Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/04/15
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]I should probably look this one up, but please excuse my reluctance to wade through a zillion off-subject posts. Recently I found that two of my Leica lenses (a new USA 50 Summicron, and a new import 90 Summicron) aren't focusing through the rangefinder properly at infinity -- they're just a hair short of crisp focus, in an M3, M4-2, and M6 TTL bodies. Actually, I hadn't even noticed this until I started taking more intensive bracketed sets of infinity shots. I've ruled out the cameras' having rangefinder problems (well, the M4-2 may need a very slight adjustment) by swapping around cameras with these and other lenses. So here's my stupid question: If the lenses aren't set right at infinity, am I still getting as crisp a focus as the rangefinder tell me I'm getting short of infinity? Or is the rangefinder-lens link distorted throughout the focusing range? Now, I gather this problem is a fairly easy thing to fix. Would it take forever if I sent the USA lens to Leica, or would I be better off just taking both to a local shop? Or sending them to a nationally known repair specialist? Thanks much for help! G. PS I'm wondering a bit about contemporary quality control for Leica lenses. Already I had to send back the first new 90 Summicron I got, because it had a huge thing (bubble, scratch, whatever) about a half inch inside the front element. I have trouble understanding how that one got out the door. When these lenses are fine they're outstanding, but my feeling is that the flaw rate in new lenses should at a minimum be less than .1%. Instead, for me it seems to run at about 33%! Is everything usually OK and am I that unlucky??