Hello,

My camera is an M6 and I use the 35mm 2.0 ASPH lens. When I focus the camera I notice difficulty in bringing/superimposing the one white box directly over the other white box. I can line up the side edges of the box but find an ever so subtle up/down discrepancy. I can make this go away by peering through the viewfinder at goofy angles and squinting but wonder if anyone/everyone else has this as an issue.

For the record, my pictures always sharp. The only reason they aren't is because of motion or shake.

I purchased my camera and lens from Don Chatterton used mint- condition. I have had the camera only a couple months.

What should I expect. Should I live with it? Send it back to Chatterton for a fix? Send it to Leica?

Thanks David S Smith

-- David Smith (dssmith3@rmci.net), April 25, 2001

Answers

It sounds like the vertical alignment in your rangefinder is slightly out of adjustment. If your images are sharp, I wouldn't worry about it. If you tend towards the anal regarding your equipment, you can have it adjusted, but your pictures probably won't be any sharper.

-- Jack Flesher (jbflesher@msn.com), April 25, 2001.

David, it sounds like the vertical alignment of your rangefinder could be off. I doubt that the lens has anything to do with it. It's field adjustable, but if this is the problem (and I think it is), you have to peel off the red Leica sticker to make the adjustment. Then you need a new sticker. You probably should check with Don Chatterton to see what he'll do for you.

-- Bob Fleischman (RFXMAIL@prodigy.net), April 25, 2001.

David: I would get it fixed. The camera is a lot easier to focus when the rangefinder alignment is correct. I quit using my M3 when the rangefinder was off. When I got it fixed, it was a pleasure to use again. Check with Don Chatterton to see what they will do for you.

Cheers.

Mark J

-- Mark A. Johnson (logic@gci.net), April 26, 2001.

I had a vertical adjustment problem about a year ago and sent the camera off twice to be fixed, to no avail (I live in Italy). After a while it went away by itself. If the discrepancy is ever so subtle try banging the camera on your desk and see if that solves it, if it's more significant maybe you'll want to get it fixed. But in the end it's a matter of your comfort in using the camera so long as the images are sharp.

I've also had sticky shutter release button problems, now fixed by putting a drop of bicycle oil in the threaded part of the button and working it up and down for a couple of minutes with a toothpick, then wiping away the excess oil. This has completely solved the problem with no evident collateral damage. It's important to use a slightly viscous oil as a very light oil will evaporate quickly. It took a while to find the correct oil, but the problem has now gone completely away.

-- rob appleby (rob@robertappleby.com), April 26, 2001.

Hello,

Yep, that's what it is. I called Don Chatterton and he's covering it since I made the purchase less than 90 days ago. I'm sending it to Wisconsin for adjustment.

Thanks all for you input. Without your advice I would have lumped it and been constantly frustrated.

Thanks David S Smith

-- David Smith (dssmith3@rmci.net), April 26, 2001.