D-LUX (typ 109) Focus Issues…

[Jimbolina]

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My D-LUX typ 109 compact camera, which I purchased brand new (in 2016 from the Leica Miami store) is giving me some grief. While I have only used it rather sparingly, it has been a reliable, easy to use camera. Very recently, it has developed an irritating problem that can’t seem to be resolved…

I tend to primarily use the automatic setting, and very recently noticed ALL my images were consistently, very slightly, out of focus.

Noting this pesky matter, I would always double-check the various settings to insure the automatic aspects were properly set, and obviously followed-up with more test-shots. Still, all the images remained just slightly out of focus. No changes noted when viewing on an iPad to better study the results.

Both in the viewfinder, as well as the back screen, these images would always appear entirely in focus, prior to each shot, but the end results were consistently as described.

I also went to manual mode, testing at various f-stop and shutter speed settings, with the exact, very same results.

All of these images were staged in adequate lighting circumstances, and carefully orchestrated to foster proper focus results, to no avail. The lens has a high quality, Tiffen UV filter on it, and both the primary and UV glass aspects are quite clean and clear, so that variable is most certainly not the problem.

My question is does anyone have any ideas what may be the problem?

The camera itself has honestly been lovingly handled; and cared for; NEVER dropped, NEVER exposed to rain or any harsh conditions whatsoever, and when not in use, stored in an interior, well protected room. I have two Leica (brand) batteries, and always used a full charge when accomplishing these tests. The batteries are excellent, by the way. As I mentioned, it hasn’t been used all that much - possibly only 200+ or so images, total?

I can’t come up with ANY ideas how this issue suddenly - and I mean that quite literally - started the out of focus problem in a period of just a COUPLE of days within a single week, actually, from nice, sharp imagery, to this aggravating issue.

I would appreciate any suggestions on how to proceed, as I truly love this camera and have every intention on retaining it for future usage. For the record, I indeed contacted Leica USA Repair, and they said they no longer service this particular camera. Rats.

Thanks.

 

Greetings.

I have a Leica D-LUX typ 109 compact camera I purchased brand new in 2016 from the Miami store. While I have only used it very sparingly, it has been a reliable, easy to use camera. Very recently, it has developed an irritating problem that can’t seem to be resolved…

I tend to primarily use the automatic setting, and noticed my images were consistently, very slightly, out of focus.

I would always double-check the settings to insure the automatic aspects were properly set, and followed-up with more test-shots. Still, all the images remained just slightly out of focus. No changes noted when viewing on an iPad to better see the results.

Both in the viewfinder, as well as the back screen, these images would always appear in focus prior to each shot, but the results were consistently as described.

I also went to manual mode, testing at various f-stop and shutter speed settings, with the exact, same results.

All of these images were staged in adequate lighting circumstances, and carefully orchestrated to foster proper focus results, to no avail.

My question is do you, or anyone on the technical team, have any ideas what may be the problem? The camera itself has honestly been lovingly handled, never dropped, never exposed to rain or any harsh conditions whatsoever, and when not in use, stored in an interior, well protected room. As I mentioned, it hasn’t been used all that much - possibly only 200+ or so images, total?

I can’t come up with any ideas how this issue suddenly - and I mean that quite literally - started the out of focus problem in a period of just a couple of days, from sharp imagery, to this.

I would appreciate your input and any suggestions on how to proceed, as I truly love this camera and have every intention on retaining it for future usage.I have a Leica D-LUX typ 109 compact camera I purchased brand new in 2016 from the Miami store. While I have only used it very sparingly, it has been a reliable, easy to use camera. Very recently, it has developed an irritating problem that can’t seem to be resolved…

I tend to primarily use the automatic setting, and noticed my images were consistently, very slightly, out of focus.

I would always double-check the settings to insure the automatic aspects were properly set, and followed-up with more test-shots. Still, all the images remained just slightly out of focus. No changes noted when viewing on an iPad to better see the results.
I have a Leica D-LUX typ 109 compact camera I purchased brand new in 2016 from the Miami store. While I have only used it very sparingly, it has been a reliable, easy to use camera. Very recently, it has developed an irritating problem that can’t seem to be resolved…

I tend to primarily use the automatic setting, and noticed my images were consistently, very slightly, out of focus.

