Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2008/12/12

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Subject: [Leica] M8 upgrade - 90 Cron APO focusing problems
From: sonc.hegr at gmail.com (Sonny Carter)
Date: Fri Dec 12 20:54:30 2008
References: <200812130331.mBD3VQpf089665@server1.waverley.reid.org> <AF2C207F-8441-4C80-B420-C5B3354292BD@netvigator.com>

I hate to tell you this, but my best performing 90mm on the m8 is the f4 for
the CL. go figure.



On Fri, Dec 12, 2008 at 10:27 PM, H&ECummer <cummer@netvigator.com> wrote:

> Hello Luggers,
> I have been having a dialogue with Schmidt (the local Leica distributor)
> about getting my 90mm Summicron APO to focus properly on my M8. Despite
> adjustments to the lens it still back focuses wide open in the close range.
> Trying another tact I decided to go for the M8 upgrade to the viewfinder,
> and that led in a cascade to the new shutter upgrade and in a what the hell
> attitude I also opted for the scratch resistant LCD. I now have the camera
> back and my 90 Cron is no better matched than before the upgrade and
> adjustment. Lux lenses focus fine as before.
>
>  I would like to report on my impressions of the upgrade. First, the new
> shutter is quieter than the 1/8000 one and there may be less shudder when
> taking a picture which could mean sharper pictures at lower handheld 
> shutter
> speeds - but I haven't yet had a chance to test this out. I was rarely
> concerned about the noise of the original shutter - only in silent and 
> empty
> churches in Europe did I notice its clacking - and not many churches were
> empty and therefore silent.
>
> The big improvement is the viewfinder brightlines which are now optimized
> for 2 meters instead of 0.7meters. I have shot about 100 pictures since
> getting the camera back and the viewfinder accuracy is much improved. For 
> me
> this is a Big Deal. Switching between the Nikon D700 (95% viewfinder) and
> the old viewfinder of the M8 was frustrating because the brightlines
> outlined the picture taken by the M8 in a much less accurate fashion than
> the D700.
>
> The scratch resistant LCD is a kind of silly upgrade - a $10 plastic screen
> protector from Sony will accomplish the same protection and can be replaced
> when it gets scratched. I may cover the scratch resistant LCD with one of
> those anyway.
>
> In sum, for me, the upgrade which makes the biggest sense is the upgrade of
> the view finder bright lines. I really wonder what Leica was thinking of
> when they optimized the finder at 0.7 meters.
> Now I have to decide whether to sell the 90 Cron or send it to Solms for
> further adjusting so I am not really far ahead and my pocket book is quite 
> a
> bit lighter, (the full meal deal of upgrades is US$1807 in Hong Kong)
> Merry Christmas to me.
> Cheers
> Howard
> PS: If anyone is interested in a back focusing 90 Cron APO (which works
> fine on film Leicas) please email me privately and we'll talk. Who knows
> maybe it will work fine on your M8??
>
> _______________________________________________
> Leica Users Group.
> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
>



-- 
Regards,

Sonny
http://www.sonc.com
http://sonc.stumbleupon.com/
Natchitoches, Louisiana
USA

Replies: Reply from sethrosner at nycap.rr.com (Seth Rosner) ([Leica] M8 upgrade - 90 Cron APO focusing problems)
In reply to: Message from cummer at netvigator.com (H&ECummer) ([Leica] M8 upgrade - 90 Cron APO focusing problems)