Re: [Leica] Leica M focus

[Rei Shinozuka <shino@ubspainewebber.com>]

i had a few focus problems with my m6.

the method that seems to work best for me is to put the m6 on a short
tripod (legs not extended), and put down a 1" wide tape measure on the floor,
with zero at the center column.  then i focus at 6 feet for three exposures,
refocusing each time, and at 11 feet (it's only a 12 foot measure) for 3
exposures.  i put markers at 10, 11 and 12 feet (my kids' legos work great)..
on the negs, you can easily make out tickmarks  at the 6 foot mark, and to
a couple of inches at the 11 foot mark.  what you want to make sure is
that you have one pattern at the focus point and a very similar pattern
before and after so you can compare which one is sharpest.

in my case, i found my focus was one inch close at 6 feet, which for
the 90 summicron was not good enough.

- -rei


> From: "Gary Klein" <leicaman_99@yahoo.com>
> 
> Do any of you have a sure fire technique of testing focus on a Leica M?  I
> have just gotten back my Leica 90mm from DAG in which he found a couple of
> loose elements and it is slightly sharper, but it seems to focus on things
> in front of what I have focused on.  I suspect my rangefinder is off.  So
> before I call up DAG on Monday, I want to do a test this weekend have some
> film for him to inspect.  I was thinking of using a yardstick and place some
> kind of mark on it.  Make some sort of note where I focused and then compare
> it after the film is developed.
>