Rangefinder Suddenly Doesn't Work... is it the lens or the camera???

[BLeventhal]

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Hello,
I have been using a Zeiss ZM 35mm f2.8 Biogon on an M8. The focusing ring has been very stiff, but the lens focused accurately with my M8 at all apertures and distances. When out shooting, the focus suddenly became loose and the rangefinder no longer works. 
When I took the lens off, the M8 roller was still "springy." It moves when pushed with my finger and springs back into place when I release it. 
When I looked at the lens, moving the focusing ring causes the lens barrel to move with elements moving in and out. 
I don't think the Biogon has a brass focus cam, I think it is black plastic and I don't see this moving...

Do you suspect that the issue is with the lens or camera... to be clear, the rangefinder looks as if there is no lens attached when I attach the Biogon to the camera.

Unfortunately, I only have one lens for the M body and I don't know anyone in the Santa Cruz area who shoots with Leica M cameras...

thanks,
bruce

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[Michael Geschlecht]

Hello Bleventhal,                                                                             

Welcome to the Forum.

This might be a number of things.

Can we start with, no lens on the camera: Look thru the range/viewfinder window from the back of the camera while GENTLEY pushing the rangefinder cam in slightly & letting it go back out.

Can you see the various frames & the rangefinder patch go from the bottom right to the upper left in the window & then reverse direction?

Best Regards,

Michael

Edited 14 hours ago by Michael Geschlecht

[BLeventhal]

Thanks for the note... I've been a Leica M rangefinder user on and off for a few years now. I've had M9, M240, and M10. I don't use them enough to justify the latter cameras and sold my last pair of M240's for the Hassie X2D and a lens. I missed them M system so much that I decided to buy an M8 on the cheap so I could use it as a street camera. 

The camera arrived last week without a lens and the lens arrived today. At first everything was great, but I found the focus on the 35 f2.8 to be stiff. I tested everything for about an hour, checked focus accuracy, meter, shutter, etc.. and looked at my files. I thought I got quite the bargain as my M8 is a late model (2008) with old 3400 actuations. I paid $1800 from Adorama... they listed the body as "Heavy Wear," but other than a few scratches on the LCD, the camera looks new w/ M8.2 vulcanite and black logo. I was excited to test it out today and, like I said, all was good at first. 

Anyway, I tried to use the lens a second time and it suddenly was very easy to move the focus ring. I tried to see if it still focused accurately, and thats when I saw that the rangefinder was just one rectangle. Michael, I followed your suggestion and gently pushed in the roller and the second rangefinder window appeared. I could simulate the alignment one does when focusing with a lens... 

Like I said, I think that the plastic tube that is supposed to move with the helicoid on the lens collapsed into the lens barrel. 

bruce

[Michael Geschlecht]

Hello Bruce,

If the frame lines & the rangefinder patch that moves with the frame lines as you move the roller wheel in & out, move appropriately as you push the roller in & out.

And

If you can pick a spot to measure for the movable rangefinder patch & align the moving frame lines & their accompanying rangefinder patch with the currently stationary  movable patch: Then it may be, as you think, a problem with the contact surface of the LENS. Or, something else related to the lens.

Best Regards,

Michael

 

[BLeventhal]

42 minutes ago, Michael Geschlecht said:

Hello Bruce,

If the frame lines & the rangefinder patch that moves with the frame lines as you move the roller wheel in & out, move appropriately as you push the roller in & out.

And

If you can pick a spot to measure for the movable rangefinder patch & align the moving frame lines & their accompanying rangefinder patch with the currently stationary  movable patch: Then it may be, as you think, a problem with the contact surface of the LENS. Or, something else related to the lens.

Best Regards,

Michael

 

Thanks Michael,

I checked it again by looking through the viewfinder at a vertical line about a meter from the camera. I could push the roller in and see the second rangefinder patch move and line up the vertical line as if I were focusing.

I am boxing up the lens and returning it... a different lens is on its way, but I have to wait until 11/25 for it to arrive... the waiting is the hardest part 😉

bruce

[Bliz]

Unfortunately ZM lenses build quality is notoriously questionable.

[Kl@usW.]

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vor 2 Stunden schrieb BLeventhal:

I found the focus on the 35 f2.8 to be stiff. 

Like I said, I think that the plastic tube that is supposed to move with the helicoid on the lens collapsed into the lens barrel. 

bruce

Bruce, I think you got a defect lens. I just checked my Biogon 2,8/35 ZM and the focussing helicoid is definitely made of a gun-metal finished metal. Apart from that, the ZM lenses are as good as their  Leica equivalents, the rumours of their inferiority are anecdotical  bs.  I have a couple of them and never had a problem. 

Anyway, good luck with your new lens and the beautiful M8.