I have a M3 that needs to be adjusted horizontaly, it doesnīt focus to infinity, is a little shorter, does any one can give me a sugestion, I want to do it myself, since I canīt take any body off now. Thankīs in advance.RW

-- Robert Watson (al1231234@hotmail.com), February 28, 2001

Answers

Remove lens. See the big screwhead in the center of the big roller at the top of the mounting hole? That's the adjustment. It needs only to be turned the tiniest bit--a degree or two, and you shouldn't push up on it or you risk damaging it's bearings. The tool I use is the rounded end of a stainless steel flexible machinist's rule, which fits perfectly ($5 at the hardware store--GENERAL brand in the US). I try to put my fingernail above the roller to counter the pressure of the ruler and prevent the roller from jumping around. Turn it a bit, put the lens back on and check infinity against something AT LEAST a mile away. If you turned it in the wrong direction, or too much, or not enough, go back until you've got it right. It's not supposed to be this way, but all your lenses will not necessarily come together at infinity, so pick the fussiest one when you do this setting--your longest, fastest one with the least depth of field.

-- Michael Darnton (mdarnton@hotmail.com), February 28, 2001.

By the way, this topic was covered before in several places--one was with regard to M6 cameras in the "service" group at the bottom of the first page--I can't find the other reference.

-- Michael Darnton (mdarnton@hotmail.com), February 28, 2001.

Remember that infinity is a long long way away. Use an object at least 3.5 kilometres (2 miles) away. Check that it is not the lens as well, I had one 50/2 that had to be adjusted.

Cheers,

-- John Collier (jbcollier@home.com), February 28, 2001.

Thank you all, your instructions seems so easy, actualy leicas are easy to fix but owners we are usualy very reserved to do any repair, well Iīm encourage to do it now,well have a nice day and thankīs again. RW

-- R Watson (AL1231234@HOTMAIL.COM), March 01, 2001.

Way cool! I fixed my M6, thanks to this thread and Michael's answer! I used a #90 screw driver from my Phillips Gun Screwdriver kit which seems to fit this screwhead perfectly. My infinity focus went off horizontally while I was in NYC over Christmas. The front element of my 35/2 started to unscrew from the lens as I was removing the lens cap that was stuck on too tightly. When I attempted to rescrew it back in, I noticed that the focusing was WAY off. I had to send the lens back in. Since then, every single one of my lenses that I mounted to that body, the inf. focus was off. Now it's fixed and I don't have to send my camera in.

-- Tony Rowlett (rowlett@mail.com), March 04, 2001.