Rangefinder calibration

[daveproctor]

I recently acquired a very nice condition used M8 as a second body and have used it over the last few days with a variety of lenses from 18mm to 50mm without any issue.

This weekend I bought a used 90mm Summarit lens which I tried out today on this M8 and had some issues at longer distances with slight back focussing. I thought initially it was the lens but it is fine on my first M8. I'm therefore guessing that the rangefinder on my later M8 is out but only slightly given it doesn't show up on the shorter focal length lenses where the greater depth of field helps.

I'm looking to get the RF calibrated and work in Milton Keynes so I can drop it off at the Leica HQ there but does anyone know what Leica charge and also whether it is a job that is relatively easy to do myself (I understand the RF is adjusted horizontally by an allen key)

Thanks

 

[rlouzan]

a 2mm allen key
http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m8-forum/31896-m8-rangefinder-diy-other-myths.html

 

[axiom]

a Leica rangefinder adjustment is a DIY job.
Get a flat screwdriver, slot it in the cam roller and turn, until you get the right focus.

 

[rlouzan]

Not on a M8

a Leica rangefinder adjustment is a DIY job.
Get a flat screwdriver, slot it in the cam roller and turn, until you get the right focus.

 

[axiom]

Not on a M8

oops sorry

 

[JWW]

If you have a need to slightly adjust the RF it's easy to do with the allen key but the amount of movement required to move the focus point a few inches is very slight, so don't over do it. On my M8 and with all the lenses I have especially to optimize the narrow DOF ones, I've had to adjust slightly to optimize. Only other alternative is to send the whole kit into a Leica specialist.

 

[Ben Z]

The adjustment for infinity is an easy DIY with a 2mm hex (allen) key as said. However a few caveats (goes for film Leica's too).

1. Make sure you target on something very, very far away, and with sharp, contrasting vertical delineation. Some people use the moon at night. I have an office in a tall building and use a radio tower that I know is at least 5 miles away. If you have a viewfinder magnifier, that helps too. I happen to have an old magnifier for an SLR finder that I hold against the Leica eyepiece (camera is on a tripod).

2. If you don't get equal coincidence with all your lenses when they're set to infinity, then some of the lenses camming is off slightly. You may need to make a compromise (average) setting (i.e. some lenses will not quite coincide @ infinity, some bang on, and some will coincide slightly before infinity). Or you could set the coincidence as some have mentioned to be bang-on for lenses with the least DOF.

3. After each little adjustment (just a fraction of a mm is enough to cause a significant change...it's like regulating a watch) put the lens back on, turn it to close focus and back to infinity a couple times, and then re-check.

 

[daveproctor]

Thanks for the suggestions guys - really appreciate your help

 

[JWW]

Just a note regarding the infinity adjust. This affects close focus also, maybe more than at infinity so I use a ruler for fine adjust at close distance if the far alignment is ok.

 

[Ben Z]

Just a note regarding the infinity adjust. This affects close focus also, maybe more than at infinity so I use a ruler for fine adjust at close distance if the far alignment is ok.

Are you then speaking of the second adjustment point, the one that alters the arc of travel of the cam follower arm? That's the close-focus adjustment, and usually doesn't need adjusting. (I would defer that adjustment to a pro, but that's just me). Otherwise, if you readjust the eccentric in the cam follower wheel to "fine tune" close adjustment, it will throw infinity off. Maybe not enough to bother some people, especially if all they mostly shoot is closeups, but not the proper way to adjust the rangefinder.