Help, LLL 8 elements Infinity focus patch not allignment, Is it normal?

[mottykytu]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

I have some problems with LLL 8 Elements:
1. almost any other Range below infinity and at any Aperture the patch focus is alignment very well.
2. Only when I go Infinity , the Patch is not align with the very far object (Moon, very far away building...) 

3. ALthough it not align in the Rangefinder, the Image of the Building is still SHARP, It means the optical is still doing good, just the RF Patch (of the lens) is not good

I have try another Leica len, and it Alignment very well at infinity, so that mean only LLL 8Elements have this problems. Any of you have face this? it is worth to CLA it ? and can it be fix?

Manythanks

p/s: When I set the lens to ∞ mark, the RF patch is still not aligned. It need to turn slightly beyond it to align — but the lens hard-stops there and lock so it cannot move further."

Edited May 9 by mottykytu

[Advertisement]

The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[TomB_tx]

Chances are a good Leica tech (like DAG) can adjust the focus - if it really needs it. If I had it I'd test focus using the RF at normal distances for a series of pictures. If the results are good, I wouldn't worry about very distant objects, unless you find it a problem in real pictures.

My LLL 8-element is fine, but my LLL 50 Rigid would back focus (sharpest beyond the intended point), so I had DAG adjust it and it's perfect now. (But DAG told another forum member his LLL Rigid had too much glue inside to adjust focus...)

[mottykytu]

2 hours ago, Al Brown said:

Do not stress about it if it is sharp as set. It is a cheapo Chinese lens, repeat that mantra every time when you focus to infinity.
PS. My LLL 35mm 8 element clone is perfectly aligned and fine at infinity.

Well I know it is chinese, but it is obviously not CHEAP, atleast at the current price they charge for a Chinese lens.

which is much higher than a German, Japan made Voigtlander 35mm  

[mottykytu]

2 hours ago, TomB_tx said:

Chances are a good Leica tech (like DAG) can adjust the focus - if it really needs it. If I had it I'd test focus using the RF at normal distances for a series of pictures. If the results are good, I wouldn't worry about very distant objects, unless you find it a problem in real pictures.

My LLL 8-element is fine, but my LLL 50 Rigid would back focus (sharpest beyond the intended point), so I had DAG adjust it and it's perfect now. (But DAG told another forum member his LLL Rigid had too much glue inside to adjust focus...)

I have test and no problem in real picture

But the Infinity RF Patch not align sometime make me nervous because I don't know if the object is "At Infinity enough" or not to be in focus

[mottykytu]

2 hours ago, Al Brown said:

Compared to the used price of the original 8 element (which it even surpasses according to my test findings posted here) it is definitely a bargain at 1/4 of the price (original Chinese price is 900$).

Well, the original 8 elements price increase significantly is only because of the HYPE and the Collectors purpose, just like the 35V4 King of Bokeh, not because of their performance.

Btw, What version of LLL 8elements you do you have ?

I have V7LC version (the newest version I think) and still have this problem, their QC is really bad !!!

Edited May 10 by mottykytu

[Bart D]

I've had the same happening to a "cheap German lens", made by Leica.

When I had to send in another lens to Leica, I sent this one along. They didn't solve it.

Since the image is sharp when the lens is set to infinity, without the patch coinciding, I just live with it.

[farnz]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

On 5/9/2025 at 5:01 PM, mottykytu said:

I have some problems with LLL 8 Elements:
1. almost any other Range below infinity and at any Aperture the patch focus is alignment very well.
2. Only when I go Infinity , the Patch is not align with the very far object (Moon, very far away building...) 

3. ALthough it not align in the Rangefinder, the Image of the Building is still SHARP, It means the optical is still doing good, just the RF Patch (of the lens) is not good

I have try another Leica len, and it Alignment very well at infinity, so that mean only LLL 8Elements have this problems. Any of you have face this? it is worth to CLA it ? and can it be fix?

Manythanks

p/s: When I set the lens to ∞ mark, the RF patch is still not aligned. It need to turn slightly beyond it to align — but the lens hard-stops there and lock so it cannot move further."

This is something I would expect from any lens so don't panic.  The rangefinder is a mechanical system with metallic elements in it, which will be affected by changes in temperature because all metals expand and contract as temperatures rise and fall.  If Leica didn't allow for this and the camera was taken to a place with high temperature then the metal might expand significantly and damage might occur.

The other lens you tried might behave slightly differently because the camera's focus follower (the round piece of metal you can see in the camera's mouth when there's no lens attached) is pushed by the helical, a curved threaded brass ring in the lens mount, to indicate when an object is in focus.  If the helical is a millimetre or two longer in the LLL lens then it will push the focus follower a little further at infinity and the image and the patch might not line up exactly.  But that's okay because you're working at infinity so you have a huge depth of field, which is why the image at infinity is sharp - as you say.

The important thing is that at shorter distances the RF indicates the plane of focus accurately when the image and superimposed patch align.  To send your lens for a CLA for the 'problem' you've described would be a waste of money in my opinion.

Pete.

[misteracng]

I tried a few LLL lens as well, and QC is really the issue, it is extremely variable. Barrel not quite tight, also l 2 of them there was stiction with small focus adjustments making it quite difficult to focus, i inquired to a third party to service it and they declined to work on them due to the construction being different Leica lenses and also use to glue at certain points. It’s hit or miss, but much more then Leica lenses

[mottykytu]

10 hours ago, misteracng said:

I tried a few LLL lens as well, and QC is really the issue, it is extremely variable. Barrel not quite tight, also l 2 of them there was stiction with small focus adjustments making it quite difficult to focus, i inquired to a third party to service it and they declined to work on them due to the construction being different Leica lenses and also use to glue at certain points. It’s hit or miss, but much more then Leica lenses

Wow, that bad ?

