Noctilux alignment

[Guest Seb V]

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I read somewhere that some Noctilux users had found it necessary to have their M and their Noctilux 'aligned'. Why is this necessary for the Noctilux and is there a test one can do to see if this is necessary - frankly, at f1 half of my nocti shots will be out of focus anyway?

 

Thannks, Seb (Hopeless Noctiperv)

[Guest lll]

Never heard of. Use mine satisfyingly since 1979 - without aligning.

 

Regards

Friedhelm

[arthury]

Yes, I have heard of this. Personally, you should test out your Noct+Body first and if it's unacceptable, then arrange to have it send to Leica to have it adjusted with the body.

 

Obviously, your test should be on tripod and shooting on a subject that you're very familiar with, such as a pasted newspaper on a flat true wall. or a brick wall is also fine.

[albertwang]

Where did you hear this?

[ddp]

My M3 and Noctilux don't seem to always line up perfectly - but on my MP .72 & .85 it works fine. The M3 could be out of whack for all I know....but it only seems to be an issue with the Noct on board....

[Guest Seb V]

Albert, there used to be a contributer to the old forum called Tony Brown. I think he mentioned it.

[albertwang]

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Sounds reasonable. The Noct probably is the pickiest lens in how you focus it that I wouldn't be too surprised.

 

I haven't gotten one but I really love to get this lens someday. I think that I will get the Voigt 35 f1.2 first since I shoot 35 more often.

[chrisweeks]

i've heard this as well ... but never had any of the my bodies aligned to it.

 

works quite well!

[john_f]

Seb,

 

You are correct. Tony participated in several threads in the old forum on the subject of the Noctilux and often mentioned his displeasure with the fact that the rangefinder of his Leica M camera(s) often had to be re-calibrated in order to achieve in-focus images with the Noctilux-M 50mm.

[wbesz]

If you are not really sure, then you can do a simple test which may not be perfect, but can provide peace of mind.

 

Here as an example, a small crop from the film frame, M7 and 50 asph at f1.4.

[ATTACH]8132[/ATTACH] (I am obviously happy with this result)

[arthury]

>Where did you hear this?

 

I heard it from Kelly Flanigan at photo.net forum as well as elsewhere. It's an issue that is applicable to all lenses that has a razor-thin DoF. Any misalignment will be visible in your shots.

 

The above-mentioned focus test is widely available on the web. Google it and you should be able to print the PDF to do the test.

 

The problem here is that the Noct cannot focus this close but the new 50mm 'Lux asph can due to the floating element. So, I think it's close to impossible to do this same test using a Noct. You can, of course, try it and let us know if it's possible.

 

Thanks!

[wbesz]

>

The problem here is that the Noct cannot focus this close but the new 50mm 'Lux asph can due to the floating element. So, I think it's close to impossible to do this same test using a Noct. You can, of course, try it and let us know if it's possible.

Thanks!

 

Just a note here.

 

I did this test and others at the shortest focal distance possible with that particular lens.

A similar test with my 90-M Elmarit was successful, however, about 3 years ago a test with my (then) 90-M Summicron was out by about 8-10mm (short).

 

Wide angle lens I never bother.

 

One other test I do is to test that the lens focusses correctly at infinity on the moon (clear night required).

 

Once satisfied, I will never bother to test again.

 

Cheers, William

[uulrich]

I never heard anything about the requirements of alignment. The Nocti's DOF can be very small.

 

If the theory about aligment is true this would indicate that either Nocti's tolerances are rather high or we just don't see or recognise any flawsd and thus we don't need aligment because of the larger DOF of our other lenses.

[tobey bilek]

A pair may need to aligned together because of tolerance stack up of the RF and lens focus cam assemblies.

 

Both are made as separate items to individual tolerences. If you get a RF that is long and lens that is short, they will work fine. Same as if both are perfect. A short RF and long lens will also work.

 

The problem occures if a long lens and and long RF are mated, the tolerence stack up may be enough to put an image out of focus. Same if they both are to the short side.

 

Could be a short/short and long/long will work, but I think you get the picture.

 

This is why a 75 1.4 or 50 1.0 will work on one body and not another.