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Maxxum 9000 Focusing Deep

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SamBurton View Drop Down
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Posts: 4 		Post Options Post Options   Quote SamBurton Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Maxxum 9000 Focusing Deep
    Posted: 03 December 2021 at 07:20
So, Ive got a brain bender for you today. Ive got a 9000 that Ive shot 2 rolls that came out where the focus was really deep and out from the subject. Sometimes on a subject 2-3 meters away and It was focused on trees in the background. I know the lens is good because ive used it on my 7000 for a long time with no issues. I put the lens on both cameras locking in the focus ring with some tape and it seems in the VF the focus is the same across the cameras. The only thing I could think is that the flange distance is off or something. I got a tape measure and found that the flange on the 9000 is around 1mm farther away from the film plane from the 7000. What makes no sense is if that was the case and there was an issue here you would think the distance being longer would make the focus be closer not farther, Looking for some advice on things I could check or do to adjust a distance and get my photos in focus!



Thanks in advance,

Sam
 



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Phil Wood View Drop Down
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Posts: 2378 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Phil Wood Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 December 2021 at 07:38
The throat distance should be the same on all A-mount cameras, a 1mm distance is significant.

Is the back of the 9000 on properly? Is the camera new to you or is this behaviour that has started recently?

Focus issues could also be down to a misplaced focus sensor, but if your eyes tell you that the AF is good through the viewfinder the back seems more likely to be the issue. How does it work if you manually focus?

Have you tried a different lens, just to be sure it is the camera?

Have you tried the lens on a different camera since you had this problem?

Checking issues like this on a film body is a pain.
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SamBurton View Drop Down
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Posts: 4 		Post Options Post Options   Quote SamBurton Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 December 2021 at 08:37
The camera is new to me. The back seems to be on properly but I guess I'm not 100% sure

I only ever manually focus the lens. The AF is just not good for me and I literally pull focus for a living so it is second nature.

The lens is 100% confirmed fine. I've used it for over 40 rolls of film on my 7000 body.

What interesting is the focus didn't look off in the viewfinder. Even if I lock focus and switch camera to make sure it is the same. So the VF has nothing to do with it. It is the same across my 7000/9000.

Is there a way to adjust the back spacing? Like I would on a cinema cam? Maybe a way to align the mirror and the sensor plane?.
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addy landzaat View Drop Down
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Posts: 12963 		Post Options Post Options   Quote addy landzaat Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 December 2021 at 08:49
What Phil said

If you use a prime, the lens will have a distance scale to check the distance.
When they do not differ between the two cameras (and the other camera is correct) it seems it focusses fine. That and your experience with the viewfinder rules out the AF-sensor and the flange distance.

BTW if the flange distance is off, the camera still has to focus correctly, just the close focus will be longer or it will not reach infinity focus.

So, I agree with Phil it most likely is the film. How is the pressure plate of the camera?

Checking issues is always a pain, not just with film cameras

And welcome to Dyxum, Sam
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addy landzaat View Drop Down
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Posts: 12963 		Post Options Post Options   Quote addy landzaat Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 December 2021 at 08:52
The focus screen might be off. I think the 9000 has interchangeable screens - take it out and reset it.

Had the same recently with my Bronica SQ.

Edit: you probably know this site, but if not, this is an Minolta 9000 site: 9000.org



Edited by addy landzaat - 03 December 2021 at 08:55
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neilt3 View Drop Down
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Posts: 2883 		Post Options Post Options   Quote neilt3 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 December 2021 at 09:00
Even with shims between the body and mount , there isn't enough used for it to be 1mm out .
Just a few thou .
Is the pressure plate on the back missing ?
That would account for that difference .
see my photostream on flickr;
http://www.flickr.com/photos/neilt3/
C & C welcome.
 



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neilt3 View Drop Down
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Posts: 2883 		Post Options Post Options   Quote neilt3 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 December 2021 at 09:17
If you can manual focus , and the pictures come out fine , then the focus screen is in correctly rather than being upside down .

The AF unit being out of whack would also cause focus issues , but it's the 1mm registration distance you mention that's the bit that's odd .

