M3 infinity focus seems off...

[MelanieC]

... but my shots are in focus anyway.

Lately I've noticed that when I focus on objects that should be "infinity" meters away, I'm actually focusing just short of infinity (i.e., if I have my lens -- 50mm Summicron -- on infinity lock, I've overshot). This would indicate that something's wrong with my rangefinder, I assume, but I don't seem to be having focus problems when I look at my photos. Either that, or the whole shebang was just now knocked out of alignment, but I don't think that's the case. It's possible I just didn't notice before because I don't usually focus on things that are very far away.

Is this normal? I'll ship her off again for adjustment if I have to. I suppose the next roll of film will tell the tale, but in the meantime I thought I'd ask if anyone else has seen this behavior.

 

[ray_g]

I had the same problem recently with my M6. It was CLA'd by Sherry a couple of years ago, and it is otherwise ok, so I just did a minute adjustment to the horizontal alignment with an angled "screwdriver" - actually a bent fastener, and she's back on track.

 

[physiognomy]

I just had the same thing happen to me the other day using my Nicca & Nikkor 50/2... I was taking pictures of some rock formations & noticed that locking the lens at infinity overshot the mark ever so slightly. I haven't developed this last film yet, but all my shots have been ok so far. I'll try to shoot the last few frames tomorrow & drop the roll off at a 1hr. Fingers crossed all is well... it's something I can put up with if everything is sharp.

Peter

 

[Crasis]

I had the same problem recently with my M6. It was CLA'd by Sherry a couple of years ago, and it is otherwise ok, so I just did a minute adjustment to the horizontal alignment with an angled "screwdriver" - actually a bent fastener, and she's back on track.

The only unfortunate part about aligning infinity yourself is that it isn't necessarily true that the other 3 points of alignment are correct. Then again, you may have aligned them as well. If so, way to go 😀

For anyone reading this who doesn't know, not a lot of camera techs out there realize that the Leica M is supposed to be aligned at 4 points: 0.7m (does not exist in older M3s), 1m, 10m and infinity. Of course, the Leica techs know this, but they're paid to know 🙂

 

[ray_g]

Yes, I did check infinity and 1m. More often than not, as It is good that you clarified that. Most of the time however, as John Collier pointed out in the FAQ, the closer focus distance ends up aligned as well. But of course, YMMV.

 

[Stu W]

Melanie, I have noticed the same thing-more obvious on some lenses than others. If I focus on a telephone pole about a block or so away it'll be perfect with the lens up to the infinity lock. If I go that extra fraction of a turn it's overfocused-However if I focus on the moon, As ManGo suggests or a bright star everything is ok. I'd do the ManGo test. Stu

 

[FrankS]

Melanie, the depth of field of a small f-stop on your lens may be masking the focus error if it exists. Test focus by setting your lens to widest f-stop and focus on something at the closest focussing ability of your lens. It would help if your camera was on a tripod for this to increase the precision of this test. This will help determine if there is a focussing error. I'm thinking your camera should be sent out for attention. Has it had a cla in the last 10 years?

 

[eddie con]

were you using the same m3 with the three photos you uploaded today? you were using asa400 in an open field on a clear day. that means your aperture setting must have been small. so it will be tough to see if the focus is shut. anyway, your previous uploads of close ups seem okay. unless, of course, this is a new problem. and you say you may send it out AGAIN for calibration? sounds recent eh? the bane of this hobby!