sm23221 Posted July 5, 2009 Share #1 Posted July 5, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) I just returned from Washington DC's July 4th celebration. While photographing the parade my new Noctilux 0.95 decided that the aperture ring will no longer change the f stop. Turn the ring and nothing happens - so, it's stuck wide open at f/0.95 in bright sunlight. Yes, I'm pissed. Where's the reliability? Do I now have to bring a backup for every focal length I own? My Canon lens never "broke down." Just letting you guys know FWIW. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted July 5, 2009 Posted July 5, 2009 Hi sm23221, Take a look here Noctilux 0.95 - $10,000 paperweight. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
sfokevin Posted July 5, 2009 Share #2 Posted July 5, 2009 I just returned from Washington DC's July 4th celebration. While photographing the parade my new Noctilux 0.95 decided that the aperture ring will no longer change the f stop. Turn the ring and nothing happens - so, it's stuck wide open at f/0.95 in bright sunlight. Yes, I'm pissed. Where's the reliability? Do I now have to bring a backup for every focal length I own? My Canon lens never "broke down." Just letting you guys know FWIW. Moderator Please move this thread to the "Leica Collectors & Hysterica" Sub Forum - Thanks in advance... Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeitz Posted July 5, 2009 Share #3 Posted July 5, 2009 I've had both Canon and Nikon lenses fail, associated with automatic diaphram in both cases. Admittedly they were not $10,000 lenses. You are an early adopter of a very complex lens. I expect it will be repaired quickly and you'll have a long relationship with a very unique lens. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walt Calahan Posted July 5, 2009 Share #4 Posted July 5, 2009 Think about all the Kodachrome 25 you can shoot wide open. If it is under warrantee it will be fitted for free. If it is not, the repair cost will be worth it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmk60 Posted July 5, 2009 Share #5 Posted July 5, 2009 Sorry to hear that... I was at the parade as well. Yes, it was bright.. I had to stop down quite a lot. I saw one photographer with a M6 who did not look 'happy' for some reason. Was that you? BTW, impressive photos on your website! cheers Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sm23221 Posted July 5, 2009 Author Share #6 Posted July 5, 2009 Sorry to hear that... I was at the parade as well. Yes, it was bright.. I had to stop down quite a lot. I saw one photographer with a M6 who did not look 'happy' for some reason. Was that you? BTW, impressive photos on your website! cheers No, I use an M8. It was probably the guy who had the same problem as me, I just hide it better! Thanks for your input. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoppyman Posted July 5, 2009 Share #7 Posted July 5, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) Its not a fault, its a feature. Its only designed to work wide open, otherwise you should have saved some money and got the Summilux. Seriously, if you post such a confrontational thread title, you can expect less sympathy. What did your post achieve? Some venting, I guess. Tell you what, I'm pretty sure many list members would give you say, $5,000 for your 'paperweight'. Or could it be that it just may be fixable and you could have headed your post, for example, problem with my new Noctilux. See the difference. You still get bragging rights but you might get more sympathy too. Did you try contacting your dealer or distributor before posting this? I bet they would have been keen to resolve it as quickly as possible for you. Easier to be negative, I suppose. The comment about Canon is just a throwaway line, unsupportable by any statistical data. I just returned from Washington DC's July 4th celebration. While photographing the parade my new Noctilux 0.95 decided that the aperture ring will no longer change the f stop. Turn the ring and nothing happens - so, it's stuck wide open at f/0.95 in bright sunlight. Yes, I'm pissed. Where's the reliability? Do I now have to bring a backup for every focal length I own? My Canon lens never "broke down." Just letting you guys know FWIW. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craftsman Posted July 6, 2009 Share #8 Posted July 6, 2009 I've had both Canon and Nikon lenses fail, associated with automatic diaphram in both cases. Admittedly they were not $10,000 lenses. You are an early adopter of a very complex lens. I expect it will be repaired quickly and you'll have a long relationship with a very unique lens. What makes the lens so complex? Aside from the speed isn't it built using the same construction principals as their other lenses? Are customers now beta testing $10,000.00 lenses? My guess following the Leica forums is, another example of poor quality control. They really have to fire the janitor. He just doesn't have time for QC and sweeping the floors. Sorry to hear of these troubles , must be extremely frustrating. But the wonderful thing is : send it back to Solms and they'll fix it good as new, like half of what they sell. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