I would always double-check the settings to insure the automatic aspects were properly set, and followed-up with more test-shots. Still, all the images remained just slightly out of focus. No changes noted when viewing on an iPad to better see the results.Greetings.

I have a Leica D-LUX typ 109 compact camera I purchased brand new in 2016 from the Miami store. While I have only used it very sparingly, it has been a reliable, easy to use camera. Very recently, it has developed an irritating problem that can’t seem to be resolved…

I tend to primarily use the automatic setting, and noticed my images were consistently, very slightly, out of focus.

I would always double-check the settings to insure the automatic aspects were properly set, and followed-up with more test-shots. Still, all the images remained just slightly out of focus. No changes noted when viewing on an iPad to better see the results.

Both in the viewfinder, as well as the back screen, these images would always appear in focus prior to each shot, but the results were consistently as described.

I also went to manual mode, testing at various f-stop and shutter speed settings, with the exact, same results.

All of these images were staged in adequate lighting circumstances, and carefully orchestrated to foster proper focus results, to no avail.

My question is do you, or anyone on the technical team, have any ideas what may be the problem? The camera itself has honestly been lovingly handled, never dropped, never exposed to rain or any harsh conditions whatsoever, and when not in use, stored in an interior, well protected room. As I mentioned, it hasn’t been used all that much - possibly only 200+ or so images, total?

I can’t come up with any ideas how this issue suddenly - and I mean that quite literally - started the out of focus problem in a period of just a couple of days, from sharp imagery, to this.

I would appreciate your input and any suggestions on how to proceed, as I truly love this camera and have every intention on retaining it for future usage.

Both in the viewfinder, as well as the back screen, these images would always appear in focus prior to each shot, but the results were consistently as described.

I also went to manual mode, testing at various f-stop and shutter speed settings, with the exact, same results.

All of these images were staged in adequate lighting circumstances, and carefully orchestrated to foster proper focus results, to no avail.

My question is do you, or anyone on the technical team, have any ideas what may be the problem? The camera itself has honestly been lovingly handled, never dropped, never exposed to rain or any harsh conditions whatsoever, and when not in use, stored in an interior, well protected room. As I mentioned, it hasn’t been used all that much - possibly only 200+ or so images, total?

I can’t come up with any ideas how this issue suddenly - and I mean that quite literally - started the out of focus problem in a period of just a couple of days, from sharp imagery, to this.

I would appreciate your input and any suggestions on how to proceed, as I truly love this camera and have every intention on retaining it for future usage.

Both in the viewfinder, as well as the back screen, these images would always appear in focus prior to each shot, but the results were consistently as described.

I also went to manual mode, testing at various f-stop and shutter speed settings, with the exact, same results.

All of these images were staged in adequate lighting circumstances, and carefully orchestrated to foster proper focus results, to no avail.

My question is do you, or anyone on the technical team, have any ideas what may be the problem? The camera itself has honestly been lovingly handled, never dropped, never exposed to rain or any harsh conditions whatsoever, and when not in use, stored in an interior, well protected room. As I mentioned, it hasn’t been used all that much - possibly only 200+ or so images, total?

I can’t come up with any ideas how this issue suddenly - and I mean that quite literally - started the out of focus problem in a period of just a couple of days, from sharp imagery, to this.

I would appreciate your input and any suggestions on how to proceed, as I truly love this camera and have every intention on retaining it for future usage

[wda]

Jim, have you tried manual focusing mode?

[Jimbolina]

Yes, as indicated in my above inquiry, I utilized BOTH automatic, as well as manual modes of operation.

Again, when viewing from either the viewfinder, or the back screen, prior to each shot, every image appeared crystal clear and quite sharp. Upon downloading these test assorted images to my iPad, each and every picture was slightly out of focus. All, exhibiting the exact same level of lack of clarity.

