Summilux 75mm Focusing Issue on M8

[ryee3]

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Are there any focusing issues with Summilux 75mm on the M8? I get the imprression my lens is front focussing at bit.

 

How do the repair folks actually fix this and once repaired will I have a problem using it on my film Ms?

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[rickp13]

i bought my summilux used, and had difficulties focusing correctly in the early days. two changes (plus increasing experience) helped.

 

1) started using a 1.35 magnifier with diopter adjustment (may not apply to you, but my eyes are pretty old and i do wear glasses)

2) along with a new old noctilux which needed coding, i sent the m8 and summilux to the factory for 'fine tuning' to each other. the coding and some other work (lubrication) were invoiced normally, but there was no visible charge for the fine tuning that i'm aware of.

 

both lenses work properly on the m9 which followed the 8.

 

good luck

 

rick

 

ps. i understand that correct focusing on the digital sensor is more critical, so i wouldn't expect 'adjusted' lenses to cause any problems on a film m. jaapv, adan and others may wish to correct or confirm.

[ho_co]

yee:

I had a 75/1.4 Canadian which I bought new. Seemed okay on film, was 'way off on M8--backfocused by ca 10 feet at 30 foot focusing distance. But sharp as a tack at infinity.

 

I sent it to NJ for focus checking and coding. They forwarded it to Solms, who adjusted focus and returned it to NJ. NJ coded it. The fly in the ointment is having two shops involved.

 

I don't know where the problem arose, could have been Solms, could have been Allendale, but when I got the lens back it backfocused slightly at all distances.

 

Returned for re-do to NJ who forwarded to Solms. After this second trip, it's excellent at all distances, although it seems maybe not quite as sharp at infinity as it was when all other distances were off.

 

I don't know what Leica does to fix it, but they can do it. Just tell them that it doesn't focus right with M8 and it will probably come back working fine. You won't have any problem using it with film.

 

You're aware that the 75 Summilux was one of the first lenses Peter Karbe discontinued after the M8 came out, simply because it's a tricky lens to optimize for a digital sensor.

 

If you've got any doubts whether it's right, it's probably not; Leica can tell figure it out if you send them the lens.

 

Good luck.

[H. James Wolf]

This is one of my favorite lenses with the M8. Typically, it and a pre-asph Summilux 35 are the most used lenses with this camera. None have been optimized/adjusted, and the focus seems to be spot on, even wide open at one meter or less.

The 75 was bought new quite some years ago and has had one repair - a loose element fixed by DAG about 10 years ago. Other than that, no problems with either M8 or any of the film Leicas.

[Michael-IIIf]

Seemed okay on film, was 'way off on M8--backfocused by ca 10 feet at 30 foot focusing distance. But sharp as a tack at infinity.

 

I've had the opposite experience. Mine was very hit and miss on my M6 and had been put to the back of the shelf gathering dust until I bought an M8. I was pleasantly surprised to see that I manage to nail quite decent hit rate with it on the M8. It has become one of my favourite lenses.

 

The only downside, as I've mentioned here before, is you are obliged to always shoot it at f1.4. To do otherwise means you could have bought the cheaper and lighter Summicron

[ho_co]

Oh, Michael, I am shamed!

 

But in my defense, when I bought the 75 Summilux, it was the only 75 Leica offered.

 

If only I had known that only 30 years in the future I'd have been able to buy a lighter-weight and apochromatic lens, I could have waited. (Sniff, sniff, sob, sob)

 

But I wouldn't have. And I love the lens.

[zipper]

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I've used mine on both MP and M8, and it's become my favourite. Someone said it is 2 lenses in one, smooth and creamy bokeh wide open, and (according to Erwin P.) matches the 90 ASPH at 5.6, and that takes some doing. It needs care focusing, as you know, and a VF magnifier helps ;-/ Oh, forgot to mention I had a loose element fixed too, apparently Leitz Canada didn't feel it necessary to use thread-lock, according to Malcolm Taylor.

[Rick]

I have one of the last Canadian versions made at the Midland plant. This is where Dr. Mandler designed and oversaw the production of this lens before the plant was sold to Raytheon. The lens was discontinued by Peter Karabe but, Dr. Mandler stated that it was his favorite. It was designed after his classic 50mm Noctilux.

 

I have not had any problem with focus with my copy on the M8 or the M9. Lovely lens. Relatively few were made and I will never sell it. The character of this lens when shot wide open will probably never be seen again. And, stopped down it is very sharp and the contrast is excellent. This is THE cream machine!

[Arif]

I love this lens so much that I have two. Luckily both of them work great with my M9 and my MP/M7/M6 but I did have some difficulty with my M8.2 which I have now sold. When in tune, this lens is a joy to use.

