Leica M6 Focus Problems

[eric23]

Hi Guys,
I picked up a used Leica M6 Classic with a Leica 50mm f/2.8 Elmarit-M Lens from B&H a few weeks ago. I have just got the pictures back yesterday from the first roll of film that I put thru the camera last weekend. All the pictures seem out of focus. I was taking some landscape pictures on that roll and I used the infinity focus setting for the lens as well as a few people pictures (I used the Finder to fouce those) and they all seem to be out of focus.
Is this a know issue? Can it be fixed? Would this be a problem with the lens or a problem with the camera? I am not too sure what to do, any ideas?:bang:
Thanks for all your help,
Eric

 

[M. Valdemar]

Shutter speed? Lens wide open or stopped down? Try a different lens on the camera?

Do you need glasses?

 

[awilder]

Did you remember to pull out the collapsable lens and lock it in place before shooting?

 

[eric23]

Shutter speed? Lens wide open or stopped down? Try a different lens on the camera?

Do you need glasses?

I was shoting at a speed of 250-60. it was stopped down to F16 most of the time and I used F8 for a few of the pics too. I don't have a spare lens but I am thinking of bringing it to my local store and seeing if I can use one of there for another roll. I think the lens must be the problem.

Thanks for your help,

Eric

 

[dll927]

And as long as it came from B&H, which has a pretty sterling reputation, I'd look into return or exchange if the problem can't be fixed.

I don't think the problem is that business of focusing "past infinity". Assuming the rangefinder is accurate, you go by that, not markings on the lens. I've read about why the lenses do that, but I've forgotten just what the reasons are.

 

[JNewell]

Thanks for the input. This is not my first finder and I had the lens set to the hyperfocal setting for the aperture I was using when I was shoting landscapes. I have a book on rangefinders and I get the whole science of the camera.

The hyperfocal distance setting (see text emphasized above) will only produce sharp focus at the exact distance set on the lens. The "whole science" of hyperfocal distance guarantees that everything in front and behind that point will be moderately out of focus, with the emphasis on "moderately." In many cases and for many uses, it may be acceptable, but for critical purposes it doesn't produce sharp focus.

 

[JNewell]

I picked up a used Leica M6 Classic with a Leica 50mm f/2.8 Elmarit-M Lens from B&H a few weeks ago.

I hate to ask rudimentary questions, but you did have the lens extended and locked? This comes up sometimes with these lenses.

 

[eric23]

Did you remember to pull out the collapsable lens and lock it in place before shooting?

I was palyng with the lens and I might not have locked it. I did not know that it had a screw lock on it. I just pulled it up as far as it when. I think this might be the problem. I am going to shot another roll and see if this was my problem.

Thanks for the help.

Eric

 

[eric23]

I hate to ask rudimentary questions, but you did have the lens extended and locked? This comes up sometimes with these lenses.

I think it might be a user error. I did not know that there was a screw lock.

thanks,

Eric

 

[awilder]

The current 50/2.8 Elmar-M doesn't have a screw lock to secure it in the shooting position, only friction. Just extend and twist to lock in place. Frankly, the collapsable feature is almost useless because unlike the 1960's version, collapsing the lens doesn't make a big difference in length. It helps a little and is much safer for a CL or M5.

 

[JNewell]

The current 50/2.8 Elmar-M doesn't have a screw lock to secure it in the shooting position, only friction. Just extend and twist to lock in place. Frankly, the collapsable feature is almost useless because unlike the 1960's version, collapsing the lens doesn't make a big difference in length. It helps a little and is much safer for a CL or M5.

I'm assuming that the OP is using the reference to a "screw lock" to translate to the twist motion...sometimes it's hard to make sure everyone's saying the same thing in international forums...