colin_d Posted November 1, 2016 Share #1 Posted November 1, 2016 Advertisement (gone after registration) I've very recently started using my new ME. Mounted on it is a coated 50mm Summitar lens mounted with a screw to M adaptor. After downloading the images onto my laptop for closer viewing a lot of them are blurred. I'm an experienced rangefinder user so focusing shouldn't be the issue here. It appears the only shots that are focused are those at infinity, anything closer has the appearance of camera shake. I've got the shutter dial set to A, ISO at 200, White Balance flourescent for indoor. Because my experience to date has been with film M bodies I'm at a bit of a loss as to what problem I have here. I'm guessing there could be any number of problems including but not exclusively the following: 1/ The lens, not 6 bit coded, but camera set to manual lens setting. 2/ Camera shake, unlikely given I used film M cameras and never had a problem with slow shutter speeds but I won't discount it for the purpose of completeness. 3/ Sensor problem, yet I get some clear images, mostly on infinity though. 4/ Internal settings like ISO, White Balance or one of the other setting I'm not familiar with? Any thoughts out there on what it could be. My guess is the lens, even though I had it serviced I still lean towards it because I can't believe the new camera would be causing problems. I do not collapse the lens shaft to avoid any contact with the sensor. Unfortunately I don't have any other lenses to run a comparative test. Cheers Colin Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted November 1, 2016 Posted November 1, 2016 Hi colin_d, Take a look here Blurred images, lens, taker or camera settings issue?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Robert M Poole Posted November 1, 2016 Share #2 Posted November 1, 2016 I've very recently started using my new ME. Mounted on it is a coated 50mm Summitar lens mounted with a screw to M adaptor. After downloading the images onto my laptop for closer viewing a lot of them are blurred. I'm an experienced rangefinder user so focusing shouldn't be the issue here. It appears the only shots that are focused are those at infinity, anything closer has the appearance of camera shake. I've got the shutter dial set to A, ISO at 200, White Balance flourescent for indoor. Because my experience to date has been with film M bodies I'm at a bit of a loss as to what problem I have here. I'm guessing there could be any number of problems including but not exclusively the following: 1/ The lens, not 6 bit coded, but camera set to manual lens setting. 2/ Camera shake, unlikely given I used film M cameras and never had a problem with slow shutter speeds but I won't discount it for the purpose of completeness. 3/ Sensor problem, yet I get some clear images, mostly on infinity though. 4/ Internal settings like ISO, White Balance or one of the other setting I'm not familiar with? Any thoughts out there on what it could be. My guess is the lens, even though I had it serviced I still lean towards it because I can't believe the new camera would be causing problems. I do not collapse the lens shaft to avoid any contact with the sensor. Unfortunately I don't have any other lenses to run a comparative test. Cheers Colin You could rule out camera shake by placing it on a flat surface and using the timer/release cable couldn't you? www.robertpoolephotography.com Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
garysamson Posted November 1, 2016 Share #3 Posted November 1, 2016 Hi Colin, I have the M-E and love the camera! What shutter speeds are you using for the test shots? I would mount the camera on a tripod to rule out camera shake. Best, Gary Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
colin_d Posted November 1, 2016 Author Share #4 Posted November 1, 2016 You could rule out camera shake by placing it on a flat surface and using the timer/release cable couldn't you? www.robertpoolephotography.com Hi Colin, I have the M-E and love the camera! What shutter speeds are you using for the test shots? I would mount the camera on a tripod to rule out camera shake. Best, Gary Yes I love the camera too, everything I'd expect from Leica, being new to digital though I have a way to go mastering it. I've done still life shots in a studio with it mounted on a tri-pod with success at very close range, low light and long exposure. What I noticed when using it in the hand and activating the shutter there seems to be a couple of movements taking place during the shutter opening and closing, this of course could be my in-experience with a digital M and what is expected. What I will do is manually select a fast shutter speed to see if that makes a difference. It's not likely to be the the noise reduction process is it which I gather only activates in long exposure? It's odd to me I had more success with shots focused at infinity. Yet nearly all closer shots in the same room using same settings have the out of focus look for the subject. Could the focus calibration be out on the lens? Colin Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
garysamson Posted November 1, 2016 Share #5 Posted November 1, 2016 If you could borrow another lens for testing that might help you to identify the problem. It's possible that you might be experiencing focusing shift at wider apertures that is not compensated by depth of field. Film is more forgiving than a digital sensor, this is an issue that we all have all had to come to terms with in making the transition to digital photography. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pop Posted November 2, 2016 Share #6 Posted November 2, 2016 According to Leica Switzerland, there are lenses which do not focus well enough both at infinity and at close range; something to do with the helical screws which move the optics within the barrell, or so they say. Your lens being an elderly one, it seems possible that it has this problem. My lens was an uncoded 90mm Elmarit-M and the problem was detected after coding it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
colin_d Posted November 2, 2016 Author Share #7 Posted November 2, 2016 Advertisement (gone after registration) I've run some test shots tonight, and I'm still a bit puzzled. The shot was taken outside in late afternoon overcast light. White cat against a brown brick wall, shutter speed 1/125, ASA 200, f16 aperture. No image at all. Inside I made the following adjustments, ASA to 400, f2 aperture, shutter to 1/30, and presto I get an image under a tungsten light. And this time it is not blurred. I'm still perplexed about the outside shots of the cat not even registering an image, clearly my understanding of digital systems v. filim is still way off. Still more practice practice practice required. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
