Update: Silvestri Response
I sent the following to my dealer and the reply was as then follows:
MY EMAIL
I've done a series of tests and I think I was right in my initial impression: the setup as it stands is backfocussing. So if I take a shot at a subject distance of 1.5 metres focussed using the glass screen, the place of focus falls a few inches further away than the point on which I focus. If I then use a tape measure and set focus using that method, the same thing happens.
If I point the camera out the window and focus using the glass screen on buildings in the middle and far distance, the image is blurred at ALL distances even at F8 thru 16.
If I then set focus at infinity, everything is unsharp but if I pull focus forward to between infinity and 5 metres, things improve and if I set the distance at five metres, I get correct infinity focus and the whole frame looks pretty decent too.
So presumably the lens mount needs shimming or shaving?
ANSWER FROM SILVESTRI (via my dealer)
This 35XL lens was collimated for a Bicam that had a measure of 12,8mm, so a little lower respect to the theoretical measure of 12,95mm. Mounting the lens on a different body, the lens cannot reach the infinite measure.
It is easy to set:
1) place the helical focus mount on infinite.
2) unscrew of 1 turn the three radial screws placed on the circular scale of the helicoide.
3) force the rotation of the helicoide over the infinite acting on the rubber piece.
4) at the same time, check the focus to infinite on the ground glass.
5) when the image is sharp, screw back the radial screws.
In case you go over the infinite position make the following operation:
1) stop on the position where there is focus to infinite after having partially unscrewed the screws.
2) keeping the helicoide rubber piece steady, rotate the meter scale until making the infinite mark collimate with the reference mark.
3) screw the screws back in.
Attention:
the distances we are talking about are in the measures of 1/10 of millimeter so the movements has to be made carefully. This lens in particular is very sensibal to the focusing distance so just a few 1/100s of millimeter are sufficient to go out og collimation.
____________________
Now I have to things to wonder about:
1) I am finding that the lens is focussing PAST infinity when set at infinity or when focussed on very distant objects using the loupe. However, the Silvestri guys say 'Mounting the lens on a different body, the lens cannot reach the infinite measure.' So what do I make of that? Wait for a week or two while the whole lot goes back to Italy ( I am SO not going to do this myself... not unless they pay me a salary!) only to discover that the bad 'collimation' is not the only problem?
2) Should I just give in and get a Cambo or Alpa or, finally, admit that the Gods of Medium Format Digital really don't like me and buy a Nikon D3X?
Just to make all this even more fun, my Phamiya body went off to Denmark for FW yesterday, so convinced was I that this new setup would work out of the box.
I really am stupid, aren't I?