I as careful to duplicate very similar image-content setups as my follow-up tests - reshooting those earlier setups that were sharp (less than a week earlier) then comparing side by side, to these now ‘fuzzy’ shots.

In that interim, virtually everything about the camera seemed and appeared normal. The lens actions were smooth as always, no noises were exhibited, the camera wasn’t bumped or jostled during that timeframe, full charge on the battery, and virtually everything else was very similar, including the respective lighting conditions.

Again, tests also included the manual mode (which originally, I had only used automatic). In manual, the image appeared sharp as a tack. BOTH MODES resulted in imagery producing the exact, same, very slightly, out of focus results.

I remain baffled…

[wda]

Why not consult your supplying dealer. He might have solved the problem in the past.

[Jimbolina]

I have indeed contacted Leica Miami about this matter.

[wda]

You might obtain information from this source in UK: https://david2008.photium.com/news112108.html

Please report if you are successful

[Jimbolina]

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Interesting. Thanks!

[Jimbolina]

Contacted all the above suggested entities, but no fix. One offering was to do the ‘factory reset’, which I had actually already done ( but neglected to state that in my original posting). I even used another SD memory card, in case that first one was corrupted, to no avail.

With Leica itself, not supporting this particular camera anymore, and the lack of any headway on a solution to the pesky, out of focus issue, I remain frustrated, and stumbling on how to proceed.

I hate having to essentially turn my back on this camera! It is for all intents and purposes, new, and as I mentioned, hardly used at all, and as a result, in pristine condition. I wish I could fall back on a situation where I had dropped it, or gotten it soaking wet in a sudden downpour, but that isn’t the case here. Simply, a would-be incredible camera that quite suddenly decided to not function properly, and for no apparent reason.

Rats.

Anyone willing to make me a somewhat reasonable offer (given its honestly stated condition, and frustrating limitations, of course) on this as a ‘project camera’? I frankly feel rather odd just keeping it here on a shelf, as a display piece collecting dust, as it where.

[stuny]

Perhaps Panasonic can help.

[flutrtutr]

New member here.  Very new.  As matter of fact, my 109 hasn't even arrived yet, ordered late last week. After many years with a 15 lb Nikon (just kidding), I gave it to my grandson and moved up.

This focus issue is interesting and pretty frustrating, I'm sure. If it changed all over a couple of days, the obvious question is what else changed in that same time frame? If you can find or remember something, it might very well have something to do with the focus change.  SOMETHING must have changed in that time span or the images would be the same.  It's a machine, after all. 

Does the degree of out-of-focus vary with the depth of field, or how far way the point of focus is?

Is the degree of out-of-focus the same over the entire frame?  And on every photo?

Are you downloading the files the same as always?

Are you examining them via the same medium and software every time?

Have you tried it in all the various various shooting modes in addition to Manual and Auto? And the different AF modes?  Different lighting? 

In any case, if the images look clear on the screen and in the viewfinder but not in something which shows them larger, it could be that they aren't enough out of focus to show up in those tiny images.  Or there could be something goofy going on in their travels between camera storage and the iPad screen.

Perhaps temperature and/or humidity changes have somehow moved the sensor out of alignment.  Or the AF sensors.

There is test screen available which you can shoot to test focus.  I'm sure B&H has it, or Adorama, etc. Not hard to find, and not expensive.  Perhaps something set up very carefully parallel to the "film plane", and a carefully measured distance away would show something.

This is about all I could think of.  Hope it helps!

 

[jaapv]

This is a single post about probably an individual problem. It is rather premature to make a general issue out of it. You haven’t eVen received the camera yet. 
Use it for a few weeks, familiarize yourself with it and then decide whether you have a problem. 

[flutrtutr]

Hello, jaapv -

I'm not understanding your post here.  Is it directed to the OP, who has had his camera for years and definitely does have a problem, or to me, whose post was directed to the OP about troubleshooting his problem, and deliberately had nothing to do with the 109 in particular?  Just looking for some clarification.  I'm very excited to be back among Leica users, and trying to get everything I can out of what I find here.