robert White in UK and although I'm very pleased with the sharpness and colour, there's a slight focusing error. 

 

I've got an M240 and an M9, both of which have recently come back from Leica Germany having been serviced, and the focusing with my Leica lenses is spot on.

 

With the Zeiss lens, the camera is focusing about 50mm behind the subject at 2-3m at F2. It's hard to establish if this improves when you stop down as DOF masks the result. Are there any known focus shift issues with the Planar? I can't find reference to any, although the Sonnar appears to have known issues.

 

It's not the end of the world - it's consistent and I can easily compensate, but I wondered if anyone else has had this problem? The error represents about a 1mm (or less) turn of the lens barrel so am I expecting too much for a relative 'budget' lens (price wise) to be more accurate than this?

 

I have read about Zeiss lenses being set up for focusing with film and wondered if this may be relevant.

 

Thanks for any help.

 

 

 

 

[Advertisement]

The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[roman84]

Hi John 

 

i have a m9p and a Planar .

I tested it between 1,5 - 2 m and there is the Focus Spot on at every Aperture .

 

br 

[jaapv]

Zeiss calibrated to a different standard than Leica in the past. You can send your lens to Zeiss for recalibration.

[TomB_tx]

My Planar is also perfect on my M9. However, I bought a new 35 Biogon f2 that was off until I sent it to DAG to adjust, and it has been perfect since. All of my Voigtlander lenses (from the same Cosina factory as Zeiss) have been perfect on my M9. So overall I'd say the focus accuracy of Cosina made lenses is excellent, but it's always possible for an odd one to slip through, or perhaps slip out of adjustment. (I don't think these lenses use shims to adjust focus.)

[jaapv]

As a matter of fact they do, but they shim the individual elements, not the whole optical cell.

[darylgo]

 

I have read about Zeiss lenses being set up for focusing with film and wondered if this may be relevant.

 

You can send it to Zeiss and have them modify it for digital (from film) within the warranty period at no charge.  My 35mm took two attempts, the first one was further out of focus.  

[TomB_tx]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

You can send it to Zeiss and have them modify it for digital (from film) within the warranty period at no charge.  My 35mm took two attempts, the first one was further out of focus.  

That's why I sent my 35 to DAG in spite of the Zeiss warranty. DAG is tops in focus accuracy.

[Abram]

I previously had three ZM lenses, the 25, 35 Biogon and 50 Planar and none of them had even the slightest error. I would have it adjusted if yours is off, there shouldn't be any focusing problems, and these designs don't exhibit any appreciable focus shift.

[gberger]

I have the 50 Planar. No problem with film at any aperture.(M7, MP, Zsiss Ikon ZM)