M 240 rangefinder alignment: where to send for service?

[bobby_novatron]

Hi everyone -- just bought a second-hand M 240, and I'm noticing that about 50% of my wide-open shots are not in focus. For example, when shooting a portrait, I'll focus on the eyes/iris of the subject, but when reviewing the files on my computer the focal point inevitably is a couple centimeters back-focused.

BTW my eyesight is 20/20, so I'm pretty sure it's not my peepers.

I'm even using a 1.25x magnifier on the eyepiece when I shoot 50mm lenses to ensure accuracy, and I'm still getting this problem. It's especially frustrating when I try to shoot below F4 on any of my normal lenses.

I know I could just use LiveView, but that's a band-aid IMHO.

I actually think the rangefinder is not 100% accurate. I'm even noticing that at infinity, the rangefinder patch is not aligning the way it should.

So where do I send an M 240 for alignment? I'm located in Canada, so somewhere in Canada / USA would be best. Any help would be appreciated, thanks.

 

[jaapv]

Any competent repair shop that can handle rangefinders should do.

 

[bobby_novatron]

That's the problem -- I live in a city of about 1 million people, and there aren't any camera repair shops anymore. Especially for rangefinders.

 

[ferider]

If you have more than a couple of lenses, read this first: http://www.dantestella.com/technical/leicadjust.html

I now have my 240 aligned with 15+ lenses, but it took me a while. If you are like me, and have a mix of used and new lenses, LTM and M, Voigtlander, Leica, Nikkor, etc., some will back focus, some will front focus.

For example, I have a rigid Summicron that is spot on, and a v3 that back-focuses a couple of centimeters (I prefer to use the rigid on the 240). Remember that 50 year old used lenses might have been sent in for adjustment to another camera at some point in their "professional career".

The point is that it might not be the camera, but the lenses. Pick a set of lenses 50mm and longer that you want to use and send them in with the camera.

I thought Kindermann was very good, never used them myself, but good reputation on RFF.

Roland.

 

[Godfrey]

If nothing else, you can use Live View for calibration checking.

Problems could be:
- rangefinder out of calibration
- rangefinder out of alignment
- lens cam out of calibration
- focus shift

So you might need to send the body and the lenses you've tested with out for service together.

I would trust Don Goldberg to do a great job on rangefinder and lens calibration.

Don Goldberg
DAG Camera Repair
2128 Vintage Road
Oregon, WI 53575
USA
tel: (608) 835-3342
email: dagcam@chorus.net

Call/contact him first to see what his schedule is. He's always well-overbooked.

Or I would send the camera to Leica USA in New Jersey. They've done excellent work for me too.

G

 

[ferider]

And one more note:

If some of your mis-aligned lenses are fast 35 or 28mm lenses, read this:

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=148485

You have to decide how you want them calibrated, center or out-of-center.

Roland.

 

[bobby_novatron]

Thanks to everyone for passing along the info. The more I read about it, the more complex the problem seems to be.

I think I'll run a more consistent test of my lenses, with a tripod, and see what I come up with.

FWIW I called Kindermann this morning, and the repair fellow was very helpful, but he said they lack a collimator so the best he can do is a 'basic' alignment using a generic 50mm mount. Insured shipping + repair costs will probably be around $400, so that's not a pleasant thought.

If I'm going to spend that amount of money, I might as well send it to Leica NJ and have them do it.

 

[pedaes]

Surely NJ is a must as they will check whole camera if they replicate Wetzlar service. You may also find it is free. Good luck with it.