Who has sent in the M9 with lens (es) because. . .

[jaapv]

* I have a focusing problem with my M9.
* At about 30 feet out, it back-focuses by about 2-3 feet.
* Close focusing seems ok.
* Happens with both 50 and 75 lux (only lenses used recently with limited DOF focused at a distance).
* Best I can tell by looking at recent photos, is that it started about 1 1/2 weeks ago.
* Do not recall any bumps to the camera.
* The camera was bough new four months ago.
* Need to investigate more, only just noticed the problem recently (hence following this thread). Of course, the timing is terrible with 2 trips coming.



To answer your questions.
1) no, haven't sent it in as only confirmed issue for sure last weekend.
2) I believe my situation is unrelated to sensor QC issues, as it was ok for 3 1/2 months, then went out of alignment, pointing to some other problem.
3) Tolerance between lenses wouldn't seem to be the problem, as previously I could focus at distance accurately with all lenses.

To your final point, you suggest it requires more adjustment than the allen wrench (any references to the adjustment?).

I need to check focus at infinity, it would great if it were only an allen wrench adjustment (any online references for the rangefinder adjustment??).

There are four adjustment points, you need two special tools and a testing bench. Three of the four adjustments are interdependent, i.e. in the horizontal plane. Here is a drawing I took from the only known Leica manual on the Internet. The M8/M9 have essentially the same setup.

Leica M manual

 

[adavis47]

Had to chuckle at illustration, "hole for bending tool." Made me recall helping a friend rebuild the motor in his Triumph Spitfire. At one point the seal for the oil pan used a piece of wood. Instructions were to whittle it down to fit.

 

[jaapv]

Still, it IS a legitimate adjustment for the middle distance, albeit rarely needed. Mostly the adjusting consists of the interplay between the infinity and close range adjustment points.

 

[LightBender]

jaapv, your diagram and comments are exactly why I wouldn't get in there with a wrench myself, too many interrelated variables. I remember this discussion about adjusting the RF from the LUF a couple months ago. The discussion developed into a pretty complicated run of posts from some very knowledgeable folks. In the end it became apparent to me that it was complicated to understand and even if you wanted to spend the time to understand it, you needed tools and an optical bench that I assume most don't have.

I suspect that the M9 is probably guilty of being able to clearly demonstrate when the RF is out of alignment more so than any M camera that came before it... and less guilty of poor QC or drift.

 

[jamato8]

The input I have had is that the single allen wrench adjustment is often all that is needed but there are cases, where at one point the lens is in focus and out at another with no f stop change. This is the more complicated focus adjustment that some repairmen do not care for and are backing away from on the M9 as just too time consuming

 

[jaapv]

This is the more complicated focus adjustment that some repairmen do not care for and are backing away from on the M9 as just too time consuming

That is absolute nonsense. It is exactly the same as any M camera from the M3 onwards.

 

[sanderva]

No old pill, I totally agree. With any camera but a 7K one that has these issues, and this has been told to me by 2 well known Leica repair persons, it is inexcusable but it is a bitter pill some, myself included, are swallowing.

I sent in my M9 with a 75 Summi and a 90 ME. Everything came back and the bill was covered by the warranty. Have the paper trail to back this up.

How about the original prescription (= paper trail) for the bitter pill 😕

 

[JPSuisse]

Actually, I'm finding this thread pretty interesting.

I have been pretty happy with my M8 but have mostly been using it with new copies of the 35 and 28 ASPH cron. No real problems.

However, my 50 Lux has never worked too well. I've had considerably more out of focus shots with this lens. By some strange twist of fate, I had (for a while) a 50 Lux in silver and a 50 Lux in black. The silver lens is an early 2008 lens, and the black lens was a mid-2009 lens. Both lenses seemed to focus with equally less success than the Crons.

Does that indicate that camera might be out of adjustments, or the lenses?

Any commentary is welcome...

 

[jamato8]

That is absolute nonsense. It is exactly the same as any M camera from the M3 onwards.

I am not gong to drag the person into this but the information I got is from one of the most respected Leica repair persons known.

 

[Roger Hicks]

I am not gong to drag the person into this but the information I got is from one of the most respected Leica repair persons known.

I'm not arguing with you, because I don't know who you mean, but I can tell you that 'highly respected' and 'competent' are not always in 1:1 correspondence. I can think of a couple of 'highly respected' repairers who are held in low esteem by other, better repairers.

How do I know they're better? Of course, I don't. But the more people you talk to, the clearer an impression you get.

There are also plenty of good repairers who much prefer working on mechanical cameras rather than digital, much as one might prefer a good straight malt to a bland Chivas Regal.

Cheers,

R.

 

[jaapv]

I am not gong to drag the person into this but the information I got is from one of the most respected Leica repair persons known.

He may be respected but if he thinks the M9 RF mechanism is basically different from the M3 he is not very knowledgable about the M9.

 

[jamato8]

Ok, my mistake. I reread the email and what it says is that "some repairmen refuse to adjust just the lens" Paraphrase, of the M8 or M9 without the camera due to some that will focus fine at close distances but will be off greater distances. Therefore more extensive RF adjustment is required. It appears that they would adjust the lens and it would still be off so both camera and lens were needed, to make sure the RF of the camera was correct. The problem seems to arise, from what I have read, much more often percentage wise, than with other M cameras.

Whatever the problem is, mine has it and everything was sent in for calibration so I can get back to using it in the field, of which I have great need for it.

 

[jaapv]

Ok, that is fine. Getting the whole system adjusted is not a bad idea.🙂

 

[jamato8]

So I found out my M9 was totally off. it would focus at infinity but would be off at close distances. Also, all but one lens out of 4 were off. Well at least I will have a system I can use now, I hope. :^) I have a lot of work to do here in Pohnpei. Leica isn't doing its job on the rangefinder adjustment. My camera has had easy treatment so far. I never had these focus issues with my M2 or 3 and I used to use H&W black and white with an ASA of 25. The finest grain film I have ever used and did a beautiful job.

 

[lainer]

I know people who had to send both lens and M9 to Leica do be checked and fixed due to focus issues. Hmmm...