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Problem with autofocus out of focus and Contax lenses

Hi Rob,

> I just had this problem for the first time with my G2, although it was > not only the 90mm lens, it was the 45mm and 28mm as well. The camera > apparently didn't focus on anything sharply. At the time I was > shooting, I did experience the camera "hunting" for focus with the > shutter not firing for a second or two, then operating as though focus > had been achieved. What's especially frustrating is that the problem > was intermittent. I'm getting ready to send everything to Contax in > New Jersey USA, along with s&le slides. Has anyone experienced the > problem the way I have? Was there a fix? Also, those of you who have > had G2's serviced in New Jersey, were you satisified?

Are the rangefinder glass covers on the front top of the camera dirty? I find mine get a lot of fingerprints on them...and it's a good idea to keep them clean.

BTW, you might want to check manual focus, and see if that works (like on infinity, and take some pictures of stuff far away that will be obvious if they are in corrct focus or not).

Regards,

Austin
 
> Rob, I had a focus problem that developed in a used G2 I bought. It was fine when I got it, but then started acting up. It would fail to lock focus, it would hunt, and sometimes the motor would just grind away with nothing happening. I sent it to Contax NJ, and they replaced the autofocus motor inside the camera, among some other minor things. It took about two weeks for them to give me a quote for the repair, and then another two weeks before I received it back. The repair cost $120, and since then everything has been perfect. Originally, I was given an estimate of 4 weeks total, and they met this, and fixed the problem. So I would say I recommend them, based on this one experience.

Neil
 
Best fix for G2 autofocus problem - get a Leica SLR manual focus camera. - Doug
 
<Best fix for G2 autofocus problem - get a Leica SLR manual focus camera. - Doug>

Good point, then you know you have to have your rangefinder adjusted.

Regards

Gilbert
 
--->>Posted by Doug Glover (Douglas) on Sunday, November 23, 2003 - 2:29 am:

--->>Best fix for G2 auto focus problem - get a Leica SLR manual focus camera. - Doug

Doug, u may indeed have a point, but it certainly doesn't have to be Leica stuff. Come to think of it, one of my better friend has an R8 with a 28 and 90mm. We were both shooting Optima 400 and both processed at my lab. His stuff showed remarkably less "zippydydooda" than the Distagon and Planar. Kinda flat actually. I think I'll keep beating the crap out of my old 137's then haul out the G2 when I want to transcend.

Other than that, I don't have a lot of experience with Leica images. Strange thing is that a lot of my customers actually own a Leica rangefinder but none of them ever give them a work out. Never could figure that one out, because I sure would if I had such a thing.

Paul
 
Posted by Robert Bowman (Rwbjr) on Sunday, November 23, 2003 - 12:33 am:

I just had this problem for the first time with my G2, although it was not only the 90mm lens, it was the 45mm and 28mm as well. The camera apparently didn't focus on anything sharply. At the time I was shooting, I did experience the camera "hunting" for focus with the shutter not firing for a second or two, then operating as though focus had been achieved. What's especially frustrating is that the problem was intermittent. I'm getting ready to send everything to Contax in New Jersey USA, along with s&le slides. Has anyone experienced the problem the way I have? Was there a fix? Also, those of you who have had G2's serviced in New Jersey, were you satisified?

Many thanks.

Rob

Rob,

Try using a bit more force when mounting the lenses to the camera and listen for the click that indicates they are fully mounted. I ruined several roles of film by not doing that.

Bill Lafferty Pittsburgh
 
Thanks to Gilbert, Austin, and Neil for your helpful replies. In taking a closer look at my slides, I'm relieved (!) to report that all the out-of-focus shots were taken with my 90mm lens, despite what I wrote earlier. My apologies for the inaccuracy. I'll take a look a the threads related specifically to the problems with that lens.
 
And thank you, too, Bill from Pittsburgh. Your suggestion that the lens might not have been fully mounted is an intriguing one. Would you mind describing what your images looked like that you say were ruined?
 
OK, I haven't done an exhaustive analysis, but my hunch is that some combination of user error or inattention and poor maintenance was the cause for the focusing problems I experienced. User error: I remember I did have some difficulty mounting the 90mm lens at the time some of the out-of-focus shots were taken. Inattention: At times in removing the G2 from my camera bag I discover that one or another of the control dials or switches has been moved out of position. I don't remember it happening this time, but it may have. Maintenance: A deposit of filmy grime has built up on the mounting rings of my lenses and the camera. It's possible the grime interfered with the electronic contacts of the lens or camera, or h&ered the travel of the mechanical pins on the mount. So, thanks again for the helpful replies. Before I go to the time and expense of having the camera and lens serviced, I'll clean everything, make sure of my settings, and shoot some test film.
 
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