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from M7 to M10: lens calibration


robert blu

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M7 user here, on waiting list for the M10. I use a not coded 35 and a 50 cron.

 

I know from other part of the forum that to get the best result (focusing precision) with digital the lenses should be "adjusted or calibrated" to the specific body. 

Which worries me because it means after a (long) wait to have the camera I should stay without for a longer time before being able to use it. 

 

So the question: is anyone using "not adjusted lenses" on a M10 with success? Is it a common need or only happens in some cases?

Thanks for your answers or suggestions.

 

robert

 

PS: To be clear the code doesn't bother me much because I rarely change lenses, during a recent trip I kept only the 50 on the camera for almost two weeks!

 

 

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While you're waiting for your M10, you may want to take both of your lenses to your Leica dealer and try them wide open using their demo digital M (M10 or 240).  If the focus is fine on their demo camera, most likely it will be ok on your new M10.

 

In my experience, my newer lenses were fine but my older lenses such as a 50mm version 4 Summicron and a 75mm Summilux needed calibration.

Edited by JWW
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Lenses and bodies are separately calibrated by Leica to independent standards. You can conduct your own basic tests by comparing LV (what is actually recorded) to your RF image... of course using careful tripod mounted tests. Chances are you'll be fine.

 

NJ likes to ask customers to send in body and lenses when there seems to be an issue, primarily to avoid confusion and save back and forth steps. I wouldn't worry about it unless you notice problems... and then test yourself to eliminate user error.

 

Jeff

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Not really independent standards, rather a common standard throughout the whole system, from M3 to today. Adjusting to a specific body would never work, of course. Which makes your post completely correct.

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...

I know from other part of the forum that to get the best result (focusing precision) with digital the lenses should be "adjusted or calibrated" to the specific body. 

Which worries me because it means after a (long) wait to have the camera I should stay without for a longer time before being able to use it. 

 

So the question: is anyone using "not adjusted lenses" on a M10 with success? Is it a common need or only happens in some cases?

Thanks for your answers or suggestions.

 

robert

 

PS: To be clear the code doesn't bother me much because I rarely change lenses, during a recent trip I kept only the 50 on the camera for almost two weeks!

 

Yes I am using old and unadjusted lenses with the M10 as I did with the M9 or the M8.

 

The M10 gives me the opportunity to compare the results from the electronic viewfinder to those from the optical finder: if the finder and or lens wasn't adjusted the results from the optical finder would be off while those from the EVF (using the magnifiying function and focus peaking) would be correct.

 

I just tried out a 135mm Elmar with screw mount which is more than 50 years old - spot on with both methods. 

Same with a 65 years old 1.5/85 Summarex, a 10 years old 90mm Summicron-M Apo. Asph, a 70 years old 90mm Elmar M, a 7 years old 50mm Summilux  asph as well as with a more than 50 years old first version of the 50mm Summilux, same with a one year old 35mm Summilux asph FLE. The 12 years old 35mm Summilux (non-FLE) is correct at f:1,4 but shows visible focus-shift at f:2.8 - well known effect of this lens.

 

With the M9 I was almost sure that an old 1.5/5cm Summarit was off at f 1.5 but good at f:4. Wrong: the EVF proofs that it is spot on wiith f:1.5 and only has some slight focus shift with lower apertures.

i also have an more than 80 years old 1.9/7.3 cm Hector - which is weirdly out of focus at any aperture.

 

Lenses - and or rangefinders - being out of focus do exist - and they need calibration. i could not make up my mind if my 5 years old 75mm Summicron was good or out of focus. After it was at the Customer Service for a mechanical reason of the hood I realized the difference: now it is spot on, proven bei the EVF. 

Edited by UliWer
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In the vast majority of cases the cause of back- or frontfocus is in the RF and not in the lens. Because of adjusting problems in the past with my first M9, which were not seldom at that time (2010), I was also a little nervous about the RF of my new M10. My M9 had been re-adjusted though and with my MM1 (2013) there were already no more problems: the re-adjusted M9 and MM1 acted exactly the same in focusing.

I recently bought my M10 and my worries vanished as snow in the sun after the first shots with all my lenses. No need to re-adjust for none of my 9 lenses.

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  • 6 months later...

Short update: when I received the M10  both my 35 and 50 cron could be used without calibration to digital standards performing very well. No focusing problems.

Anyway being my lens old (as my M7) I decided to have them checked, calibrated and coded by Leica in  Wetzlar.

I used them now indifferently on my M7 and M10.

Thanks again to the forum members who gave me their suggestions! And yes, the M10 rocks!

robert

Edited by robert blu
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