Leica M2, Enough Base-length?

[feenej]

Would an M2 have enough base-length to precisely focus the Nokton LTM f1.5 for sharp photos at f1.5? I'm having a terrible time with blurry photos at big apertures with this lens on my Bessa R. I was thinking of getting an M2 in December or January.

 

[ferider]

Yes. Definitely.

Note that the R should be able to handle the Nokton, too. I am guessing your Bessa has an RF issue. Check with a measuring tape ...

Roland.

 

[feenej]

I carefully measured it at three feet and it seemed to be right on. I guess I should try it with ground glass against the film rails?

 

[Turtle]

feenej,

Photograph the tape lying flat on a smooth surface at an angle running away from you. Focus at a point say 3-4 feet away, make a note of what you focused on and then check the resultant neg shows that focus has fallen at this precise point. Use slow, fine grained film and a tripod. Checking the focus distance markings on the barrel match up with a measured distance wont help much

 

[splitimageview]

There is a thread on RF accuracy here, with a downloadable spreadsheet here. It covers multiple cameras, focal lengths, and apertures.