M11 rangefinder focusing errors

[gotium]

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Quick question for those who understand rangefinders:

M11 at 1 meter seems to focus reasonably, maybe a little front-focus but within my error range

-at 20 meters it front-focuses by maybe two or three meters

-at about 300 meters it front-focuses by maybe 75 meters

(these are rough estimates)

Is this a simple calibration issue? or is it possible something more significant is afoot?

 

Edited February 7 by gotium

[Overgaard]

The camera may need calibration. The way to test focus is simple: Focus on something far away and if you can match it at infinity, the camera is in adjustment. If you can't reach the point, there is back focus. If you can focus beyond the point, the camera has front focus. 

If it needs adjustment, I would recommend Leica Camera in Wetzlar as the top, or else any Leica repair store in the world, third party expert if necessary.

 

It usually goes out of focus if you hit the wheel inside the bayonet when you mount a lens, or if the camera is dropped or somehow or other gets a bump. 

 

 

[earleygallery]

It sounds like either your rangefinder is out of whack, or your lens is front/rear focussing.

Edited February 7 by earleygallery

[gotium]

8 minutes ago, Overgaard said:

The camera may need calibration. The way to test focus is simple: Focus on something far away and if you can match it at infinity, the camera is in adjustment. If you can't reach the point, there is back focus. If you can focus beyond the point, the camera has front focus. 

If it needs adjustment, I would recommend Leica Camera in Wetzlar as the top, or else any Leica repair store in the world, third party expert if necessary.

 

It usually goes out of focus if you hit the wheel inside the bayonet when you mount a lens, or if the camera is dropped or somehow or other gets a bump. 

 

 

TY, funny thing is that I put the lens at infinity and it front-focuses. I can't focus beyond infinity though - at least not perceptibly. 

Edited February 7 by gotium

[gotium]

4 minutes ago, earleygallery said:

It sounds like either you're rangefinder is out of whack, or your lens is front/rear focussing.

Thank you, same behavior with four different lenses.

[Overgaard]

2 hours ago, gotium said:

Thank you, same behavior with four different lenses.

Yes, it is the camera. Lenses seldom go out of focus. Once the camera is adjusted, all is fine again 🙂

Easy to fix, only annoying part of it is how long it takes to get it back from correction. Depending where you are in the world, there are some 3rd party repair places that can do it almost while you wait (Hong Kong, Tokyo, etc).

[dkmoore]

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3 hours ago, Overgaard said:

The camera may need calibration. The way to test focus is simple: Focus on something far away and if you can match it at infinity, the camera is in adjustment. If you can't reach the point, there is back focus. If you can focus beyond the point, the camera has front focus. 

If it needs adjustment, I would recommend Leica Camera in Wetzlar as the top, or else any Leica repair store in the world, third party expert if necessary.

 

It usually goes out of focus if you hit the wheel inside the bayonet when you mount a lens, or if the camera is dropped or somehow or other gets a bump. 

 

 

it’s super easy to touch the wheel when mounting the lens. Maybe this thread should be moved to the design flaw thread. @admin 

Edited February 8 by dkmoore

[Overgaard]

21 hours ago, dkmoore said:

it’s super easy to touch the wheel when mounting the lens. Maybe this thread should be moved to the design flaw thread. @admin 

It's not about touching the wheel.

You have to hit it hard, or wrong angle. But is is even more likely that other mechanics inside the actual rangefinder in the camera is affected by bumps.

After 70 years with that wheel I think it is not a design flaw 🙂

[dkmoore]

On 2/8/2025 at 6:23 PM, Overgaard said:

It's not about touching the wheel.

You have to hit it hard, or wrong angle. But is is even more likely that other mechanics inside the actual rangefinder in the camera is affected by bumps.

After 70 years with that wheel I think it is not a design flaw 🙂

Eh, you shouldn’t be able to misalign a rangefinder by mounting a lens. I do agree if someone is an idiot and just jams the lens on there, we can’t blame that on Leica. Hopefully people are not that dumb. 
 

BTW, this hasn’t happened to me. But I’ve had plenty of misaligned rangefinders, unfortunately. 
 

70 years ago it wasn’t a design flaw. Can’t imagine there isn’t a better way to do it 70 years later. I love the M rangefinders enough to deal with misalignment issues. Thankfully the 10 and 11s have been solid once properly adjusted. 

Edited February 10 by dkmoore

[dkmoore]

On 2/7/2025 at 5:49 PM, gotium said:

Quick question for those who understand rangefinders:

M11 at 1 meter seems to focus reasonably, maybe a little front-focus but within my error range

-at 20 meters it front-focuses by maybe two or three meters

-at about 300 meters it front-focuses by maybe 75 meters

(these are rough estimates)

Is this a simple calibration issue? or is it possible something more significant is afoot?

 

Just calibration. Like others said, it’s most likely the camera. Id send to Leica and hope they get it right. 

[FlashGordonPhotography]

Likely it’s just the RF infinity calibration. You can send it away for a month or so. Or buy a 2mm allen key and fix it yourself in about 15 minutes. Just takes a tripod and a patient hand with a digital M. Not recommended for film though. Google is your friend.

Gordon

(now making popcorn while the comments that *you shouldn’t touch such a delicate instrument yourself* pile in…)