happymac Posted November 2, 2016 Share #8 Posted November 2, 2016 It would be helpful to see some of your shots... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
colin_d Posted November 2, 2016 Author Share #9 Posted November 2, 2016 It would be helpful to see some of your shots... Yep good call, I'll post a few later. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dpitt Posted November 3, 2016 Share #10 Posted November 3, 2016 Make sure your Summitar is extended correctly before using it. Extract it completely and lock it in that psoition by turning it a few degrees. Try pressing it in with slight pressure after that. If there is any play at all you did not lock it correctly. Focussing with a rangefinder is mechanically critical, so even a fraction of a mm off and all your shots will be missfocussed. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
colin_d Posted November 3, 2016 Author Share #11 Posted November 3, 2016 Here are a few images, the first one at the restaurant last Saturday at infinity looking ok, next one of my wife looking blurred, one blank I took last night outside that was meant to be of the cat, last one of the cat after I changed the settings which also looks ok. I'm guessing the blurred shots are from camera shake due to the settings requiring a longish exposure, maybe the lens not extended far enough as dpitt suggested. The blank one I have no idea, but not being so familiar with digital perhaps this is normal if the sensor can't manage what I tried to do. They are low res which might not help with viewing them, except the plain blank one of course. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/266089-blurred-images-lens-taker-or-camera-settings-issue/?do=findComment&comment=3140941'>More sharing options...
jaapv Posted November 3, 2016 Share #12 Posted November 3, 2016 Your wife is simply out of focus. You focused on the empty chair. Quite possibly you lens is way off. The first thing to do is to replace the LTM adapter. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
colin_d Posted November 3, 2016 Author Share #13 Posted November 3, 2016 Possibly for that image, others have more noticeable blur which I am putting down to shake at this point because of an extended exposure. But what do you think happened with the black one? Is it normal for that in digital if the sensor can't cope Or has something else gone wrong. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianman Posted November 3, 2016 Share #14 Posted November 3, 2016 But what do you think happened with the black one? Errr, the back of a lens cap ? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted November 3, 2016 Share #15 Posted November 3, 2016 Errr, the back of a lens cap ? Quite likely - we've all done that... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
colin_d Posted November 3, 2016 Author Share #16 Posted November 3, 2016 Errr, the back of a lens cap ? Quite likely - we've all done that... Haha you blokes crack me up, I don't even have a lens cap for that lens. Try again. This weekend I'll do some further tests. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikemgb Posted November 3, 2016 Share #17 Posted November 3, 2016 A test I would suggest is to mount the camera on a tripod, focus on a specific item, then measure the distance between the sensor plane and that item and compare that with the scale on the lens. If the two numbers don't match you have a problem with the lens or adapter. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted November 3, 2016 Share #18 Posted November 3, 2016 Blank frames can occur- I think - if you shoot before the camera has fully switched on/woken up. The rest is probably a combination of camera shake and focussing issues. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mca Posted November 3, 2016 Share #19 Posted November 3, 2016 The only thing I can think of regarding the black image is not enough light. Did you shoot in full manual mode or in Aperture priority? Is the ISO set to Auto? If you shot in aperture priority mode (speed dial set to A) and auto ISO on with a high limit like 1600 or 2500, then if it was poor light the ISO would have maxed out and then the shutter speed would go down, you would get a blurred image but not a black frame. If you shot manual like it seems by your description, it could be that at f/16 and 1/125 and ISO 200 simply you had no light to make a frame. I would try again with aperture priority and auto ISO on with 2500 as a limit and see what happens. Or you can try manually opening your aperture to a wider value like f/2.8 or f/4 and crancking up the ISO to 1600 or something to see if something comes up or not, I doubt that it would be a problem with the camera. The photo of your wife is clearly focused on the chair outside like it has been said, so either your lens is way off or you had some error in the focusing, it has happened to all of us. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
colin_d Posted November 3, 2016 Author Share #20 Posted November 3, 2016 Yes the dial was set to A. I took about six frames of the outside shot in evening light and all of them ended up black like the one attached above. It was only after I went inside changed the shutter to 1/60, aperture to f2 and ISO to 600 that I got the cat on the bed image. I'm gonna put the black images down to me still thinking in film mode, and my lack of digital understanding: probably I had a setting that was beyond the sensor capability without realising it. The issue of focus is something I can test. My thinking at the moment is what mikemgb suggested, the lens and sensor scales are not matching. I've used film Leicas long enough to understand their focussing so I'm confident it's not me screwing up with that problem. The lens adaptor I'm using is a generic thing from China, I'll swap it for another generic one I have to see if that helps. I had a genuine Leitz adaptor once and sold it when I got rid of a Summicron lens, maybe a big mistake now I look at their prices. Cheers c Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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