Voigtlander Focus Past Infinity

[strangeboy]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Hello all. In my search for a small fast 35mm lens for my M-E, I just received a brand new Voigtlander Classic 35mm 1.4 MC II.

First impressions are fairly positive, I really do love the way it renders. However... It seems to focus beyond infinity. Which is to say that the hard stop at infinity is slightly out of focus, and I must back up just a bit to bring everything into focus.

Anyone else experiencing this? This is my first dance with Voigtlander and I'm wondering if it isn't just a quality control issue.

Thoughts?

[lct]

At what distance were your subjects standing?

[Advertisement]

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

[jaapv]

Infinity is a long way off. Make sure that really focus on something a couple of miles away. 

[strangeboy]

37 minutes ago, lct said:

At what distance were your subjects standing?

 

21 minutes ago, jaapv said:

Infinity is a long way off. Make sure that really focus on something a couple of miles away. 

A couple of miles? I seems I've never needed that distance for infinity focus with any of my lenses. But, I also just read that Sherry Krauter recommends at least 200yds. I'll try again tomorrow. Thanx for your replies.

Edited September 30, 2020 by strangeboy
Misread answers. 🙄

[strangeboy]

So... tested again today. From my apartment I focused on buildings that are easily 5 miles away. The hard stop at infinity is (as with other subjects) slightly out of focus, backing off brings everything into focus. I'm going to assume that this is a build error, and exchange it for another copy.

[jdlaing]

What aperture?

[strangeboy]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

1 hour ago, jdlaing said:

What aperture?

All apertures appear the same through the rangefinder... 

[lct]

Might be the rangefinder then. Do you have an EVF with your M?

[jdlaing]

1 hour ago, strangeboy said:

All apertures appear the same through the rangefinder... 

What aperture did you shoot the pic that had the out of focus at infinity?

[strangeboy]

Pardon the delayed response... life.

To clarify:

• Everything viewed through the rangefinder, regardless of distance, is noticeably out of focus at the Infinity stop. Back off of Infinity just a bit and everything comes into focus.
• At f/5.6 & f/8, all photographs made at Infinity are softer (reminds me of diffraction) than those made when focus ring is just to the left of Infinity.

Camera had a complete CLA and sensor replacement June, 2020, and this doesn't happen with my Zeiss Biogon or Canon 50 LTM.

I'm not a sharpness junkie, I believe it's the least important aspect of my photographs. I don't pixel peep and often don't view my photographs until I'm sitting at my computer with a glass of whiskey. I'd just like the lens to work as it should.

I spoke with Stephen at CameraQuest who said this is unusual, but not unheard of.
We're gonna swap it out for another and see how that goes.

Aside from this minor annoyance, I really enjoy shooting this little thing. 

Edited October 1, 2020 by strangeboy
additional info.

[lct]

1 hour ago, strangeboy said:

this doesn't happen with my Zeiss Biogon or Canon 50 LTM.

Lens issue then apparently. I've never seen this out of my M lenses though, including CV 35/1.4 SC v1 and v2. Your new lens will work fine hopefully. Thanks for sharing.

[strangeboy]

24 minutes ago, lct said:

Lens issue then apparently. I've never seen this out of my M lenses though, including CV 35/1.4 SC v1 and v2. Your new lens will work fine hopefully. Thanks for sharing.

Thanx, I'm sure it will. I almost don't wanna send it back because I was looking forward to spending the day with it on the lakefront. I hate waiting for stuff.

[strangeboy]

Again, I really dig this lens.
Quick sample images, nothing special...

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!

^Voigtlander Nokton Classic 35mm f/1.4 II MC @ f/1.4

^Voigtlander Nokton Classic 35mm f/1.4 II MC @ f/5.6 (still unpacking from our recent move)

^Voigtlander Nokton Classic 35mm f/1.4 II MC @ f/1.4 (the clarity of the handgrip...)

 

Edited October 1, 2020 by strangeboy
file fix

[boojum]

Has the lens been tried on a different camera?

[Cobram]

Dear Strangeboy,

I experienced something similar with old Jupiter-8 lens.

At the end I sold the lens and kept the camera :-) 

 

Photos you posted within this thread are very interesting. I find the rendering of this lens very appealing. Can you post more photos?

I'm thinking to add this lens to my collection. Currently I use 28 Cron, 50 ASPH Lux and 21/4 CV. I must admit CV 21/4 was a pleasant surprise. I bought it in order to experiement  with 21mm angle but at the end I use it as my everyday lens. Very sharp, easy to focus, small and rendering is also nice. The only negative of this lens is IMHO rendering of green scenery.

Can you give me more insight on your Nokton?

 

[haikos]

Any updates on the replacement lens? Was there any difference?

In my experience, most rangefinder lenses are ever so slightly out of focus in the rangefinder patch at the infinity hard stop. When you scale focus back a mm or less, the rangefinder aligns. I've experienced this with a 50mm summicron V5, ZM, and VM lenses... basically every rangefinder lens I've ever used, on 3 different cameras.

[Nimar]

Just got the two second hand voightlander lanthars 50 and 35 and both focus past infinity. Really annoying. 
 

It seems unlikely to be to both bad examples but I guess that’s why they were for sale. 
 

Anyone else have the lanthars and can confirm if they have this issue or not?

[1joel1]

My 50mm APO also focuses past infinity. This is common for APO lenses. I don't know if this was discussed above, but often Nikon and Canon ED/Fluorite lenses focused past infinity to compensate for expansion/contraction due to temperature. I see this as a good thing as it ensures very accurate focusing.

[hdmesa]

On 2/27/2023 at 4:26 PM, Nimar said:

Just got the two second hand voightlander lanthars 50 and 35 and both focus past infinity. Really annoying. 
 

It seems unlikely to be to both bad examples but I guess that’s why they were for sale. 
 

Anyone else have the lanthars and can confirm if they have this issue or not?

 

On 2/28/2023 at 2:11 PM, 1joel1 said:

My 50mm APO also focuses past infinity. This is common for APO lenses. I don't know if this was discussed above, but often Nikon and Canon ED/Fluorite lenses focused past infinity to compensate for expansion/contraction due to temperature. I see this as a good thing as it ensures very accurate focusing.

This is not normal and is due to poor quality control by Voigtlander. All M lenses can hit infinity at the hard stop if correctly manufactured and/or adjusted. I previously owned a CV 35 and 50 APO and both were dead-on perfect.

Edited March 16, 2023 by hdmesa

[Advertisement]

Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[1joel1]

15 hours ago, hdmesa said:

 

This is not normal and is due to poor quality control by Voigtlander. All M lenses can hit infinity at the hard stop if correctly manufactured and/or adjusted. I previously owned a CV 35 and 50 APO and both were dead-on perfect.

Agree to disagree. Wish we could talk to someone from Voigtlander. Not sure if this is a rangefinder issue or if the Voigtlander for Sony lenses (35 APO and 50 APO)also do this. Would be curious to know.

Thanks,

Joel