M3/Rangefinder Coupling

[bwcolor]

My 50mm f/2.0 M-Hexanon won't close focus on my M3, whereas the rangefinder of my M6TTL fully couples the full focusing range of the Hexanon. Do I have a service problem with my M3, or is this a normal issue with the older Leicas?

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

The M3 only couples to the RF to 1 meter, newer Leicas starting with the M2 couple to .7 meter. Some M3 bodies can be modified by a repairman to focus closer

 

[bwcolor]

Thanks.. I'll look into seeing if this can be easily modified.

 

[typhillips]

FWIW, I can get pretty accurate focus with my M3 and M-Hex 50 down to 0.8m, but YMMV. It's worth doing the diagonal ruler test just to see.

[edit] I'm pretty sure the rangefinder couples a bit below 1m, it's just not necessarily accurate.

 

[Pirate]

That may be from a smaller aperture. If you were using a .95 or an F/1, you may not get the focus any closer than the 1 meter mark. Just a thought.

 

[typhillips]

That may be from a smaller aperture. If you were using a .95 or an F/1, you may not get the focus any closer than the 1 meter mark. Just a thought.

Good point. From what I understand, RF focusing with a lens that fast is a potentially dicey affair anyway, given the extreme accuracy required of the RF mechanism.

 

[bwcolor]

Patrick:

Do you know of an informational source that would allow me to make such an adjustment? I'm not anxious to approach this guessing as to what I need to do.