Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2008/12/12
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]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??