Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/04/15

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Subject: Re: [Leica] More stupid questions
From: "George Kenney" <georgekenney@earthlink.net>
Date: Sun, 15 Apr 2001 23:13:20 -0400

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??