[Leica] close focus rangefinder setting

[Edward Berger <EdBerger@compuserve.com>]

I recently traded in my 35mm f/2 Summicron for the ASPH version.  I noticed
that with both lenses on the M6, you can turn the focus lever beyond the
0.7 m setting which is supposed to be the minimum focus range for these
lenses.  The rangefinder, however, does not function past the 0.7 marking. 
 I called Leica to make sure that this wasn't a rangefinder problem.  Their
service manager assured me that this is normal, and that if you want to
experiment, you can actually determine how much closer than 0.7m you can
get.  It seems to me that this is rather inconvenient.  You can't simply
turn the focus lever clockwise until it stops and then move the camera back
and forth to arrive at the closest focus distance because you will be
beyond the range of the rangefinder.  To achieve closest verifiable focus,
it seems you have to set the distance at 0.7m (the point at which the
rangefinder takes effect) before moving in and out to focus.  Has anyone
else encountered this problem, or have I misunderstood something?

Ed