nicolaz Posted July 23, 2014 Share #1 Posted July 23, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hello everyone, I just received a second hand Summilux 50mm asph which cosmetically looks awesome (like new). The only thing that bothers me is the focus ring: if you move it on one side and the you move back on the other, there is a tiny movement in which there is no action, after that is actually really smooth (it's not even stiff as I was expecting). The other lenses I have/tried are really solid and this one feels "loose". Hope I properly explained myself. Do you have the same behavior with your Lux? Thank you! nicolaz Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted July 23, 2014 Posted July 23, 2014 Hi nicolaz, Take a look here Summilux 50mm asph focus ring. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
rirakuma Posted July 23, 2014 Share #2 Posted July 23, 2014 (edited) I think that term is called "play" and no its not a normal behaviour for the 50 lux or any leica lenses. Edited July 23, 2014 by rirakuma Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicolaz Posted July 23, 2014 Author Share #3 Posted July 23, 2014 Thank you rirakuma .. I'll probably have it serviced by Leica. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
r7photo Posted July 26, 2014 Share #4 Posted July 26, 2014 My lux works perfectly Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
retapi Posted July 30, 2014 Share #5 Posted July 30, 2014 Thank you rirakuma .. I'll probably have it serviced by Leica. Yes, you should. This is not normal and pretty annoying while fine-adjusting the focus. But you may have noticed this yourself already Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoppyman Posted July 30, 2014 Share #6 Posted July 30, 2014 As others have commented this is not normal and can reduce the accuracy of the focus. It means that the same exact rotation position of the focus ring if you move from near to far or far to near is not always the same. You may only notice in critical situations but it does matter. Customer Care at Wetzlar can definitely fix this for you. That lens mechanical design is very complex and they can almost rebuild the lens to get it perfect for you. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicolaz Posted July 31, 2014 Author Share #7 Posted July 31, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) Thank you guys .. I also notice some focus shift but I'm not really sure it depends on the play or maybe the lens has to be "calibrated". The Leica lab in New Jersey has 6 weeks of waiting list and during the summer it sounds ages. Regarding the focus shift (I apologize for the silly question but I'm new to this kind of things) do I have to send the camera as well!? I have a sum 35mm and never notice shift (to be honest I shot f2 only in dark) Thanks Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
k-hawinkler Posted July 31, 2014 Share #8 Posted July 31, 2014 Thank you guys .. I also notice some focus shift but I'm not really sure it depends on the play or maybe the lens has to be "calibrated". The Leica lab in New Jersey has 6 weeks of waiting list and during the summer it sounds ages. Regarding the focus shift (I apologize for the silly question but I'm new to this kind of things) do I have to send the camera as well!? I have a sum 35mm and never notice shift (to be honest I shot f2 only in dark) Thanks Camera and lenses get independently adjusted against a standard. To send in the camera and lenses is a good idea to make sure they are within spec after adjustment. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicolaz Posted July 31, 2014 Author Share #9 Posted July 31, 2014 Can I ask you a question a bit off topic? I always wanted to buy Zeiss or Voigtlander lenses and I'm positive I'll do but I'm a bit concern about this kind of things. Is Leica able to clean/adjust non Leica lenses? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
k-hawinkler Posted July 31, 2014 Share #10 Posted July 31, 2014 Can I ask you a question a bit off topic? I always wanted to buy Zeiss or Voigtlander lenses and I'm positive I'll do but I'm a bit concern about this kind of things. Is Leica able to clean/adjust non Leica lenses? Leica is certainly able but unwilling. They won't do that. However, there are third party, independent technicians that can do that. Also Zeiss and Cosina/Voigtlander should service their gear. BTW, in which country do you live? Here are listed repair specialists. http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/customer-forum/176369-repair-specialists.html http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-news/leica-repair-specialists/ Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicolaz Posted July 31, 2014 Author Share #11 Posted July 31, 2014 USA Connecticut .. Sherry Krauter seems to be the closer but I guess I can send it via fedex or USPS anywhere in us.. I may not need them but it's good know I can rely on a real repair service in case I'll really need it. Thanks you for the info Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
k-hawinkler Posted July 31, 2014 Share #12 Posted July 31, 2014 USA Connecticut .. Sherry Krauter seems to be the closer but I guess I can send it via fedex or USPS anywhere in us.. I may not need them but it's good know I can rely on a real repair service in case I'll really need it. Thanks you for the info Sherry Krauter has an excellent reputation as does Don Goldberg (DAG) in Wisconsin. They will also let you know whether they can do specific work or not. