Leica M cameras - do it yourself rangefinder adjustment

For those who photograph with the Leica M system, learning to adjust the rangefinder mechanism is pretty much a must have skill.

The rangefinder of the Leica M cameras - film or digital - can be knocked out of alignment if the camera is dropped or impacts into a hard surface with enough force. Not every drop or impact results in a misaligned rangefinder, though; sometimes you will get lucky and dodge the bullet.

If the rangefinder is knocked out of alignment, it will become immediately obvious. You will not be able to align the double image in the viewfinder as you normally can when focusing the lens. Leica repair centers can realign the rangefinder for you, for a fee - and you will be without your camera for a while. There has got to be a better way - and fortunately, there is.

What if this happens when you are in the middle of a photographic trip, expedition or workshop? You will need to be able to adjust the rangefinder mechanism yourself because otherwise you will not be able to accurately focus.

Do it yourself rangefinder adjustment is a relatively simple skill to learn, as is shown in the following video:

Fix Your OWN Leica! (EASY!) | Leica M3 Rangefinder Calibration + M2, M6, M4-P