mman Posted September 23, 2007 Share #1 Posted September 23, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) Anyone encountering this issue with the coincident image not superimposing accurately? Focusing on the letter E gives me a double image on the lower horizontal line of the E. Tried the same lens on my M6 and not having this issue. Thank for any suggestion. Charles Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted September 23, 2007 Posted September 23, 2007 Hi mman, Take a look here Coincident Image problem. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
gmaurizio Posted September 23, 2007 Share #2 Posted September 23, 2007 Just try to have the sensor plane parallel to the subject plane. Whenever you have double images, it is just relative alignment. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mman Posted September 23, 2007 Author Share #3 Posted September 23, 2007 Gus, Thank you for replying. I just tried both cameras again from the same viewing position. Have the same problem with the M8. I am perplexed. Charles Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
carstenw Posted September 23, 2007 Share #4 Posted September 23, 2007 It sounds like the vertical alignment of the rangefinder is off. There is an adjustment for this underneath the Leica dot on the camera, but it is probably better just to send it off to New Jersey for adjustment. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
adan Posted September 24, 2007 Share #5 Posted September 24, 2007 Like Carsten says - this is a misadjustment in the vertical alignment of the RF images. Something is slightly out of whack in the optics between the little RF window over by the shutter release, relative to the main image your see through the main viewfinder. Also as Carsten says, there is an adjustment lever/screw thingy hidden behind the "Leica" red dot that just needs a tweak with a special tool to realign the images. My first M8 was out of alignment vertically direct from the factory - it can happen. A jolt can also throw it off a little or a lot. Needs a trip to NJ for fixing under warranty, unless you want to learn to do it yourself (and have a source for a replacement red dot - they tend to get destroyed when removed). Alternatively, a local SoCal Leica repair person can probably adjust it for less than the shipping to NJ - but that might void the remainder of the warranty. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mman Posted September 25, 2007 Author Share #6 Posted September 25, 2007 Appreciate the advise from everyone. Will be sending it back to NJ again. Wished they had properly checked out the camera the first time it was in but as Andy mentioned this could have been caused by a jolt. Thanks Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
adan Posted September 25, 2007 Share #7 Posted September 25, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) Just as an aside - this is one of the sad truths about RF cameras, and why they nearly faded away once SLRs arrived. An SLR focusing system basically only has 3 parts that must maintain alignment - and two of them do not move: the film plane, the groundglass, and the mirror (and the mirror is not in use while it is moving, only when it is at one end of its travel, held in place by springs and a stop). In an AF camera, one would add the AF sensor module, again, a non-moving part. So in a Nikon F or a Canon F-1 or Leicaflex or a host of other SLRs, once the groundglass was positioned relative to the film plane (and then held in place with strong springs), and the focusing mirror's down-stop was positioned (and screwed down tight) there was really very little that could get out of alignment short of a major catastrophe. A rangefinder has more moving parts in the focus system: the lens barrel or cam, the roller, the roller arm, the internal mirror or prism, and several other levers and shafts that connect them all - and all of these are in use and have to maintain alignment throughout their motion range, not just at one point. The result is that RFs do need more frequent maintenance of the focusing system - things designed to move freely are more likely to move TOO freely and get out of position than parts that don't move. Especially when one link in the system (the lens cam) is being disconnected and reconnected every time a lens is changed. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougdarter Posted September 25, 2007 Share #8 Posted September 25, 2007 I have a problem with the vertical alignment with one of my IIIa's. It is worse at infinity. The alignment however doesn't affect the pictures. It's annoying, but that's about it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack_Flesher Posted September 25, 2007 Share #9 Posted September 25, 2007 Sounds like you are saying the vertical alignment is off slightly on only the lower half of the image, but the top half is fine? If it isn't a lot I wouldn't worry about it; get it fixed perfectly and one good jolt and it will be off a tiny bit in the other direction... As long as the horizontal alignment is accurate and your camera focuses properly, I would forget about it and get on with making images. Sidebar: I think Leica M shooters can often be way too picky/perfectionist in equipment expectations. It's a tool; a device with mechanical parts the move, wear and can can otherwise go out of adjustment. If the RF still focuses accurately otherwise, then it works. And as long as it works, my advice is to live with the little inconsistency until they become big enough ones to affect usability or image quality. My .02, Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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