Leica M6 images blurry

[jivekp@gmail.com]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Hi everyone, I'm a new Leica user and bought an M6 Classic with a Leitz Summicron 2.0. The first roll came back blurry and I thought it was my shooting..then the second and third and so on. I sent my lens in to Keh (where I had gotten it) to be serviced and it came back with the same results. The images are generally overexposed when in very sunny conditions and all of them are very softly focused. I shot most of a roll at f16 and not one thing was in focus. I don't think it could be the lens, as it just came back from being properly adjusted so I'm wondering if it could be the body? I'm not sure what to do as I've spent my budget on this setup. I was going to send it in to get the VF upgrade because I was experiencing some flaring but that is not what is happening here. Any tips very much appreciated.

[jaapv]

The thing to do is to send both lens and camera to DAG (Don Goldberg) to be adjusted.

[logan2z]

Are you judging the focus by looking at the negatives under a loupe, by looking at wet prints made from the negatives, or are you basing it on digital scans of the negatives?  When you examine the negatives directly, do they appear sharp?

[jivekp@gmail.com]

I've been using my Pakon 135 plus to scan the negatives digitally. I have a little loupe I could use to look more closely at the negatives but they look fine by eye. My partner has a Nikon FM2N that came out infinitely more focused than mine

[Likaleica]

1.  Are you putting it in the scanner properly?  The most common reason for out-of-focus scans is not the camera or lens but the scanner set-up.

2.  Jaap or someone, could you move this to the appropriate sub-forum.  S/he's asking about scanning film from an M6 - not related to digital monochrom cameras.  It might get more attention and better advice from people who do this often.

Edited February 23, 2021 by Likaleica

[jivekp@gmail.com]

As I mentioned, my partner has gotten great results with his camera on the same scanner. The issue has to be the body or lens

 

Thanks for the feedback everyone

[105012]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Assuming not camera shake, then the depth of field at f/16 should cover everything to infinity if the lens is at the 5m (or longer) setting. If you still get out of focus images in that case, then the body could be suspect. For example, it could be that the lens flange is out plane with the film plane if the body has had a significant impact. This can be repaired, for example by Kanto in Japan (maybe elsewhere as well).

[logan2z]

1 hour ago, Likaleica said:

1.  Are you putting it in the scanner properly?  The most common reason for out-of-focus scans is not the camera or lens but the scanner set-up.

That's what I was suggesting above.  If the negatives looks sharp when viewed directly under a loupe then I'd look at the scanner setup before I'd pack up and send off the lens and body for adjustment. 

And yes, this thread should be on the film M subforum. 

Edited February 23, 2021 by logan2z