mat_mcdermott Posted December 26, 2009 Share #1 Posted December 26, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) My trusty 28 Cron has seen a lot of action over the past couple of weeks and for the first time seems a bit loose (though still is performing fine). The lens mount and focusing ring is solid but the aperture ring on out is wobbly. It moves about 1/32"/0.8mm back and forth. The rear lens element moves with it. My question to the LUF community is: Does anyone know if one of the screws can just be tightened to seat everything properly again or is this beyond my ability to fix and I'll have to send if off to NJ? Thanks in advance. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted December 26, 2009 Posted December 26, 2009 Hi mat_mcdermott, Take a look here how to fix loose 28 Cron. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
lars_bergquist Posted December 27, 2009 Share #2 Posted December 27, 2009 As they say: "Don't try this at home". It may be a fairly simple matter for a qualified technician, but I would not attempt it. The old man from the Age of the Slot Screwdriver Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwelland Posted December 28, 2009 Share #3 Posted December 28, 2009 (edited) My 28 'cron ended up like this too. I had it looked at by a local repair shop who did indeed solve the problem in rather the same way as you describe as it turns out. HOWEVER, I hadn't used the lens for a while and actually was in the process of selling it when the buyer did a detailed comparison of my lens with another 28 'cron and it was obvious a mile off that it was now soft (well, relative to most other marques at least). I didn't notice anything other than the front of the lens rattling very slightly but I didn't notice a similar loose rear element. It's now on it's way back to Leica for readjustment. :( The loose front element seems to be relatively common from what I can tell. It happened to me and I remember reading about a couple of other cases here on LUF too. The other problem is with the $140 lens hood self destructing too ... I'm on #3 now and it's just from putting the camera/lens in & out of a bag. Btw, I did a forum search and came up with these recent fellow loose 'crons ... http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m8-forum/96530-28-cron-focus-problem.html#post1012058 / http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/customer-forum/92315-loose-front-part-28mm-2-0-a.html#post966505 / http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/customer-forum/60918-defective-new-28mm-cron-asph.html#post628944 Edited December 28, 2009 by gwelland Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tobey bilek Posted December 28, 2009 Share #4 Posted December 28, 2009 I think this all started with version 4 of the35 2.0 with cemented fronts. I leave my shade on at all times and use the gripper at the rear to mount and dismount.. Stay away from torgue on the front. So far it it has been fine. This was another cost cutting opportunity that should have been rejected. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
offshore Posted December 29, 2009 Share #5 Posted December 29, 2009 My 28 'cron is, sadly, in NJ for the same aperture ring issue and focusing barrel looseness. My lens is almost three years old and since it had always had a filter on it I had never cleaned the front element so when I did I noticed the barrel had significant movement in it although I hadn't noticed any out of focus areas in my pix. I decided to send it in for a rebuild while it is still under warranty although I'm hearing it take 2-3 months. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwelland Posted December 29, 2009 Share #6 Posted December 29, 2009 Ditto for me - my warranty runs out in May so it was good that I was able to have my dealer send the lens and all paperwork off last week. I'm not holding my breath expecting to see it soon though ... It does seem that there's a fundamental flaw in the lens construction if so many of us have had the same problem. I know that in my own case that although the lens was almost constantly attached to my M8.2 for over two years, it was never abused. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mat_mcdermott Posted January 5, 2010 Author Share #7 Posted January 5, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) Thanks for all the responses. Leica NJ is telling me 8 wks (!!!) for repair and no loaner lenses available. Anyone have a recommendation for someone who can do the work in a more timely fashion? If not I may just have to buy another one to tide me over until the repair is done and then sell one of them when the work is completed. I can't be without my workhorse lens for two months. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwelland Posted January 5, 2010 Share #8 Posted January 5, 2010 Locally you could try Sherry Krauter at Golden Touch. She's in NJ. Otherwise Don Goldberg (dag). Also: LHSA Repair Services Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mat_mcdermott Posted January 5, 2010 Author Share #9 Posted January 5, 2010 Just called Sherry. Less than a week and $50+ shipping. That's more like it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