It means that you can fix the leica lense but hard to fix cheap replica Chinese lens ? 

[farnz]

22 minutes ago, mottykytu said:

Wow, that bad ?

It means that you can fix the leica lense but hard to fix cheap replica Chinese lens ? 

"You pays your money and you takes your chances ..."

Pete.

[mottykytu]

On 5/12/2025 at 3:00 AM, farnz said:

This is something I would expect from any lens so don't panic.  The rangefinder is a mechanical system with metallic elements in it, which will be affected by changes in temperature because all metals expand and contract as temperatures rise and fall.  If Leica didn't allow for this and the camera was taken to a place with high temperature then the metal might expand significantly and damage might occur.

The other lens you tried might behave slightly differently because the camera's focus follower (the round piece of metal you can see in the camera's mouth when there's no lens attached) is pushed by the helical, a curved threaded brass ring in the lens mount, to indicate when an object is in focus.  If the helical is a millimetre or two longer in the LLL lens then it will push the focus follower a little further at infinity and the image and the patch might not line up exactly.  But that's okay because you're working at infinity so you have a huge depth of field, which is why the image at infinity is sharp - as you say.

The important thing is that at shorter distances the RF indicates the plane of focus accurately when the image and superimposed patch align.  To send your lens for a CLA for the 'problem' you've described would be a waste of money in my opinion.

Pete.

Hmm, I have read some LEICA have this issues too !

[Crem]

LLL calibration and quality control problems are well discussed on various forums. Leica lenses are engineered to be serviced. LLL lenses are not. Plenty of reports of them being out of calibration and using glue inside to hold them together. I would return it if you can. I’m sure someone can CLA it, but no guarantees that will solve the problem.

[mottykytu]

3 minutes ago, Crem said:

LLL calibration and quality control problems are well discussed on various forums. Leica lenses are engineered to be serviced. LLL lenses are not. Plenty of reports of them being out of calibration and using glue inside to hold them together. I would return it if you can. I’m sure someone can CLA it, but no guarantees that will solve the problem.

Wow, I have read Reddit, here and some say that their LLL can be service which make me decide to buy it. It is a very well made (build) lens, it is a shame that they make it Unfixable with that bad QC !

[farnz]

9 minutes ago, mottykytu said:

Hmm, I have read some LEICA have this issues too !

Leica doesn't glue lenses together as far as I'm aware and, as Crem mentions, are designed to be serviced over decades. 

But the lower price of LLL lenses reflects this so 'you pays your money and takes your chances'.  There will be some things on LLL lenses that can be serviced, and some solvents will dissolve some glue so all is not lost.

Pete.

[jgeenen]

I personally don't trust random internet sources (even if summarized on this forum). Many are just repeating noise of untrusted sources and most of us are not real experts. I frankly don't know a reliable source that shows the reality of LLL lens builds.

Regarding your alignment issue, I would first do more thorough testing of the grade of misalignment. Do test shots from tripod of objects for some distances (I suggest close focus, 2m, 10m and infinity) and compare the range finder focussed images to slightly focus bracketed ones. Which ones are the sharpest? You will get a sense of the focus misalignment grade across the focussing range. Depending on this result I would either try to return the lens (which might be not so easy if bought directly from China) or ask repair shops or live with it.

Regarding LLL in general. My V3LC version that I bought used seems to be ok. But honestly, I don't do infinity moon shots with a 35mm lens and for landscapes and far distances I always stop down to improve the overall sharpness of the results. I am only interested in range finder focus alignment on close to medium distances (where f2 use might be beneficial at all).

 

[misteracng]

I did not have any issues with alignment, i had a new 35 8 element that one was smooth, the 50 rigid I tried was new and it had stiction and the barrel halves clicked back a forth a little noticeable when turning the focus, so it was returned, I also tried a used 50 1.2, held vertically no issue but when mounted horizontal it had focus stiction, made it difficult to fine focus, when I inquired third party about repair, they did not want to work on it, so it was returned, I really liked their materials but QC is quite variable, Leica lens have issues to but mostly they are serviceable so I guess you get what you pay for. I feel LLL has gotten much more popular now, so maybe they are turning out much more lens then before hence more QC issues. The guy I use for repair was actually referred by a US LLL distributor, but when I inquired they stated they stopped working in LLL because no support from the factory,

[mottykytu]

2 hours ago, misteracng said:

I did not have any issues with alignment, i had a new 35 8 element that one was smooth, the 50 rigid I tried was new and it had stiction and the barrel halves clicked back a forth a little noticeable when turning the focus, so it was returned, I also tried a used 50 1.2, held vertically no issue but when mounted horizontal it had focus stiction, made it difficult to fine focus, when I inquired third party about repair, they did not want to work on it, so it was returned, I really liked their materials but QC is quite variable, Leica lens have issues to but mostly they are serviceable so I guess you get what you pay for. I feel LLL has gotten much more popular now, so maybe they are turning out much more lens then before hence more QC issues. The guy I use for repair was actually referred by a US LLL distributor, but when I inquired they stated they stopped working in LLL because no support from the factory,

Wow, what a shame !

[pedaes]

31 minutes ago, mottykytu said:

Wow, what a shame !

And a little telling.

[Advertisement]

Hallo,

Look here: Leica M