Focussing

[stephan54]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

When I focus either the 50mm or the 28mm I notice that occasionally the range finder does not react immediately but starts with a fast movement after a second. After that the range finder follows the movement of the focussing ring. Can I do something myself to stop this behaviour or do I have to send the camera in (still under warranty??

[jaapv]

Sounds like something sticking. Send it in.

[adan]

Japp is quite probably correct. However -

 

- does this hesitation always happen when starting from the closest-focus point (0.7 meters)? Leica only guarantees the focus system down to the minimum marked distance, and most lenses go a little past that point. And some focus cams simply "stop moving" the rangefinder in the last 1-2mm before hitting the close-focus stop (they have a "flat spot" on the cam surface).

 

- sometimes (but not always), simply spending 15 minutes or so "exercising" the focus mechanism by turning the lens back and forth, back and forth, over its full range, for 100-200 times may "clear" a jam that is just due to sticky lubrication or a stray bit of metal or dust in the mechanism. Won't hurt anything - and may save you a few weeks being without your camera.

[lct]

Press gently the roller cam with your finger. Do you sense some resistance then?

[stephan54]

Japp is quite probably correct. However -

 

- does this hesitation always happen when starting from the closest-focus point (0.7 meters)? Leica only guarantees the focus system down to the minimum marked distance, and most lenses go a little past that point. And some focus cams simply "stop moving" the rangefinder in the last 1-2mm before hitting the close-focus stop (they have a "flat spot" on the cam surface).

 

- sometimes (but not always), simply spending 15 minutes or so "exercising" the focus mechanism by turning the lens back and forth, back and forth, over its full range, for 100-200 times may "clear" a jam that is just due to sticky lubrication or a stray bit of metal or dust in the mechanism. Won't hurt anything - and may save you a few weeks being without your camera.

 

Thanks for your informative answer. Have not looked at what focus point this happens, will monitor that next time I take the camera out.

It only happens when first focussing, after that no problems.

Have to go to Wetzlar anyway because my Summarit 90 2.5 with backfocus, came back even more unprecise.

[stephan54]

Press gently the roller cam with your finger. Do you sense some resistance then?

 

Not really, but it must be a light resistance and my fingers are not that sensitive.

[tobey bilek]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

test

[scott kirkpatrick]

I'm having something like this problem with my M10.  After I have focused to the close limits of the lens, the rangefinder suddenly stops responding to changes in the focus setting.  If I remove the lens, gently push the follower cam forward, it pops back into place and works just fine for a moment or two, but can stick again.  I've tried to blow away any dust that might have gotten in there with a rocket blower, and it seems OK for the moment, but is this something that could be cleaned up with a little at home work?  Sending in an M10 for even warranty-covered fixes (which I have done once already -- the ISO dial) is a $200+ operation from where I am located.