DIY calibration of the VF?

[jdlaing]

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You have mastered the rangefinder mechanism.

[jaeger]

10 hours ago, jdlaing said:

You have mastered the rangefinder mechanism.

I think I probably have.

[Jeff S]

On 12/10/2018 at 9:26 AM, jaeger said:

I can't find the post that illustrate how to adjust and where is the roller arm and hex screw located.  I think it will help Stephan, if anyone has bookmarked that link please share again.

Not bookmarked, but easily searched...

Be sure to scroll all of Julian’s posts and diagrams.

Jeff

Edited December 21, 2018 by Jeff S

[jaeger]

On 12/20/2018 at 4:07 PM, Jeff S said:

Not bookmarked, but easily searched...

Be sure to scroll all of Julian’s posts and diagrams.

Jeff

After I've aligned the infinity, the slope is off.  Interestingly, if I correct the slope, then the infinity goes off again and vice versa...  It will go perfect after few more fine tunes, once it's perfect for 1 lens, but it doesn't for another.  I've this conclusion after weeks of work and documentation. 

I've also notice, every length of the arm will have 1 good infinity point.  Every given arm length has a different slop.  There's no standard slop, because each lens has it's own slop profile (slightly different), Leica is really killing me...  or they want to kill generic M mount lenses.  That's also explain why 7artisian M lenses comes with adjustment kit to counter acting this BS. 

The so call "calibration" is changing the thickness of the shim on the lens to work with the focus-slop (throw rate or rate of change) profile of the camera's arm.  Often time it takes 6 months to 2 years sitting in the Leica service storage but it actually only needs 30 mins to change.  AND, often time it comes back still having problem because new shim is not correctly applied or tested.  Why? power play and laziness are the answers.

If my hypothesis is correct, it's a very sad reality -- Leica sacrifice customers for brand protection, Leica technicians torture us for job security and pride.   It's some crazy finding after 10 months of ownership, my M gears are still a pile of trash, it's a hit or miss digital camera, over 80% of the images are not in focus.  Any iphone or cheap pocket camera has better focus than M.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 5, 2019 by jaeger

[Jeff S]

My 2 M8.2s, an M240, an M10 and an MM 1 since 2009 have been problem free, with any mis-focused pics likely due to me.  (Actually, the first M8.2 made a one week trip to NJ for calibration check along with separate check of 3 lenses, ultimately requiring only one lens adjustment.)  My film Ms, going back to the 80’s, were virtually problem free. Maybe just my good fortune, but one man’s ‘trash’....

Digital M bodies, if problematic, can best be best serviced using modern testing equipment now used by Leica. Sherry Krauter told me that she only works on film Ms since the cost of such sophisticated gear is cost prohibitive. Tolerances for digital require that bodies    and lenses meet independent testing standards.  I’d give the professionals a chance before jumping to conclusions.  Maybe DIY isn’t for all.

Jeff

Edited January 5, 2019 by Jeff S

[jaeger]

21 minutes ago, Jeff S said:

My 2 M8.2s, an M240, an M10 and an MM 1 since 2009 have been problem free, with any mis-focused pics likely due to me.  (Actually, the first M8.2 made a one week trip to NJ for calibration check along with separate check of 3 lenses, ultimately requiring only one lens adjustment.)  My film Ms, going back to the 80’s, were virtually problem free. Maybe just my good fortune, but one man’s ‘trash’....

Digital M bodies, if problematic, can best be best serviced using modern testing equipment now used by Leica. Sherry Krauter told me that she only works on film Ms since the cost of such sophisticated gear is cost prohibitive. Tolerances for digital require that bodies    and lenses meet independent testing standards.  I’d give the professionals a chance before jumping to conclusions.  Maybe DIY isn’t for all.

Jeff

thanks Jeff, well... the untold story was that all lenses + body were sent in 2 times and calibrated to an un-calibrated body (the focus patch were vertically and horizontally off alignment, I found out until spent more $$$ to purchase the magnifier and diopter).  Therefore all lenses are now f-up now.  I've schedule a visit in 2 weeks and will be spending a week at a motel, I am very upset, pissed and exhausted.     

[Jeff S]

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Lenses are not calibrated to a body; the body and lenses are tested separately, each to a standard.  If you have one variable off,  you’ll be chasing your tail forever trying DIY.  That’s why Leica wants folks to send in lenses and bodies..., they don’t trust users to assess.

Jeff

[jaeger]

29 minutes ago, Jeff S said:

Lenses are not calibrated to a body; the body and lenses are tested separately, each to a standard.  If you have one variable off,  you’ll be chasing your tail forever trying DIY.  That’s why Leica wants folks to send in lenses and bodies..., they don’t trust users to assess.

Jeff

Jeff, that's actually a good news.  I was so worry my lenses are having many different profiles. 

I do found one better profile that will work with modern lenses both infinity, closest and in-between, however this profile has infinity issue with older lenses that are 10+ years older.  Is it normal?  By far it's the best profile I can use now.

Than you again.

 

[Jeff S]

Not sure what you mean by ‘profile’, but digital requires closer tolerances and measurements than in the film days due to the flat sensor surface compared to film thicknesses.  Leica has revised some older lenses, in part to perform better with digital bodies.  

M cameras certainly have their quirks, but bodies since the M240 seem to built to a fairly robust standard.  Focus issues are more likely to be lens and/or user (technique) related.  But things do break.... and QC sometimes lacks.

Jeff

Edited January 5, 2019 by Jeff S

[jaeger]

profile = derivative of lens focus and rangefinder focus.

[Jeff S]

A well calibrated M body, in conjunction with a well calibrated M lens, should focus accurately at any chosen distance from minimum to infinity. [Of course focus shift can occur when stopping down certain lenses, but this can be accommodated by the user.]  Profile?

Jeff

[jaeger]

1 hour ago, Jeff S said:

A well calibrated M body, in conjunction with a well calibrated M lens, should focus accurately at any chosen distance from minimum to infinity. [Of course focus shift can occur when stopping down certain lenses, but this can be accommodated by the user.]  Profile?

Jeff

 

1 hour ago, Jeff S said:

A well calibrated M body, in conjunction with a well calibrated M lens, should focus accurately at any chosen distance from minimum to infinity. [Of course focus shift can occur when stopping down certain lenses, but this can be accommodated by the user.]  Profile?

Jeff

nope

[Jeff S]

It was a rhetorical question.  

Jeff