[zipper]

I love this lens so much that I have two. Luckily both of them work great with my M9 and my MP/M7/M6 but I did have some difficulty with my M8.2 which I have now sold. When in tune, this lens is a joy to use.

you have TWO Arif! How did this happen, did you buy the second by mistake? Only joking, I think. 2 x75 = twice the fun...!

[JWW]

The 75mm Summilux has such shallow DOF it's tricky getting right focus even if calibrated correctly. It's was a favorite lens for portraits on the M8 and now on my M9 but I believe it was even trickier to focus on the M8 probably due to cropping. If you have the time in taking a shot, it's best to bracket focus. The RF and lens calibration has to be right on with this lens and also the Noctilux. Either the RF or the lens can be off but best bet is to contact either Leica or DAG and they can adjust. I've found out that even a new lens sometimes needs a fine adjust. If calibrated for the M8 it will focus correctly on the film M as long as the film M RF is correct.

[Arif]

you have TWO Arif! How did this happen, did you buy the second by mistake? Only joking, I think. 2 x75 = twice the fun...!

 

LOL! Actually since this is a difficult lens, prices dropped dramatically in Japan recently and I could find a very good condition second one at approx. $1,700 which I thought was a steal and was "totally unfair for the quality of this lens". Due to the economic situation, Leica prices have really come down in Japan and now I can see rare collector sets on sale for significant price reductions. Great time to buy but only the Chinese buyers have money ;(

[ampguy]

I've had 2 of the last German ones with built in hoods, and have had accurate focus, and no discernible focus shift when testing for it, on the M8, RD1s, and M4Ps, and M6s.

 

However, I paid quite a hefty price, especially on my 2nd and current 75/1.4 lux over a Canadian one.

 

If you search this site, and other RF sites, there is some discussion about how these are setup.

 

I'm pretty sure the Canadian ones and German ones are the same optically, in fact, I've heard the glass in the German ones is made in Canada, but assembled in Germany with a different lighter mount.

 

The key thing for me was I didn't want to have it sent off and have that downtime.

 

At one time, the thing to do, whether sent to Leica NJ, or to DAG or Sherry K was to have it aligned at Solms with a special machine they have for collimating this lens.

 

These days though, I'd check back with DAG and Sherry K. again though, because perhaps they have setups to align these if someone needs it to focus accurately.

[Gerard]

Well, after doing my best to enjoy my back-focussing 75 'lux... I've popped it in the post to Malcolm Taylor. I’m aware this is a Marmite lens; and I just love it to bits. But taking a few snapshots of my son last night, I came to the decision it was time to part myself from it for a few weeks with the aim of eliminating the frustrating need to compensate for the back-focus which, on top of the long focus throw, was dampening my enjoyment of such a beautiful piece of engineering.

 

I had an interesting chat with Malcolm about the 75L and its common faults (loose elements, poor mount alignment and, frequently, issues with the rangefinder cam on the M8 it's being used on) and it will be really interesting to see what his investigation highlights. I'll update you as soon as I hear back. I miss it already.

[zipper]

Well, after doing my best to enjoy my back-focussing 75 'lux... I've popped it in the post to Malcolm Taylor. I’m aware this is a Marmite lens; and I just love it to bits. But taking a few snapshots of my son last night, I came to the decision it was time to part myself from it for a few weeks with the aim of eliminating the frustrating need to compensate for the back-focus which, on top of the long focus throw, was dampening my enjoyment of such a beautiful piece of engineering.

 

I had an interesting chat with Malcolm about the 75L and its common faults (loose elements, poor mount alignment and, frequently, issues with the rangefinder cam on the M8 it's being used on) and it will be really interesting to see what his investigation highlights. I'll update you as soon as I hear back. I miss it already.

 

Thanks DM, I'd be interested to know what Malcolm says about your 75, he sorted mine a few months back.

[Gerard]

Malcolm found the position of the optical cell was out by a fair margin and some issues with the mount. Common faults on early V1 75 Lux’s and Nocti’s, he says. A new shim, cam spring, and some Taylor magic, and the 75mm is perfect. He’s such a nice guy; incredibly skilled and exceptionally good value. Test shot of Malcolm below.

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[zipper]

Malcolm found the position of the optical cell was out by a fair margin and some issues with the mount. Common faults on early V1 75 Lux’s and Nocti’s, he says. A new shim, cam spring, and some Taylor magic, and the 75mm is perfect. He’s such a nice guy; incredibly skilled and exceptionally good value. Test shot of Malcolm below.

 

thanks for posting that info on the 75 and Nocti, I have only spoken to Malcolm by 'phone, so it's good to be able to put a ace to the voice!