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Archive 2011Leitax and Infinity Focus
p.1 #1Leitax and Infinity Focus
Just did some test shots with my Zeiss ZF.2 21mm.
I noticed that its true infinity focus setting with the Leitax mount to Sony is not at the stop but slightly before it. Is this in any way adjustable permanently or do I have to just keep it in mind every time I shoot?
I guess I could just use a red sharpy and mark it but not quite as convenient.
I noticed that its true infinity focus setting with the Leitax mount to Sony is not at the stop but slightly before it. Is this in any way adjustable permanently or do I have to just keep it in mind every time I shoot?
I guess I could just use a red sharpy and mark it but not quite as convenient.
Sep 04, 2011 at 10:56 AM
p.1 #2Leitax and Infinity Focus
So, at the lens hard stop, the lens focuses past infinity with the Leitax mount. I'm not a Leitax mount user, but I would guess this is designed into the product so the lowest common factor is achievable infinity focus with most lenses, versus not quite infinity.
Problem is the adapter/mount is too thin, and therefore there is one solution for this Leitax mount. The lens needs to be infinity adjusted.
Problem is the adapter/mount is too thin, and therefore there is one solution for this Leitax mount. The lens needs to be infinity adjusted.
Sep 04, 2011 at 12:00 PM
p.1 #3Leitax and Infinity Focus
If its the adapter is too thin, is it possible to add washers at the screws to make it virtually thicker?
Sep 04, 2011 at 12:12 PM
p.1 #4Leitax and Infinity Focus
FlyPenFly wrote:
Just did some test shots with my Zeiss ZF.2 21mm.
I noticed that its true infinity focus setting with the Leitax mount to Sony is not at the stop but slightly before it. Is this in any way adjustable permanently or do I have to just keep it in mind every time I shoot?
I guess I could just use a red sharpy and mark it but not quite as convenient.
is the focus stop at infinity on a nikon? it may be the lens not the leitax mount, i remember hearing that ZE lenses focus past infinity on canon cameras. either way, shimming the mount should work.
Just did some test shots with my Zeiss ZF.2 21mm.
I noticed that its true infinity focus setting with the Leitax mount to Sony is not at the stop but slightly before it. Is this in any way adjustable permanently or do I have to just keep it in mind every time I shoot?
I guess I could just use a red sharpy and mark it but not quite as convenient.
is the focus stop at infinity on a nikon? it may be the lens not the leitax mount, i remember hearing that ZE lenses focus past infinity on canon cameras. either way, shimming the mount should work.
Sep 04, 2011 at 12:17 PM
p.1 #5Leitax and Infinity Focus
Yeah, any suggestions which shims and where to pick it up?
Sep 04, 2011 at 12:30 PM
p.1 #6Leitax and Infinity Focus
FlyPenFly wrote:
Yeah, any suggestions which shims and where to pick it up?
nope, haven't seen what the back of leitax mount for ZF lenses looks like so i couldn't say. my guess is that an off the shelf washer type won't work. best bet would be to get an aluminum disc from mcmaster-carr or wherever and take it to a machine shop to custom make the shim.
Edited on Sep 04, 2011 at 01:02 PM · View previous versions
Yeah, any suggestions which shims and where to pick it up?
nope, haven't seen what the back of leitax mount for ZF lenses looks like so i couldn't say. my guess is that an off the shelf washer type won't work. best bet would be to get an aluminum disc from mcmaster-carr or wherever and take it to a machine shop to custom make the shim.
Edited on Sep 04, 2011 at 01:02 PM · View previous versions
Sep 04, 2011 at 01:00 PM
p.1 #7Leitax and Infinity Focus
Hmm my initial plan was to go to home depot and pick up some washers. Why do you think a regular screw washer mounted on all 3 screws wouldn't work?
Sep 04, 2011 at 01:01 PM
p.1 #8Leitax and Infinity Focus
FlyPenFly wrote:
Hmm my initial plan was to go to home depot and pick up some washers. Why do you think a regular screw washer mounted on all 3 screws wouldn't work?
i just figured they would probably obstruct something else on the mount or lens. if it looks like they would fit give it a shot.
edit: another problem with that method is it may create a gap for dust to get into the lens and camera depending on the mount design.
Hmm my initial plan was to go to home depot and pick up some washers. Why do you think a regular screw washer mounted on all 3 screws wouldn't work?
i just figured they would probably obstruct something else on the mount or lens. if it looks like they would fit give it a shot.
edit: another problem with that method is it may create a gap for dust to get into the lens and camera depending on the mount design.
Sep 04, 2011 at 01:04 PM
p.1 #9Leitax and Infinity Focus
FlyPenFly wrote:
If its the adapter is too thin, is it possible to add washers at the screws to make it virtually thicker?
They'll probably have to be very thin. You might be better off making a custom gasket out of sheet mylar drafting 'paper'. Sort of like a flat donut with holes for where the screws and any other gizmos that stick through the mount. You can use multiple layers if required, and everything should be evenly supported.
If its the adapter is too thin, is it possible to add washers at the screws to make it virtually thicker?
They'll probably have to be very thin. You might be better off making a custom gasket out of sheet mylar drafting 'paper'. Sort of like a flat donut with holes for where the screws and any other gizmos that stick through the mount. You can use multiple layers if required, and everything should be evenly supported.
Sep 04, 2011 at 01:08 PM
p.1 #10Leitax and Infinity Focus
Yeah, I thought about too.