noah_addis Posted January 5, 2010 Share #10 Posted January 5, 2010 My 28 Summicron developed the same problem. The interesting thing is that it only happened after I got the M8. There may be a connection as once I started using the M8 I would occasionally change filters (from UV for film to UVIR for M8). It seems possible that I was putting them on too tight and the torque of installing and removing the filters helped loosen the front. Or maybe it was a coincidence. Either way, Leica NJ fixed it very quickly and for free despite the lens being long out of warranty. Eight weeks sounds crazy. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mat_mcdermott Posted January 5, 2010 Author Share #11 Posted January 5, 2010 I thought it sounded crazy too... when I talked with Sherry she wondered if I removed filters or the hood a lot, which I don't. It developed after spending two weeks in Copenhagen covering COP15, in bumping protests, press scrums nearly getting flattened by TV guys with bigger cameras than mine and amongst police rushing to and fro. So I think that's what did it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mat_mcdermott Posted January 5, 2010 Author Share #12 Posted January 5, 2010 FWIW, Sherry said if I saw the screws holding that lens together I'd either laugh or cry. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwelland Posted January 5, 2010 Share #13 Posted January 5, 2010 I wondered if it was the filter/hood removal/attachment that did it too. The screws holding the front element are tiny and you can see them around the edge of the front element. Mine were loose and hence the entire element assembly rattled. I'm almost scared to get my dealer to get a progress/estimate report for my 'cron which is already in NJ along with a couple of others that are getting coded. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
farnz Posted January 5, 2010 Share #14 Posted January 5, 2010 Just called Sherry. Less than a week and $50+ shipping. That's more like it. Mat, Did Sherry indicate whether the 'fix' would be permanent or whether it's a case of tightening some loose screws that might work loose again later? Pete. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
offshore Posted January 6, 2010 Share #15 Posted January 6, 2010 I got in touch with Leica repair in NJ this morning 1/06/2010 regarding my 28 they received on12/18/2009 and was told it was "scheduled" for completion in the second week of March. The lens is scheduled for a complete rebuild after only three years of use and that isn't continuous use as my 21 pre ASPH Elmarit, that I bought used, continues to function flawlessly as my primary optic. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwelland Posted January 6, 2010 Share #16 Posted January 6, 2010 Very depressing news. I just called my dealer to track down the progress for my lens too - I'm almost afraid to hear what they've got to say since my lens was sent off after yours. It'll also be interesting to hear what the progress will be for my 50 'cron & 90 Elmarit-M that were sent in for coding a few weeks earlier. Oh well, I guess February IS a short month Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
offshore Posted January 6, 2010 Share #17 Posted January 6, 2010 Very depressing news. I just called my dealer to track down the progress for my lens too - I'm almost afraid to hear what they've got to say since my lens was sent off after yours. It'll also be interesting to hear what the progress will be for my 50 'cron & 90 Elmarit-M that were sent in for coding a few weeks earlier. Oh well, I guess February IS a short month I hate to be the bearer of bad news but when I sent my 21 in for coding it wasn't done for seven weeks. I needed it for a trip I was taking and thought I'd given them plenty of time with seven weeks but when it hadn't come back I called NJ and was told they couldn't get it done before I left. I sent an email directly to Leica corporate and the lens mysteriously appeared two days later coded. Fortunately I had padded the time with four extra days and had it for my trip. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob_x2004 Posted January 6, 2010 Share #18 Posted January 6, 2010 Mat, Did Sherry indicate whether the 'fix' would be permanent or whether it's a case of tightening some loose screws that might work loose again later? Pete. Pete, anything I have ever had fall off my Leica kit only happened new out of box. If someone competent gets to it and fixes it, then it is usually problem solved. When it goes for solms service, you know what to keep an eye out for, and tighten it when you notice it is loose again. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
farnz Posted January 6, 2010 Share #19 Posted January 6, 2010 Okay, I have the solution! There's no need to send your 28 Summicron away because you can fix it yourself. It doesn't require the lens to be disassembled or anything tricky like that but it will cost virtually nothing and can be achieved in less than 5 minutes. I can't take credit for finding the solution because it was given to me by another forum member whom I won't identify (unless he grants me permission to do so). The solution: You'll need a 3/16ths jeweller's screwdriver - I used a 1 mm jeweller's screwdriver and it worked just as well. Around the 28 Summicron's collar you'll find 3 tiny little screws. Tighten them up and that's it. Job done. (Or that's all that mine needed and there's no play anymore.) Two words of warning though: 1) Make sure you have a small enough screwdriver or you risk scratching the anodising. 2 Only tighten the screws to firm finger-tightness: don't overtighten them or you risk stripping a thread or damaging the slot. Pete. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Philpotts Posted January 7, 2010 Share #20 Posted January 7, 2010 (edited) Pete - I confess This worked for my loose filter/hood ring. I used a 3/64" screwdriver (not 3/16") and very gentle tightening of the screws. Regards Alan PS If the mods will allow a small illustration: Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Edited January 7, 2010 by Alan Philpotts Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/107816-how-to-fix-loose-28-cron/?do=findComment&comment=1178085'>More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.