leicanut2 Posted July 6, 2009 Share #9 Posted July 6, 2009 I can't blame SM23221 for being mad if I spent 10,000 + I think I would want to vent a bit before it went in for repairs. I am sure Leica will fix it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob_x2004 Posted July 6, 2009 Share #10 Posted July 6, 2009 (edited) I'm just happy its Geosystems at Boeing. Edited July 6, 2009 by rob_x2004 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sm23221 Posted July 6, 2009 Author Share #11 Posted July 6, 2009 Yes, I'm venting a bit but cooling down now. But I can't really understand how a handmade lens with supposedly high quality control could fail in this respect. I do understand better how mass-produced lenses could fail with better than average probabilities. The signed card that came with the lens states: "This Leica product was meticulously examined by experienced professionals at several stages of production." Now, do I send it to Leica in NJ or Solms? Thanks. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdai Posted July 6, 2009 Share #12 Posted July 6, 2009 Roundtrip from east coast to Frankfurt costs only about 600 bucks, if this happened to myself, I'd love to bring in the lens myself, watch how they're gonna take it apart and put pieces back together. Good luck. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wilfredo Posted July 6, 2009 Share #13 Posted July 6, 2009 (edited) Boy, I can't blame you for feeling disappointed. The lens came with a tag that said: "This Leica product was meticulously examined by experienced professionals at several stages of production." It makes you wonder what the word "meticulous" means to Leica? I hope you don't have to pay the shipping on this. That would add insult to injury. Edited July 6, 2009 by wilfredo Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoppyman Posted July 6, 2009 Share #14 Posted July 6, 2009 I can imagine your frustration too, of course. Clearly something has gone seriously wrong that certainly should not have happened. If it was bought from an authorised Leica dealer and is (presumably) very new perhaps it could be exchanged? Not they they are obliged, I suppose. I suspect that isn't practical/possible owing to the rarity of your new lens. They would certainly perform the needed shipment and paperwork for you of course. If you decide to have this corrected at Solms, the lady to address enquiries to (in English), is: Andrea.Frankl @ leica-camera.com Yes, I'm venting a bit but cooling down now. But I can't really understand how a handmade lens with supposedly high quality control could fail in this respect. I do understand better how mass-produced lenses could fail with better than average probabilities. The signed card that came with the lens states: "This Leica product was meticulously examined by experienced professionals at several stages of production." Now, do I send it to Leica in NJ or Solms? Thanks. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoppyman Posted July 6, 2009 Share #15 Posted July 6, 2009 Craftsman, I agree that it ought not be more mechanically complex than the Summilux 50ASPH. for example, which is not to say that the mechanical construction is in any way simple. Nor should a very new and expensive lens like this fail. But your statement implying that 50% of Leica's products are faulty is foolish, negative nonsense. What makes the lens so complex? Aside from the speed isn't it built using the same construction principals as their other lenses? Are customers now beta testing $10,000.00 lenses? My guess following the Leica forums is, another example of poor quality control. They really have to fire the janitor. He just doesn't have time for QC and sweeping the floors. Sorry to hear of these troubles , must be extremely frustrating. But the wonderful thing is : send it back to Solms and they'll fix it good as new, like half of what they sell. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Ash Posted July 6, 2009 Share #16 Posted July 6, 2009 I still envy your lens. It might be annoying that you have to sent it in but it is under guarantee anyhow. Contact Leica by phone and email and sent the lens directly to Solms to save time. Regards Steve Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevenKania Posted July 6, 2009 Share #17 Posted July 6, 2009 Craftsman, I agree that it ought not be more mechanically complex than the Summilux 50ASPH. for example, which is not to say that the mechanical construction is in any way simple. Nor should a very new and expensive lens like this fail. But your statement implying that 50% of Leica's products are faulty is foolish, negative nonsense. I have a statistics of 2 out of 8 (total for camera and lenses). Would 25% make you a hoppierman? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
efftee Posted July 6, 2009 Share #18 Posted July 6, 2009 What makes the lens so complex? Aside from the speed isn't it built using the same construction principals as their other lenses? Excuse me but this is like saying apart from the speed, a biplane is no different from a space shuttle - they are both constructed on the principles of aerodynamics! Come now, even if you haven't a clue of optic sciences, you'd be bright enough to surmise that being the only commercial sub-f/1 lens in existence, the Noctilux has to be something special eh? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoppyman Posted July 6, 2009 Share #19 Posted July 6, 2009 Never mind. Bye. I have a statistics of 2 out of 8 (total for camera and lenses). Would 25% make you a hoppierman? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craftsman Posted July 6, 2009 Share #20 Posted July 6, 2009 Craftsman, I agree that it ought not be more mechanically complex than the Summilux 50ASPH. for example, which is not to say that the mechanical construction is in any way simple. Nor should a very new and expensive lens like this fail. But your statement implying that 50% of Leica's products are faulty is foolish, negative nonsense. Sure, a bit over the top but considering how many owners of all types of Leica products complain about returning for repair it makes my point. To many meticulousy checked Leica products leave the factory faulty. Negative? maybe. Foolish and nonsense? I think not. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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