Check the back while it's open .
see my photostream on flickr;
http://www.flickr.com/photos/neilt3/
C & C welcome.
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Phil Wood View Drop Down
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Posts: 2378 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Phil Wood Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 December 2021 at 11:47
If you are manually focusing and the pictures are off then the AF sensor accuracy is irrelevent. It must be a misalignment of the film (dodgy back/pressure plate etc) or the viewfinder/screen - screen inverted (ie you are focusing on the wrong face) is worth checking. I would be hoping that it is the screen - an easy fix.
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Bob J View Drop Down
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Posts: 27047 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Bob J Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 December 2021 at 15:29
If the problem is with MF, then it is probably down to the focus screen being misaligned.
If the AF is out, you are not missing much. I really liked my 9000AF, but tended to just use it on manual focus as to describe the speed as pedestrian would raise expectations a bit more than they should be - maybe somewhere between pedestrian and glacial....
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SamBurton View Drop Down
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Posts: 4 		Post Options Post Options   Quote SamBurton Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 December 2021 at 19:09
I am exclusively using the MF on the camera. Not really a fan of old Minolta autofocus and 99.9%% of the time I'm faster and more accurate.

Update, I got out my digital caliper and measured my known working 7000 from the flange to the pressure plate on the back. It came out as 44.45mm. After, I did the 9000 and it was 44.52mm. So it is not as far out at I thought it was. I then took a know working lens and focused on a tripod with the 7000 at my computer screen. Taped the focus so it couldn't move. Switched the camera out and put the lens on it and it seems like the focus was the same, at most maybe a tiny tiny bit out. The photos I took from it though are so far out.

I also have a junk 9000 sitting around so I took the focusing screen out of it and swapped it in the better camera.

I also switched the back from the junk cam because it seemed to have a little more pressure but the old one was fine tbh.

If there any ideas on why the end photos would be so far out of focus, Send suggestions. Im stumped and all of my knowledge of cameras I feel is pretty used up. I might end up having to shoot a roll of film and do a true camera test to figure out how far out and what is wrong.

Thanks for the advice and ideas so far,
Sam
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glefebvre View Drop Down
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Posts: 174 		Post Options Post Options   Quote glefebvre Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 December 2021 at 20:48
The 9000 has a diopter adjustment. Make sure that it is set for your eye.

Edited by glefebvre - 03 December 2021 at 22:38
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addy landzaat View Drop Down
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Posts: 12963 		Post Options Post Options   Quote addy landzaat Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 December 2021 at 21:06
The flange distance of A-mount is supposed to be 44.5mm - it seems both cameras are within spec.

Dioptre is a good point. And maybe now with the changed focus screen, the 9000 might be fine. I guess you have to invest in a roll of film.
Why not follow me on Instagram? @Addy_101
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Phil Wood View Drop Down
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Posts: 2378 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Phil Wood Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 December 2021 at 21:11
Originally posted by SamBurton SamBurton wrote:

Update, I got out my digital caliper and measured my known working 7000 from the flange to the pressure plate on the back. It came out as 44.45mm. After, I did the 9000 and it was 44.52mm. So it is not as far out at I thought it was.


The flange distance of the A-mount is 44.50mm - your 9000 seems better than the 7000.
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SamBurton View Drop Down
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Posts: 4 		Post Options Post Options   Quote SamBurton Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 December 2021 at 06:52
So I invested in a roll and shot and developed it. I am stumped. Ive got no idea why nothing that I focused on is in focus. I got one pic in focus but the rest are pretty far out. I tried 2 different lenses. This was at like 5pm so it was a little dark but you can tell what the camera was focused on. I can promise that all of the shots were sharp in the viewfinder by alot.

Album:https://imgur.com/a/oYByjFe

Focused on subject, Focus ended up on car behind him

Focused on him in this pic. Came out super blurry

was focused on the back quarter of the car

was focused o the nov

the reason I love this minolta and want it to work

was focused on the subject

The only photo that came out OK. Was the second frame in the roll. The first roll I shot also the second frame was perfect as well. I think it was just up to chance that it happened.


Let me know if this gets anybody a better idea of what is wrong with the camera.

Edited by pegelli - 04 December 2021 at 08:31
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