Chris Bail
Regular Guy
My new (used) CV 50/1.5 arrived today and I'm noticing a definite tendency to back focus on my M8...I saw the same thing with my Jupiter 3 thrown onto the same adapter as well as both lenses on my 35/135 ltm adapter (both are the voigtlander II brand adapters). I'm wondering is maybe this is an issue with the voigtlander adapters? Anyone else had similar issues?
No focus issues at all with my CV 35/1.2 M mount or my 40/2 'cron, so I'm reasonably sure that it's not a rangefinder issue. Interestingly, I didn't have an issue with my 35/3.5 Summar on either adapter, so I'm kind of at a loss, but think it must be a lens issue.
No focus issues at all with my CV 35/1.2 M mount or my 40/2 'cron, so I'm reasonably sure that it's not a rangefinder issue. Interestingly, I didn't have an issue with my 35/3.5 Summar on either adapter, so I'm kind of at a loss, but think it must be a lens issue.
AncientCityPhoto
Established
If it is just a simple tendency to back focus in general, the same amount for each f/stop, you can get that adjusted professionally.
I recently went through 4 different 50mm 1.5 lenses from Camera Quest. All 4 showed focus shifting. 3 of them were ridiculous. Not only did focus shift backwards at every stop virtually (until F8), but it was so much so that the original focus point was completely OOF like I never focused there.
The 4th lens I tried back focused slightly at 2.8 and stayed solid for the rest of the range. I can live with that. I am going to have the lens adjusted to front focus slightly so when the shift moves back, I will still be in my critical focus range.
I was amazed that I went through 3 copies that seriously shifted focused at each stop. And yet, so many people have perfect copies! I wonder if Cosina has changed anything in their production. I was considering just finding an old used one, but I was too scared to make the jump after 3 heavy focus shifters!
I recently went through 4 different 50mm 1.5 lenses from Camera Quest. All 4 showed focus shifting. 3 of them were ridiculous. Not only did focus shift backwards at every stop virtually (until F8), but it was so much so that the original focus point was completely OOF like I never focused there.
The 4th lens I tried back focused slightly at 2.8 and stayed solid for the rest of the range. I can live with that. I am going to have the lens adjusted to front focus slightly so when the shift moves back, I will still be in my critical focus range.
I was amazed that I went through 3 copies that seriously shifted focused at each stop. And yet, so many people have perfect copies! I wonder if Cosina has changed anything in their production. I was considering just finding an old used one, but I was too scared to make the jump after 3 heavy focus shifters!
Chris Bail
Regular Guy
In my case, I'm sure it could have been adjusted professionally, but I thought it better to just return the lens.
I'm now thinking maybe a 50/1.1 would be nice, and I absolutely LOVE my 35/1.2, so I'm not ready to give up on CV, especially considering the price of a Leica fast 50.
I'm now thinking maybe a 50/1.1 would be nice, and I absolutely LOVE my 35/1.2, so I'm not ready to give up on CV, especially considering the price of a Leica fast 50.
flash
Member
I have both the CV 50 mm 1.1 and 1.5 with a Leica LTM adaptor. The 1.1 has focus shift as its inherent in the lens design. The 1.5 does not. The asph elements counteracts it. My 1.5 is perfect at all apertures. My 1.1 is really used only wide open. I'd pay good money for an asph version of the 1.1 if CV ever upgrade.
Gordon
Gordon
thompsonks
Well-known
It could just be a quality control problem. CV doesn't handle QC as well as Leica – or even as well as when Cosina manufctures Zeiss. I tried a new f1.5 with new LTM adapter & it was w-a-y off. Took it back & later bought a like-new black-paint pre-aspherical Summilux. Have lived happily ever after.
Kirk
Kirk
AncientCityPhoto
Established
I've spent time with both the 1.1 and the 1.5. Honestly, I much prefer the 1.5. I like its image look and and size much better. The 1.1 always shifts. It looks the 1.5 generally doesnt....but is spotty here and there according to copy variance.
Chris Bail
Regular Guy
I've spent time with both the 1.1 and the 1.5. Honestly, I much prefer the 1.5. I like its image look and and size much better. The 1.1 always shifts. It looks the 1.5 generally doesnt....but is spotty here and there according to copy variance.
Thanks for the input. The focus shift on a 50/1.1 would be more than a little annoying. Spending a couple grand on a 50mm lens is also out of the question for me until I finish selling off my Nikon SLR gear. Perhaps I'll take a look at another CV 50/1.5 down the road.
Chris Bail
Regular Guy
So, my new Canon 50/1.4 LTM lens showed up today, and focuses perfectly on the M8. It looks like I actually did have a bum copy of the CV 50/1.5 that was backfocusing.
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