Leica R4 focus alignment?

[mcgrattan]

Hi,

I've a recently acquired Leica R4, which I picked up at a very competitive price. I've been enjoying using it, and I've been very happy with the results of some of the images, but I've noticed as I've gone on that the focus alignment seems to be off.

Wide-open and relatively close-up it's obvious that the camera is back-focusing somewhat, something which is covered up by depth of field stopped down a bit, but it's off by quite a bit. It's obvious even at slightly longer distances, where the point of focus is always behind where I've aimed.

Is this something that's user serviceable? If not, can anyone recommend someone in the UK who can do this sort of work? [CRR are busy, as always, so it might need to be someone else]

THanks!

Matt

 

[Michael W]

Can you adjust the viewing screen to your eyesight? I'm not familiar with the R4 but I borrowed an R6.2 & there was a little pull out dial near the eyepiece that was set for the owner's eye & although images looked in focus to me they weren't. When I adjusted it to my eyesight the focus was as I saw it.

 

[mcgrattan]

The R4 doesn't have an adjustible diopter on the viewfinder, I'm afraid, so it's not that. I suspect there's something up with the position of the mirror or the focus screen. Thanks, though.

 

[Ian C]

The R4 accepts interchangeable diopter correction lenses.

So, if the previous owner left a correction lens in place, that might account for the problem.

 

[Rol_Lei Nut]

Check to see if the focusing screen is correctly seated.

Perhaps remove it and put it back.

And, yes, the mirror position *could* be out of adjustment (had that happen with a Nikon F).
The R4 apprently has (just looked at mine) an adjustable stop screw for setting the mirror's position.
But I wouldn't advise messing with it unless you're comfortable making such adjustments and following procedures to find optimal focus.

 

[Lee L]

As long as the screen itself appears sharp and in-focus, it's unlikely to be an inappropriate diopter. The wrong diopter adjustment would make the entire focusing screen appear to be unsharp, with fuzzy appearing central microprism rings and split-image rangefinder lines/edges.

However, the R4 series does have interchangeable focusing screens. The focusing screen itself may not be properly installed or seated. I don't think anyone could reasonably install it upside down accidentally, but you might check on that. The focusing screen is installed by pushing it at an upward angle toward the film plane so that the back edge of the screen fits into the proper slot. Holding tension in that direction, the front edge of the focusing screen is lifted into position with the tab on its front edge. When it's lifted fully upward, rearward tension is released and the focusing screen slides in above the front support rail.

Lee

 

[mcgrattan]

There's definitely no issue with the diopter, I checked the screen was seated correctly using the tab on the front edge, and it seems fine to me. I took it out and reseated it. In the process I noticed the seals are getting a bit dodgy -- a couple of tiny flakes of black foam came off in the process -- but the screen itself seems to be seated properly in the correct location.

I compared the focusing with another known good Pentax slr/lens combination, and the R4 seems to be focusing 10cm or so further back, at about 3metres. Maybe a little more, it's hard to tell precisely but there's definitely a difference.

 

[mcgrattan]

I suspect, given the relative cheapness of the less collectable R bodies [and the relative cost of repair] that I might be better cutting my losses and getting another, but if it's something I may be able to tweak with an adjustment of an easily accessible screw ...

 

[Rol_Lei Nut]

I *do* have an R4 and an R4S which I want to sell (both of which I used extensively with no focus or other issues).

Though rather than throwing or giving your current one away, you could try an adjustment...