Samir Jahjah Posted January 8, 2010 Share #1 Posted January 8, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) Given the scarcity of the current Summilux 50mm, what are the pros and cons of a new 'old-stock' Summilux 50mm Asph, but not coded. The M9 allows me to select the lens manually (I am fine with that as most of my lenses are not coded), so the question is really whether the coded version of the Summilux has been improved compared to the non-coded one? As for the price, is it simply worth the price of a coded lens minus the cost of getting it coded? Views, comments? Samir Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted January 8, 2010 Posted January 8, 2010 Hi Samir Jahjah, Take a look here Old Stock 50mm Summilux Asph Non-Coded. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
wattsy Posted January 8, 2010 Share #2 Posted January 8, 2010 Optically there will not be any difference. The only thing to bear in mind is that, after the release of the M8, this lens was notorious in this forum for back-focus issues (not to be confused with focus shift). My own copy showed it and required two trips to Solms to be put right. I suspect that more recent examples (e.g. ones made during the 6-bit coding era) are calibrated to the so-called tighter tolerances required for the M8/M9 because there no longer seem to be so many complaints. Test the lens (wide-open) in the shop. If it's good, buy it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
glenerrolrd Posted January 8, 2010 Share #3 Posted January 8, 2010 I would 2nd the observation on back focus issues. My 50 1.4asph made 4 trips to Solms to correct back focus issues and was finally replaced. Be aware that the 50 asph has been more difficult to add 6 bit coding. On most M lenses the standard procedure is to exchange your mount for another that has been coded. On the 50 asph they found that you need to use the original mount because some lenses require shimming to fine tune the calibration. On this lens I would only buy a 6 bit version and only if I could test the focus calibartion with a return possible. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Samir Jahjah Posted January 9, 2010 Author Share #4 Posted January 9, 2010 Test the lens (wide-open) in the shop. If it's good, buy it. I thought the problem of focus shift arises as you reduce the aperture, and not wide open. I did some test in the store and it is hard to tell....I will try to get it for an hour or so to try it out in real-life situation. I had two luxes on my M8 and both did have significant focusing problems...while none of my other lenses had problems at all ! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Samir Jahjah Posted January 9, 2010 Author Share #5 Posted January 9, 2010 I would 2nd the observation on back focus issues. My 50 1.4asph made 4 trips to Solms to correct back focus issues and was finally replaced. Be aware that the 50 asph has been more difficult to add 6 bit coding. On most M lenses the standard procedure is to exchange your mount for another that has been coded. On the 50 asph they found that you need to use the original mount because some lenses require shimming to fine tune the calibration. On this lens I would only buy a 6 bit version and only if I could test the focus calibartion with a return possible. Thanks for this information...I was not aware at all of this coding issue with the 50mm Lux. I did test a Coded version in another store, and he had obvious focusing problems, basically the point of focus would be about 1 meter behind the point I focused on. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
doug_m Posted January 9, 2010 Share #6 Posted January 9, 2010 It is my understanding that the only difference between an older 50 lux ASPH and a new one is 6 bit coding- otherwise they are the same "version." I bought my 50 lux ASPH when it first came out and subsequently had it coded by Leica after the M8 debut. I have had no focusing or other problems whatsoever while using it on an M8 or M9. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
glenerrolrd Posted January 9, 2010 Share #7 Posted January 9, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) .I would hope that most people never had a problem with their 50 1.4 asph and I am sure you can get another dozen people to indicate their lenses are spot on. I spent a lot of time and money working on this directly with Leica NJ . The 50 1.4 asph was by far the most difficult to calibrate ..more so even than the Noctilux. (the posts documenting my experience are in the archive ). By version I was referring only to the 6 bit coding as the lenses are otherwise identical. I have had dozens of M lenses coded by Leica and most (but not all ) have been straightforward . The summiluxes and the noctilux have been more difficult and not something I would want to repeat. The 50 1.4 asph is a superb lens and highly recommended but I would hold out for a coded one and I would test it . Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Samir Jahjah Posted January 9, 2010 Author Share #8 Posted January 9, 2010 .I would hope that most people never had a problem with their 50 1.4 asph and I am sure you can get another dozen people to indicate their lenses are spot on. I spent a lot of time and money working on this directly with Leica NJ . The 50 1.4 asph was by far the most difficult to calibrate ..more so even than the Noctilux. Why is that? I am using a VC Asph 1.5 Nokton ... not sure if it has the same design as the Lux, but it focuses perfectly well and its performance is amazing. So why is the lux such a difficult lens to calibrate? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wattsy Posted January 9, 2010 Share #9 Posted January 9, 2010 I thought the problem of focus shift arises as you reduce the aperture, and not wide open. I made the point clearly that the issue is back focus and not focus shift. These are different issues. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
colorflow Posted January 9, 2010 Share #10 Posted January 9, 2010 Most, if not all, of the front or back focusing problems can be easily re-calibrated by someone competent. My 50 Lux asph was back focusing and both my 50 Lux pre-asph and 90 Cron AA were front focusing. All were adjusted by DAG and are now focusing perfectly. I sent them to DAG even though two of those were still under Passport warranty. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gpleica Posted January 10, 2010 Share #11 Posted January 10, 2010 Who is DAG? Thanks for the information...I may have to send in my 50 Lux to have it checked out. Geoffrey Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
colorflow Posted January 10, 2010 Share #12 Posted January 10, 2010 Who is DAG?Thanks for the information...I may have to send in my 50 Lux to have it checked out. Geoffrey Don Goldberg at DAG Camera Parts He is one of the mostly trusted repair person for Leica. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter_n Posted January 10, 2010 Share #13 Posted January 10, 2010 He is also one of the most overworked. Terrific at what he does but you will have a long wait. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hacker Posted January 12, 2010 Share #14 Posted January 12, 2010 Never had an issue with the stock 6-bit 50mm Lux. Worked flawlessly on my M8, M8.2 and now the M9. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wattsy Posted January 12, 2010 Share #15 Posted January 12, 2010 Never had an issue with the stock 6-bit 50mm Lux. Worked flawlessly on my M8, M8.2 and now the M9. Great, but that misses the point - the discussion here is about buying a non-coded example of the lens. There is plenty of anecdotal evidence to suggest that a number of these lenses show backfocus at the widest apertures and require a trip (or two) to Solms to be put right. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
colorflow Posted January 12, 2010 Share #16 Posted January 12, 2010 Actually the same problem exists with some coded ones too. Mine was coded and took two trips to Leica and one trip to DAG before it was corrected. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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