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoppyman Posted July 31, 2014 Share #13 Posted July 31, 2014 (edited) Thank you guys .. I also notice some focus shift but I'm not really sure it depends on the play or maybe the lens has to be "calibrated". The Leica lab in New Jersey has 6 weeks of waiting list and during the summer it sounds ages. Regarding the focus shift (I apologize for the silly question but I'm new to this kind of things) do I have to send the camera as well!? I have a sum 35mm and never notice shift (to be honest I shot f2 only in dark) Thanks By focus shift you do mean that when your subject is in the sharpest plane at one aperture, that sharpest plane shifts when you change the aperture? I have never noticed any shift in use with the Summilux-M 50 ASPH personally. The DoF is very small at the larger apertures when you are close of course. Any play in the focus ring can definitely affect the repeatability of the movement. Both your camera and the lens do need to be adjusted correctly of course. The adjustments have to be to a specification but as with any mechanical device there has to be some tolerance within that specification. So depending on how close to perfectly in the centre of the tolerance range each item is adjusted, you could have a pairing that is both in the centre, one at each end, both at one end or any combination in theory. But I wouldn't stress too much on that theory. Cameras and lenses need to be adjusted within the specification and all should work together. Any small errors may only be noticeable in critical scenarios. I can say that I had to send my M (Typ 240) and my Summilux-M 50 ASPH to Leica Camera for adjustment after I dropped them to a hard impact. The camera was repaired and adjusted first and only after that was the lens done. What came back I tested as carefully as I could and the accuracy of the combination was within a couple of mm's at 2 metres at f/1.4. That is much better than anyone I know can handhold a camera for reliably. Edited July 31, 2014 by hoppyman Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicolaz Posted August 1, 2014 Author Share #14 Posted August 1, 2014 By focus shift ... That is much better than anyone I know can handhold a camera for reliably. I actually used the wrong term. I was talking about front/back focus. I took a better look at my shots and I have a feeling that the "play" affect the overall performances of the lens which looks less sharper than other sample I've tried. 1/500 should be more than enough however many shots look terrible at 100%. I shot handhold 1/15 with 35 Lux and Cron and they look perfect to my eyes. I'll probably send just the lens and if it will come back "well calibrated" I'll be happy otherwise I'll send the camera and lens together. I'll give it a try and in the mean time I'll shot with the Cron 35 (or if I get crazy I'll buy a Voigtlander 50mm 1.5 asph!) Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicolaz Posted September 22, 2014 Author Share #15 Posted September 22, 2014 Just an update: the lens is finally back but it almost has the same issue. From 0.7 to 5 meters the focus ring is really precise however right after 5 meters it has the same issue (actually is little bit less noticeable however it is still annoying). Maybe the floating elements? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted September 23, 2014 Share #16 Posted September 23, 2014 Just an update: the lens is finally back but it almost has the same issue. From 0.7 to 5 meters the focus ring is really precise however right after 5 meters it has the same issue (actually is little bit less noticeable however it is still annoying). Maybe the floating elements? A complaint with some samples of the 50 Summilux ASPH involves a 'sticky' focus action, which interferes with fine focus adjustments. It doesn't sound like this is your issue. However, I did explain in this thread that Leica NJ was unable to fix my issue, while DAG (Don Goldberg) fixed it….quickly and easily. You might give Don a call to discuss. Jeff Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicolaz Posted September 23, 2014 Author Share #17 Posted September 23, 2014 Thank you Jeff I'll give it a try. I also notice that the 50mm frame line is way too much off toward infinite (never had a feeling with the 35 mm). Do you suggest Leica NJ or DAG for this? Is this a common issue for M240 (never had issue with M8.2 and M9). Thanks Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted September 23, 2014 Share #18 Posted September 23, 2014 I also notice that the 50mm frame line is way too much off toward infinite... I'm not clear about your concern. The only difference in frame lines (besides their illumination) between the M8.2, M9 and the M(240) is that the M9 lines are optimized for 1m, while the other two are optimized for 2m. The effect of course applies to all frame lines, to varying degrees, not just the 50 lines. But that has nothing to do with the lens focus issue you raised. If you have a camera concern, I don't think DAG will work on the new M, as he (and other independent repair specialists like Sherry Krauter) aren't typically set up to deal with digital Ms. But that's easy enough to clarify with a call…..he'll obviously need to know more specifics about your concern. Jeff Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicolaz Posted September 23, 2014 Author Share #19 Posted September 23, 2014 I meant to say: what I frame is not what I get. I learned that rangefinder is not accurate to short distance however never had issue with long distances. Now with the M240 and 50mm Lux I have to frame on the right on purpose. It seems to much to me. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted September 24, 2014 Share #20 Posted September 24, 2014 I meant to say: what I frame is not what I get. I learned that rangefinder is not accurate to short distance however never had issue with long distances. Now with the M240 and 50mm Lux I have to frame on the right on purpose. It seems to much to me. Unless you have a rare problem, the frame line concept is the same for digital Ms. See FAQ #12 and #13, for instance. The M(240) is not conceptually any different from the M8.2 in this regard, as I noted above regarding the fact that the frame lines are "optimized" for a distance of 2m. Nor is the frame line shift due to parallax compensation. I can't tell if you mean something else. If you're near a dealer, you may want to compare cameras and lens. Jeff Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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