Already the second new summilux 50 not adjusted correctly - is that possible?

[Krisch64]

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Hello,

I just bought a summilux 50 that was apparently not properly adjusted for the optical viewfinder. The lens went back, today came a new one. My test again showed that with OVF at open aperture, compared to focusing with Visoflex 2, no sharp adjustment is possible. Two test images are attached (taken from the same position with tripod).

With the same test setting and 75 mm aperture 2, I had no problems achieving a sharp image with optical viewfinder. The same is true for summilux 28, so it shouldn't be the camera.

Am I doing something wrong? Is it practically impossible to take sharp photos with the summilux 50 mm at open aperture and OVF?

Thanks for your feedback!

Dietmar

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[evikne]

Hello! Is it a 50mm Summilux ASPH or pre-ASPH?

The pre-ASPH Summilux has a little focus shift. To compensate for this, it is often calibrated for optimal focus at f/2. 

See this answer from a well known Leica repair specialist:

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[Krisch64]

It is a 50 mm Summilux ASPH!

[jplomley]

Took me 3 copies to get a good one. And the same number for the 28 Summicron Asph v2. The first two of the latter had not only focus shift, but field curvature that was out of control. I could not secure a third copy from Germany, so purchased a Made in Portugal version. It was perfect in every way and is not my daily work-horse. Go figure. These are the only two lenses out of the six M lenses I own that have been temperamental, for whatever reason. 

Edited August 12, 2022 by jplomley

[MaticB]

Excuse me, do you wear glasses? I found myself, when focusing with OVF, my glasses on (progressive lenses) and mounted 50 summilux or 35 APO, I usually experience back focus. In your case it looks like front focusing issue. Again, with 28 Summilux and 75 summarit, I have no problems at all. Focus depth is wider for both those lenses. I have 2 solution for the problem: I put glasses of or, after alignment, i move focus ring a little bit closer. It works for me. Otherwise, your 50 mm lens and optical viewfinder should be calibrated.

[Laharrier]

50mm Pre-Asph Lux is well known to have focus shift of varying degrees. Per above caption, Leica calibrated these lenses to focus perfectly at f/2-2.8 as it will begin to back focus past that where the depth of field takes over. If your lens is front focussing wide open you can consider this a normal artifact of these old lenses. 

[jaeger]

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You're possibly fall into a rabbit hole game of leica.  The camera maybe off instead of the lens, and they will ask you to take everything back to adjust.  It maybe good for a short while and then it happens again every time you acquired a lens.  

I went through the same issue and discovered that the camera was never adjusted to a factory standard.  They actually made all the lenses I have wrong to compensate a handicap camera.  

take your camera to leica shop and try on few lenses off the shelf and see if you can get a clue.   

 

[Jeff S]

26 minutes ago, jaeger said:

You're possibly fall into a rabbit hole game of leica.  The camera maybe off instead of the lens, and they will ask you to take everything back to adjust.  It maybe good for a short while and then it happens again every time you acquired a lens.  

I went through the same issue and discovered that the camera was never adjusted to a factory standard.  They actually made all the lenses I have wrong to compensate a handicap camera.  

take your camera to leica shop and try on few lenses off the shelf and see if you can get a clue.   

 

The lenses are also adjusted to a standard, not to the camera, unless you made a specific request otherwise.  Leica typically asks for all gear to be sent in to avoid guesswork and wasted time shipping back and forth, not to calibrate together.

Jeff

[lct]

If focusing is accurate with the EVF, the culprit cannot be the lens IMHO. Just a matter of RF calibration i suspect.

[Ecar]

3 hours ago, lct said:

If focusing is accurate with the EVF, the culprit cannot be the lens IMHO. Just a matter of RF calibration i suspect.

EVF focusing is accurate by definition, as it effectively provides a WYSIWYG readout from the sensor...

In other words, being able to achieve focus with the EVF but not with the RF still leaves the lens and/or the RF as the possible culprits.

[Ecar]

12 hours ago, Krisch64 said:

Hello,

With the same test setting and 75 mm aperture 2, I had no problems achieving a sharp image with optical viewfinder. The same is true for summilux 28, so it shouldn't be the camera.

Am I doing something wrong? Is it practically impossible to take sharp photos with the summilux 50 mm at open aperture and OVF?

The 75/2 is a lens that is not easy to focus. If you can get a sharp image using the RF, and the same goes for your 28/1.4, chances are your 50/1.4 is off.

Best way to be sure IMO is to test it on another body.

Edited August 13, 2022 by Ecar

[lct]

4 hours ago, Ecar said:

EVF focusing is accurate by definition, as it effectively provides a WYSIWYG readout from the sensor...

In other words, being able to achieve focus with the EVF but not with the RF still leaves the lens and/or the RF as the possible culprits.

Not sure to understand sorry. If the EVF says the lens is accurate, say, at infinity and 0.7m it is not accurate "by definition" but at infinity and 0.7m. Should be measured more finely to be sure but the lens has probably nothing to do with the issue. Rather the rangefinder or, more rarely, the sensor needing calibration but i'm no techie at all so i may be wrong. 

[Ecar]

15 hours ago, lct said:

Not sure to understand sorry. If the EVF says the lens is accurate, say, at infinity and 0.7m it is not accurate "by definition" but at infinity and 0.7m. Should be measured more finely to be sure but the lens has probably nothing to do with the issue. Rather the rangefinder or, more rarely, the sensor needing calibration but i'm no techie at all so i may be wrong. 

When you focus with the EVF (or LiveView), you see the image that the sensor will capture. Therefore, as you look through the EVF, you turn the focus ring so as to get the intended focus point actually in focus (OP's image #1 above, where focus is spot on).

The only obvious exception is when you want to focus on a subject that is at either end of the focus range (infinity or 0.7m) and the lens is improperly calibrated and is unable to reach said focus point (but only, say, 50m or 1m). However, between the max/min distance that the lens is able to reach, focusing through the EVF will be accurate.

The OP's #2 image above shows the result that he gets when he focuses with the RF (or OVF): clearly out of focus. The reason can be either the rangefinder or the lens needing adjustment. My guess is the lens is off, but I may be wrong. 

[lct]

1 hour ago, Ecar said:

[...] The only obvious exception is when you want to focus on a subject that is at either end of the focus range (infinity or 0.7m) [...]

... or 1m, 1.5m or whatever MFD. That's what i've been doing since i use EVFs each time i have a doubt about focus accuracy. Not a big deal to me but YMMV.