Summilux 24 Backfocus

[batmobile]

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just got my 24 lux and I am very pleased. Initially I was terrifdied that the aperture ring had stuck as I could not shift it from f1.4 but after some gentle and carefully conisdered pressure it unstuck itself and is now perfect. In fact the aperture ring feel is about as perfect as it gets.

 

Focus is smack on at min and max distances. In between seems smack on too. I tested by placing a chapstick with visible barcode and print at varying distances and also placed inside a bamboo screen which allows me to see if front or rear focusing at distance. All seems perfect.

 

One can see how the lens improves as one stops down but it is very good wide open and certainly very usable for either up close work or at infinity. I was shooting B&W film BTW as this is curently all I use.

 

The size is not as bad as I expected. Its large compared to my 28 Biogon and heavy of course, but balances fine on a MP. A touch front heavy but not bad at all. The shape of the hood and overall design seems to mask the size somehow. VF obstruction is fine. Better than my 21 2.8 ZM with square hood it seems.

 

Bokeh is very smooth as reported by others and the overall contrast of the lens seems rather like the 35 Summarit I have, as does the fingerprint. Smooth and sharp, but not clinical. I'm excited to see how it fares for field work. Unfortunately the series 7 filters I need for it are not yet with me, so I am unlikely to use it outside in bright conditions with blue skies until I get my yellow filter, but without filter, I might do some interior shooting with it if the opportunity presents itself.

 

Tony Rose tested mine before despatch and thankfully that has saved me a lot of grief. It might be different on a M9, but at first glance it appears to be smack on. Delta 100 in Xtol is not very forgiving as to where focus falls, so unless emulsion thikckness could hide such things, this example appears to be performing perfectly and just as intended.

[Marty]

If mine were stuck at f1.4 I wouldn't even notice. It is almost exclusively wide open. Whatever light goes in at the front somehow always comes out as pure magic on the other side. [/rave]

[batmobile]

If mine were stuck at f1.4 I wouldn't even notice. It is almost exclusively wide open. Whatever light goes in at the front somehow always comes out as pure magic on the other side. [/rave]

 

That's a shame - there are so many other possibilities beyond wide open! Many more than at wide open in fact!

[63strat]

I just tried a brand new 24 lux at Samy's in LA, fresh out if the box for the first time, and put white gloves on as per the dealer's request. Sure enough, the aperture ring was completey stuck at 1.4. Applied decent force, but still stuck. Didn't want to force it, so I stopped. Then, a second later, it became mysteriously unstuck. About a minute later it got stuck on 2 or 2.8, can't remember which.

 

Baffles me how such an expensive and finely crafted lens can have such issues.