[Leica] Fwd: Shattered M8 sensor glass update (780 Euros) + soft focus confusion

[geordiepete211 at yahoo.co.uk (Peter Cheyne)]

Examining the scanned negatives of my focus test, I learned my 35 mm  
Nokton is front focussing way too much.  Wide open, the area where I  
focus is not even in the area of acceptable focus.

My 50mm Summicron is spot on, and focus is nailed pretty much right in  
the middle of the area of acceptable focus.

My 90mm Tele-Elmarit is front-focussing a bit, but not as much as the  
Nokton.  Focussing at 50cm, the area of acceptable focus is from 45cm  
to 50cm, so it just scrapes in as usable here.  At 180cm it's about  
7cm behind the acceptably focussed area.  At 340cm, it's about 23cm  
behind the acceptably focussed area.

These results were the same when the lenses were mounted on my M3 and  
my M6, tripod-mounted and handheld.

So, I think I don't have to worry about calibrating the M3 and M6 RFs  
for now.  I am about to send the 'Cron and Tele-Elmar to Solms to join  
my M8, which is in for repair.  The 'Cron and Tele-Elmar will be  
calibrated with my M8.  I think I ought to inform Angela Frankl at  
Solms that the Cron is perfectly fine on my M3 and M6, but the Tele- 
Elmarit is front focussing.

I think I'll not send in the M3 and M6 with the lenses too, and just  
cross my fingers that when the M8 and two lenses come back nicely  
calibrated to work together, the lenses will work very well with the  
M3 and M6 too.

As for the CV Nokton 35/1.2, I'll probably send it back to Cosina in  
Japan, or to Stephen Gandy in the States, because I read that he is  
very competent and offers reasonable rates.  That lens' front- 
focussing is certainly the reason why my recent photos with it have  
been soft-focussed.  The lens in made here in Japan, where I live.  I  
could send it back there, or to Mr. Gandy, and tell them/him the  
(severe) front focus problem at 50, 180 and 340 cms, asking them to  
correct that.  At the same time I could ask them to solve the problem  
of the focus ring getting a bit tight on my M8 those rare times when I  
focus on infinity.  The version I bought was before they made the  
amended version for the M8.  Apparently older lenses can be modified.

For CV or Mr Gandy to correct my front-focussing Nokton, do you think  
they would require the camera it is to be most used with to be sent too?

Thanks for reading.  I have held off addressing the problem of RF and  
lens calibration for a while because it gets confusing when more than  
one camera and lens are involved.

Peter Cheyne