Focus problem. Rangefinder or lens?

[Gionnired]

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Hi everyone,

I'd like to have your opinion about a focus issue that I'm having with my Leica M6 and a brand new Voigtländer Nokton 35mm F1.4 M.C. VM II.

It seems to have problems when focusing at infinity, but maybe also at other distances.  

Is there a way to tell if the problem is the lens or the camera's rangefinder? When you look through the rangefinder, everything seems fine.

I tried the lens with an adapter on my Sony a7IV, and at infinity it is not ok. I have to move the focus ring slightly before the infinity stop. But I'm not sure that's a good way to tell if the lens is the problem, it could be the adapter.

Before buying this lens, I had a Zeiss Biogon C 35mm f2.8. I never noticed such issue in many years, just with the last roll that I shot, where I used both lenses, I found a picture made with the Zeiss that seems to have the same issue. See the color pictures.

Here you can see some test shots. I should have used a finer grain film, but I had Fomapan 400 available.

1_ Infinity focus, shot at f/8. It looks like the buildings closest to the camera are sharper than the ones in the background.

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2_ Same here. Shot at f/8, focus at infinity. Look at the buildings on the right: they seem more in focus than the one in the center, which is further away.

3_ Here I focused on the first handle of the supermarket trolley, but the focus seems to be shifted forward. I shot at f/2, so I can't rule out a mistake here.

 

4_ This one looks ok, but I still have the feeling that something is wrong. The central column seems less in focus than the ones on the side.

Shot with the Zeiss, focused on the top of the old palace. It looks softer than the lower building if you zoom in on the right side of the photo.

 

Same roll, shot with the Voigtlander. Central building seems less sharp than the one on the left side. 

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[jaapv]

Both the camera and the lens need to be adjusted to the same common standard. You will get a lot of advice here how to l try and find out which is off, camera or lens or maybe both but if you have no experience in these matters you are sure to get it wrong. 
The worst you can do is to adjust the camera to the lens. Again, if you have no intimate knowledge and experience you have a 50% chance of getting it wrong and your camera will work with that one lens only. Should you send it in a good repair shop will ask you to send in the whole system, cameras and bodies. It is relatively simple for them to calibrate the complete set and usually not too expensive. Should you decide to send to Leica you need to be a very patient person, and there is no need. There are quite a few competent repairshops. You’ll find a list on this forum. 

[Gionnired]

1 hour ago, jaapv said:

Both the camera and the lens need to be adjusted to the same common standard. You will get a lot of advice here how to l try and find out which is off, camera or lens or maybe both but if you have no experience in these matters you are sure to get it wrong. 
The worst you can do is to adjust the camera to the lens. Again, if you have no intimate knowledge and experience you have a 50% chance of getting it wrong and your camera will work with that one lens only. Should you send it in a good repair shop will ask you to send in the whole system, cameras and bodies. It is relatively simple for them to calibrate the complete set and usually not too expensive. Should you decide to send to Leica you need to be a very patient person, and there is no need. There are quite a few competent repairshops. You’ll find a list on this forum. 

Thanks for answering. 

So if I send my current camera and lens to be calibrated, does that mean that if I add another lens to my collection in the future, I will have to send everything back to be calibrated?

[rsh]

I own an M10 (Partially Upgraded to a P 😎😎 since February 2017 and an M10-M since February 2020).  A couple of weeks ago, I discovered the focus was just a hair off on the M10 but not the M10-M and  using the same lenses.  I sent the M10 to Don Goldberg last Monday and he concurred that I was indeed correct.  I will have the camera back either tomorrow or Tuesday.  Generally speaking, he will make rangefinder adjustments on digital Ms within a week.

 

[jaapv]

37 minutes ago, Gionnired said:

Thanks for answering. 

So if I send my current camera and lens to be calibrated, does that mean that if I add another lens to my collection in the future, I will have to send everything back to be calibrated?

No. This is meant to prevent that happening. 

[TomB_tx]

I've generally found CV / Voigtländer lenses to be calibrated very well, having bought many. However, I have had a couple that were a bit off. DAG has one for calibration now: I had bought a 50 1.5 ii  that had perfect calibration and was a delight - so bought another for my son, and it is clearly back focusing. Same with a couple of LLL I bought: one fine, the other a bit off. My collection of Leica M lenses have small variations, but not enough to be out of DOF as I use them. (However, haven't bought a new Leica brand lens for over 10 years.)

Overall my M cameras have been similar: nearly all have been fine, except when one came back from CLA that was off, and a recently bought used M6 .85 that was clearly off (that I corrected myself). Also bought a Zeiss Ikon ZM (used) where the infinity setting had come loose and was way off. Adjusting that was quite different, but found the method on line and was able to reset it myself also.

Overall I've been very happy with RF calibration.

[Gionnired]

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I contacted the Swiss Leica customer service in Nidau for a CLA and rangefinder check. They answered that since my lens in not a Leica one, they can't do any service or inspection.
I'll bring the M6 for the CLA anyway, I've never done it since I purchased it.
In the meanwhile, I'll try to contact Voigtlander about the focus issue I'm having, and see what they suggest. The lens is brand new, so still under warranty.
 

[rsh]

If you are near a Leica Store or a shop that carries Leica or even used Leicas, maybe go in with the lens and see if the focus is off using one of their cameras.  Just a suggestion.

Edited March 3 by rsh