M9 vertical alignment is off.

[choon wee]

Hi there,

Just wondering has any M8/M9 users had experience of their M body's vertical alignment went off? Mine was abit off.

Please share with me how you fix it. Or any local technician know how to fix it. I know I can send it to Solms Leica to fix it but it may take longer time, so my first choice is to find local repairman to fix it for me.

 

[artspraken]

iirc, vertical alignment on M9 can be easily adjusted by authorised leica doctor. I dun think need to go Solms coz not major surgery. need to remove the red Leica dot, and then insert some tool to poke the hole that is located underneath the red dot...

 

[choon wee]

Hi Artspraken,

Thanks for the info. Ya. A special tool is needed to adjust the vertical alignment behind the red dot.

I've checked. Not all Leica authorised dealer/repairer has the special tool to adjust it. Can you or anybody let me know which authorised Leica repairer can do it locally? Especially those who got their M8/M9 fixed regarding this vertical alignment thing.

Thanks.

 

[larrytok]

hmm, if u nv say i also nv noticed. now i noticed my alignment is off also. it only occurs at a certain distance at some angles.. but it doesnt really pose much of a problem though. is urs very serious? i think this is quite common, i just bought my m9 though..

 

[milaurie]

The tool looks like this:

you can get it from eBay.

To do the adjustment, you need to first open the red dot (easily damaged so be careful). Quite easy to adjust (v slight twist would do). I fixed mine successfully and changed the red dot to black dot

 

[choon wee]

Mine wasn't very serious. My M9 get me sharp picture with all my lenses, cause no front/back focus issue. But the the up/down image doesn't align in the viewfinder.

Milaurie,

Yes. You got the tool! Are you a repairer? When I consult the authorized Leica dealer, none of them really know how to do it.

 

[milaurie]

Vertical mis-alignment usually doesn't affect focusing much if it is slight. But it can be very annoying!

me no repairer lah. 久病成良医mah

 

[larrytok]

ya actually i also nv notice as i only saw the vertical lines not aligning after aligning with horinzontal lines like my tiles. but it is very slight problem only. and when focus on non straight lines no problem haha. i guess i will ignore unless it gets worse or cause problem. maybe milaurie can lend u the tool n the glue ? haha

 

[bolim]

ya actually i also nv notice as i only saw the vertical lines not aligning after aligning with horinzontal lines like my tiles. but it is very slight problem only. and when focus on non straight lines no problem haha. i guess i will ignore unless it gets worse or cause problem. maybe milaurie can lend u the tool n the glue ? haha

Hi larrytok, just curious since you mentioned vertical lines not aligning and if this is the case shouldn't it be a Horizontal mis-alignment rather than Vertical mis-alignment? I do have a few months old M9 and I have problem whereby if i try to shot vertical objects (like vertical planks of wood) they dont alignment very well (1 image is slightly slanted and the pair won't merge completely) from a 45' angle. But that said the images still turn out good. Or maybe I have yet to see a really sharp image taken from my M9 before?? hmm..

 

[larrytok]

Hi larrytok, just curious since you mentioned vertical lines not aligning and if this is the case shouldn't it be a Horizontal mis-alignment rather than Vertical mis-alignment? I do have a few months old M9 and I have problem whereby if i try to shot vertical objects (like vertical planks of wood) they dont alignment very well (1 image is slightly slanted and the pair won't merge completely) from a 45' angle. But that said the images still turn out good. Or maybe I have yet to see a really sharp image taken from my M9 before?? hmm..

nope, my vertical line doesnt align in-line . its like 4-5 degrees off at angles (when u focus while in landscape, the vertical lines move in-line) i believe this is what they are talking also, nvr did notice it haha.

 

[Cactus jACK]

ya actually i also nv notice as i only saw the vertical lines not aligning after aligning with horinzontal lines like my tiles. but it is very slight problem only. and when focus on non straight lines no problem haha. i guess i will ignore unless it gets worse or cause problem. maybe milaurie can lend u the tool n the glue ? haha

i think that there maybe some misunderstanding here.

"vertical alignment" in RF talk is usually in reference to image from your rangefinder window is higher / lower than the focusing patch. this typically has no impact on your range focusing, but can be a little annoying when trying to focus on something messy / complicated in the focusing patch, when one image is ever so slightly off from the other.

"horizonal alignment" is associated with back and front focusing, this being the more critical for to get your subject in focus. ppl often use the "focus to infinite" test as a quick check, but best way to check is to shoot and test using a tripod and focusing chart.

 

[bolim]

i think that there maybe some misunderstanding here.

"vertical alignment" in RF talk is usually in reference to image from your rangefinder window is higher / lower than the focusing patch. this typically has no impact on your range focusing, but can be a little annoying when trying to focus on something messy / complicated in the focusing patch, when one image is ever so slightly off from the other.

"horizonal alignment" is associated with back and front focusing, this being the more critical for to get your subject in focus. ppl often use the "focus to infinite" test as a quick check, but best way to check is to shoot and test using a tripod and focusing chart.

Thanks. That clears up some doubts
I believe for my case is somewhat similar as this thread but mine is not so jialat.

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m9-forum/172972-what-wrong-my-m9.html