The consequences of callibrating lenses on the M8

[Tuolumne]

Hypothetical question: If I need to have my lenses calibrated to focus properly on an M8, does that mean they will no longer focus properly on my other M-mount bodies?

/T

 

[Bill Blackwell]

Lenses that back or front focus on an M8 have always back or front focused. M lenses are calibrated based upon an uneven film plane (film is not perfectly flat), but the M8 digital sensor is a flat even surface. Because of this, front and back focusing becomes more apparent and therefore lenses need to be set to more stringent tolerances for the M8.

 

[RichEdg]

Yes that is possible…

Yes that is possible…

I had a Noctilux, 75 lux and 35 lux adjusted with my M8 body to focus accurately (this took time as they all went to Germany three times!). Now they focus really well. But my other lenses no longer focused with the body. I purchased a new body to use with the other lenses.

It is possible that if you have your lenses adjusted that they will not work with another M body.

Regards

Richard

 

[jaapv]

If you calibrate just the lenses, chances are that they will be fine -or even better- on film bodies. Film is more forgiving, as Bill points out. When you start messing with the rangefinder coupling, you may be in trouble.

 

[markgay]

Thanks, NikonHS for your thoughts. There was a valuable post on this or another site about astigmatism and the significant role that eyesight plays in focusing.

Dante Stella wrote yonks ago about the hazards of calibrating multiple lenses to specific bodies.

The comments relating to front or back focus or space-time continuum shift are now so common as to suggest human perception may play a significant role.

The reality of subject or photographer movement along with other variables far outweigh any other problems I may prefer to blame on my camera or lens.

 

[KM-25]

I own 3 film M bodies and the M8, since the film M's are the priority, I have decided that messing with the lenses is too risky.

I think the M8 is great, but to tweak my glass just to get one camera that is far from perfect to begin with....? Umm...I don't think so.

 

[tmfabian]

The reality of subject or photographer movement along with other variables far outweigh any other problems I may prefer to blame on my camera or lens.

Agreed 100%.
I gotta say, I find 99.99% of all so called calibration issues actually camera shake. Just as film is more forgiving in regards to DoF it is also waaaay more forgiving in terms of camera shake. Digital sensors pick up every spec of movement you create when triggering the shutter.