Red Sharpie to mark infinity is sounding pretty good now.
Red Sharpie to mark infinity is sounding pretty good now.
Sep 04, 2011 at 01:08 PM
p.1 #11Leitax and Infinity Focus
A quick way to test would be to add strips of tape between the adapter and the lens mount and then check for infinity focus at the mark on the lens. Depending on need, more layers of tape can be added. This is related to what jcolwell said in the above post. I tried this on a C/Y 35/1,4 and a thin adapter and had the advantage of infinity focus being correct and the eliminating mirror hang on the 5D2.
Sep 04, 2011 at 01:46 PM
p.1 #12Leitax and Infinity Focus
jcolwell wrote:
They'll probably have to be very thin. You might be better off making a custom gasket out of sheet mylar drafting 'paper'. Sort of like a flat donut with holes for where the screws and any other gizmos that stick through the mount. You can use multiple layers if required, and everything should be evenly supported.
This is what I did when attempting to tune infinity on my R28/leitax combo.
I found the best way of making gaskets/shims was to attach a craft blade to a pair of compasses (the things from school days used to draw circles). A digital micrometer will be usefull too.
FlyPenFly wrote
If its the adapter is too thin, is it possible to add washers at the screws to make it virtually thicker?This is what I did when attempting to tune infinity on my R28/leitax combo.
I found the best way of making gaskets/shims was to attach a craft blade to a pair of compasses (the things from school days used to draw circles). A digital micrometer will be usefull too.
Sep 04, 2011 at 02:46 PM
p.1 #13Leitax and Infinity Focus
johnahill wrote:
They'll probably have to be very thin. You might be better off making a custom gasket out of sheet mylar drafting 'paper'. Sort of like a flat donut with holes for where the screws and any other gizmos that stick through the mount. You can use multiple layers if required, and everything should be evenly supported.This is what I did when attempting to tune infinity on my R28/leitax combo.
I found the best way of making gaskets/shims was to attach a craft blade to a pair of compasses (the things from school days used to draw circles). A digital micrometer will be usefull too.
if the difference is that small, you might be able to simply adjust the lenses infinity stop without shimming. do zeiss lenses allow for that?
jcolwell wrote
FlyPenFly wrote
If its the adapter is too thin, is it possible to add washers at the screws to make it virtually thicker?I found the best way of making gaskets/shims was to attach a craft blade to a pair of compasses (the things from school days used to draw circles). A digital micrometer will be usefull too.
if the difference is that small, you might be able to simply adjust the lenses infinity stop without shimming. do zeiss lenses allow for that?
Sep 04, 2011 at 03:46 PM
p.1 #14Leitax and Infinity Focus
When we need to make shims to precisely adjust our rifle scopes on high power target rifles, we use humble aluminum beverage containers (soda pop/beer). The thickness is very uniform and the metal is easy to rough cut with scissors. Several layers of thickness can be used. When you punch the proper size hole, make sure all layers are held in place to assure alignment (vise grip pliers come to mind). You may need to chamfer or remove any metal overhang burrs around the punched hole.
You'll want to remove your mount first to determine he size and shape of the spacers.
Washers from DYI store would probably be too thick, or too wide in diameter.
You'll want to remove your mount first to determine he size and shape of the spacers.
Washers from DYI store would probably be too thick, or too wide in diameter.
Sep 04, 2011 at 03:57 PM
p.1 #15Leitax and Infinity Focus
Here we go, shimming instructions:
http://www.leitax.com/images/Shimming/index.html
http://www.leitax.com/images/Shimming/index.html
Sep 04, 2011 at 05:48 PM
p.1 #16Leitax and Infinity Focus
Thin metal tape works for adapter shimming.
Sep 04, 2011 at 08:48 PM
p.1 #17Leitax and Infinity Focus
I think Zeiss sells Shims for the CP.2 line, which I guess should be usable on the leitax mount.
Sep 04, 2011 at 09:04 PM
p.1 #18Leitax and Infinity Focus
sebboh wrote:
If the difference is that small, you might be able to simply adjust the lenses infinity stop without shimming. do zeiss lenses allow for that?
That was what I was implying in my original post.
If the difference is that small, you might be able to simply adjust the lenses infinity stop without shimming. do zeiss lenses allow for that?
That was what I was implying in my original post.
Sep 04, 2011 at 09:14 PM
p.1 #19Leitax and Infinity Focus
Jim, did you realize that the Zeiss 21 has a floating element? I thought I had seen you post before that you when you convert lenses with a floating element you don't like messing with the infinity focus. Is that right? If it is, then shimming would seem like the better option.
Sep 05, 2011 at 06:37 AM
p.1 #20Leitax and Infinity Focus
Yes, I was aware of the Zeiss 21 floating element design. I guess I was trying to say there was more than one way to accomplish the infinity issue. While most floating element lenses do have infinity adjustment, you are correct, I tend to adjust infinity by varying the mount thickness since I'm custom maching the mount in the first place.
In the above case when you can't make an adapter any thicker, shimming is an obvious choice, and if one knows how, lens adjustment is possible. We're talking about .001s of an inch. In this scenario, .001" shim thickness would be the way to go.
In the above case when you can't make an adapter any thicker, shimming is an obvious choice, and if one knows how, lens adjustment is possible. We're talking about .001s of an inch. In this scenario, .001" shim thickness would be the way to go.
Sep 05, 2011 at 09:19 AM