Question about Leica

[dankwan]

Just wondering what actually is RF alignment?

RF principles here (ah... the wonders of google)

if and when you buy, when focusing on a subject, just make sure that when the image is focussed, it is focussed in both the horizontal and vertical axis. Older models like the iiif get knocked out of alignment fairly easily

 

[Cactus jACK]

Just wondering what actually is RF alignment?

RF alignment usually refers to the alignment of the RF patch - horizontal and vertical alignment*.

the more critical would be the horizontal (left-right) alignment, as this would determine if you are focusing on exactly what you are expecting to focus on. if this is off, you would actually be focusing in front / behind the point that you are thinking you are focused on. the vertical (up-down) is less of an issue as it would not impact the RF accuracy per se, but can be a little annoying as the overlapping image is slightly higher/lower.

some (to a lesser extent) also use the term "RF alignment" to refer to the framelines, which can also sometimes be knocked off the axis.

* I may have muddled the naming convention of horizontal vs vertical alignment, but the left-right / up-down directions would give you a clearer idea of what i'm describing.

 

[virtualme78]

RF alignment usually refers to the alignment of the RF patch - horizontal and vertical alignment*.

the more critical would be the horizontal (left-right) alignment, as this would determine if you are focusing on exactly what you are expecting to focus on. if this is off, you would actually be focusing in front / behind the point that you are thinking you are focused on. the vertical (up-down) is less of an issue as it would not impact the RF accuracy per se, but can be a little annoying as the overlapping image is slightly higher/lower.

some (to a lesser extent) also use the term "RF alignment" to refer to the framelines, which can also sometimes be knocked off the axis.

* I may have muddled the naming convention of horizontal vs vertical alignment, but the left-right / up-down directions would give you a clearer idea of what i'm describing.

i see... how do i know its misaligned? Sorry to bother as i really have no idea at all...

 

[LowLights]

i see... how do i know its misaligned? Sorry to bother as i really have no idea at all...

When the shot you take is out of focus .. no matter how careful you are

And focused is obtain when you focus "less" or "more" .. meaning front focus or back focus a little to get sharpness

This would tell you that it is misaligned

 

[dankwan]

i see... how do i know its misaligned? Sorry to bother as i really have no idea at all...

no bother at all....when focused, the image is sharp in the viewfinder and in both let/right and up/down, you will know if you start playing with a rangefinder. the trickier bit is although it may look aligned/sharp in the VF, is may not be when you process the shot, this is what Cactus Jack is alluding too in terms of front focus or back focus...some lenses like the zeiss c sonnar zm is notorious for and usually happens wide open. (I have had mine optimized for that very reason) When that happens, one has to physically align/center the lens to the focal plane and no necessarily the rangefinders fault. Unfortunately you will have to take a shot, and process it to figure that out.

having said that it makes sense to research any lens you are eyeing for such issues, plenty of information around.

 

[virtualme78]

wow sounds like i really need some hands-on experience. I thought I can look thru the VF or at any part of the camera to look out for RF misalignment.

 

[sabrewolf]

wow sounds like i really need some hands-on experience. I thought I can look thru the VF or at any part of the camera to look out for RF misalignment.

If it is just simple misalignment you can see that when the lens is at infinity, object far away (e.g. the moon) do not align.