Focus past infinity

[Dez]

I suspect this is very old news on this list, but it came as a surprise to me. I have a nice Panasonic Micro 4/3 camera, and I just bought a couple of adapters to let me use Nikon and M-Leica lenses on it. In both cases, the adapters appear to be too short, and the lenses focus well past infinity. I suppose this is not such a big deal when you can use the display to focus, but I had hoped to use the Leica adapter to check the infinity focus on some FSU lenses, and that isn't going to work the way things are. The focal distances are very well specified: why would they be made this way? I have tried two different Nikon adapters and see the same problem with both.

Cheers,
Dez

 

[DNG]

this is common, if you have a local repair guy/gal, they can adjust the INF stop in the lens.. you will need to bring the camera, lens and adapter you will use with that lens. and mark it (the adapter) so you know that that adapter/lens combo is to be used together. many adapters have slight variations in the depth to allow for "past INF" focus...

 

[GaryLH]

If u are handy w/ tools, w/ a bit of trial an error u an set inf yourself. Just get some bass shim stock. I have shimmed four third party adapters now. The trial and error comes in by first trying a shim and seeing if u need thicker or thinner one. Sometimes the difference is so thin, all u need is aluminum foil (someone report this a while back, I ave not been so lucky).

Gary

 

[Jim-st]

Which adapter are you using? I tried a Metabones first on my GF1, and it focussed beyond infinity. So I got a Voigtlander - problem solved! More expensive, but worth it imo.

 

[rluka]

For most use, it's better for the adapter to be made shorter. Higher manufacturing tolerance and no angry customer because it can't reach infinity.

I used to have an M adapter that's too long and it's annoying. But now I had another cheap one that focus to infinity and beyond.

 

[ampguy]

I actually prefer having an adapter that goes past infinity, a tad. If I had one that didn't get to infinity, then I'd be concerned.

Since most adapter-based lens systems are used with live view, you can always get where you need to be, focus wise, and even if you're used to racking it all the way until the lens stops, you're still going to be sharper than 9/10 uncalibrated Leica's, IMHO.

 

[GaryLH]

For most use, it's better for the adapter to be made shorter. Higher manufacturing tolerance and no angry customer because it can't reach infinity.

I used to have an M adapter that's too long and it's annoying. But now I had another cheap one that focus to infinity and beyond.

Yes better to focus past infinity then not to get there. U can always shim the adapter to get to inf w/ trial and error until u get the right shim thickness but it is much harder to shave off what u need accurately.

So far, the more expensive novoflex adapters are the only ones I have encountered that I have not had a problem w/ inf focus. I have two novoflex adapters.

The head bartender (Cameraquest) has mentioned that the Raquel's he sells has no problem w/ inf focus as well.

The Fuji brand adapter I have does not focus to inf but it is so close to the mark, that I decided not to shim it. It is a hair off..

All but one of the cheap brands adapters I had to shim. In fact from that same brand 1 out of 3 to be exact. So a total of only one out of 7 cheap (under 50), I did not ever have to shim.

Gary

 

[Godfrey]

I suspect this is very old news on this list, but it came as a surprise to me. I have a nice Panasonic Micro 4/3 camera, and I just bought a couple of adapters to let me use Nikon and M-Leica lenses on it. In both cases, the adapters appear to be too short, and the lenses focus well past infinity. I suppose this is not such a big deal when you can use the display to focus, but I had hoped to use the Leica adapter to check the infinity focus on some FSU lenses, and that isn't going to work the way things are. The focal distances are very well specified: why would they be made this way? I have tried two different Nikon adapters and see the same problem with both.

This is very common with the inexpensive adapters that you get for $15-90 from Ebay, like the Fotodiox, jinfinance, Hawk's Factory, and the like. The manufacturers are ensuring that all lenses can focus to infinity with a relatively inexpensive manufacturing process by making the registration a little short.

The more expensive adapters (from Rayqual, Novoflex, and Voigtländer amongst perhaps others) have MUCH more accurate manufacturing tolerances and don't show this problem. This is why they cost $150-$300.

I have Rayqual adapters for Nikon and Voigtländer LTM to M-bayonet adapters. They fit and work as if they were made by Leica, with accurate focusing scales, and cost about $180 apiece.

I would NEVER modify a lens to make an adapter work. Buy a better quality adapter.

(BTW, I bought a Metabones M to mFT adapter recently, about $85 IIRC. Very nice quality, nice and precise fit. Registration seems right on the money. BUT the lens mount locking pin is slightly out of spec—it's about .001" too large to fit into the locking slot on the M-Rokkor 90mm f/4 and Ultron 28mm f/2 lenses. I'll keep it, it works with most of my lenses, but you can see how fine some of the tolerances have to be from that ...)

G

 

[GaryLH]

U got lucky w/ the metabones. As expensive as it was, mine needed shimming 🙁

Gary

 

[--s]

maybe you bought one of the famous einstein adapters. as space is bending beyond infinity, they can make for very interesting photographic effects. just try!

 

[GaryLH]

I prefer a Möbius strip 😛

Gary