Leica 90/2.8 out of focus

Jesper · Nov 22, 2015

It seems that my Leica 90/2.8 does not focus correctly. I'm just back from a week in the mountains in the south of Spain and all images taken with the 90/2.8 are severely out of focus. All images taken with my 50/2.0, 35/1.4 or 21/2.8 are perfectly sharp so I assume that the rangefinder is accurate (M4).
There are no visible damages to the lens and focus is smooth. I'm gonna do some more testing but I'm fairly certain that there is something wrong with the lens (all photos in Spain were done on tripod and careful focusing even though most of them are at distances of more than 200 meters and ended up at infinity.
Anyone seen this problem before?

Sirius Glass · Nov 22, 2015

No experience with that lens or that problem, but I like your recumbent bicycle.

Jesper · Nov 22, 2015

Sirius Glass said:
No experience with that lens or that problem, but I like your recumbent bicycle.

I've bought another one (recumbent) since the picture was taken but I still enjoy riding comfortably (and fast).

Sirius Glass · Nov 22, 2015

I need to get back on mine. I have not ridden it in years.

Gerald C Koch · Nov 22, 2015

Has the lens ever focused properly? It is possible that a previous owner disassembled it and did not re-assemble it correctly. Because lenses usually have a multiple thread helix this error is very easy to make.

summicron1 · Nov 22, 2015

Gerald C Koch said:
Has the lens ever focused properly? It is possible that a previous owner disassembled it and did not re-assemble it correctly. Because lenses usually have a multiple thread helix this error is very easy to make.

yeah. Even if the cam is off, the thing should focus at infinity if you set it at infinity.

Gerald C Koch · Nov 22, 2015

summicron1 said:
Even if the cam is off, the thing should focus at infinity if you set it at infinity.

Not necessarily, it all depends on the lens design. In addition there can be several internal adjustments that may be made to the focus setting. It's important to know whether the lens ever focused properly.

benjiboy · Nov 22, 2015

Have you used the lens before and had acceptable results ?, or have you bought it recently, and if so from whom ?

Jim Jones · Nov 22, 2015

I had a slight focus problem with a f2.8 90mm Elmarit due to dirt preventing the lens head from seating on its focusing mount. This shouldn't happen if the lens head and focusing mount are never separated.

Jesper · Nov 23, 2015

I realised that this was the first time that I used it since I bought it about a year ago so it has never worked for me. I've used a 90/4 for several years with good result but a friend borrowed that one and I picked up my untested 90/2.8 for the trip (I've learned something about that). Luckily I took most of my photos with my xpan.
Jim, thanks for the tip. I will check that the lens head is correctly seated when I get home tonight.
Gerald, thanks. I have no knowledge of what has been done to the lens by previous owners so this is a strong possibility. If the head is seated correctly I will consult a repairman.
Thanks for the feedback.

ColColt · Nov 26, 2015

I'd sent it to Youxin Ye. I sent mine to him a while back due to stiff focus...works great now. Any problems with haze he can fix as well.

Jesper · Nov 27, 2015

I've left it with my local repairman and I'm waiting for the result. If it is just a focus adjustment he should be able to fix it.

Leica 90/2.8 out of focus

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency