New 90mm Summicrons?

[chuckw]

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As I understand it, from reading here and elsewhere, the 90mm Summicron is not currently being manufactured because Leica is trying to resolve focusing issues. Does anyone have any insight on where this stands and when we might see new 90mm examples?

 

If I were to find a new one some place and buy it would I be in a world of hurt with focusing problems?

[Overgaard]

I haven't heard about people having focusing problems, only that Leica wanted to change the way it was constructed so as to be able to adjust focus accuracy or something of that sort.

 

As far as I recall, there was a 90/2 in stock in Leica Mayfair in London. You can ask them about this, and about if they know of a new one being made.

[glenerrolrd]

Chuck

 

This is the one ..long ,fast , M lens that I have had no problems in using. I always used a magnifier and diopter combination to be sure I could see and I now use the 1.4X .

 

What I like about this lens is the focusing has a medium throw ....its long enough to focus up close at F2 and yet its still fast enough to follow a person walking . To contrast a 75/2 summicron is very short throw (turns from close to far) ..which makes it fast and a 75/1.4 summilux has a long throw which helps in precise focusing.

 

I like the size when using the lens but its big if you carry it in a vest or jacket.

 

You could hedge your bets by finding a nice used one and sending it to DAG or other for calibration. Then you would know you have a good calibration to start .

 

I am surprised a bit that Leica maybe reworking this lens. I ve never seen any focus shift . It could be another effort to find the glass.

 

This a lens I almost always carry .

 

Roger

[bybrett]

I haven't heard about people having focusing problems, only that Leica wanted to change the way it was constructed so as to be able to adjust focus accuracy or something of that sort.

 

As far as I recall, there was a 90/2 in stock in Leica Mayfair in London. You can ask them about this, and about if they know of a new one being made.

 

It got sold last week.

[tdtaylor]

I have a 90 APO, obviously pre-problem or pre-adjustment, and it is just fine. I find any focusing problems tend to be operator error.

 

And I found a 35 lux ASPH (old) to have focus shift, so I am aware of the issue. Just remember, 90s take a tad more effort to focus, but at an older age, I still find I can do fine without the aids-for now

[chuckw]

Thanks for the helpful replies. It appears that the lens is worth buying IF I can find one. Although I do wonder when Leica will complete their "fix" and put this lens back into production?

[adan]

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I haven't heard anything about "focusing issues or "redesign" (sources??) - but Leica has always built their lenses in batches for efficiency. Set up the grinding machines for "90 f/2" elements, crank out 2,000 of each, and then reset the machines for a different lens and hope the 2,000 will last until the next batch.

 

Usually the batches are sized and scheduled such that they never quite run out, but a spike in lens demand due to the M9 left Leica short of some lenses this past year (50 f/1.4, 90 f/2, etc.).

 

Some of the very new designs (21 f/1.4, 50 f/.95) did run into quality problems as production was ramped up, causing delays while those were sorted out. But Solms has been building 90 f/2 APOs for a decade without glitches.

[RobertJRB]

Thanks for the helpful replies. It appears that the lens is worth buying IF I can find one. Although I do wonder when Leica will complete their "fix" and put this lens back into production?

 

I always thought leica just replaced it with the 90 summarit.

[UliWer]

..

This is the one ..long ,fast , M lens that I have had no problems in using. I always used a magnifier and diopter combination to be sure I could see and I now use the 1.4X .

 

What I like about this lens is the focusing has a medium throw ....its long enough to focus up close at F2 and yet its still fast enough to follow a person walking . To contrast a 75/2 summicron is very short throw (turns from close to far) ..which makes it fast ...

 

I like the size when using the lens but its big if you carry it in a vest or jacket.

 

 

From my experience I can only support this statement. I even think it would be a mistake to change the lens - especially with a shorter throw like the 2/75. I find it easier to focus the 2/90 wide open than the 2/75, where a small movement results in big focussing differences. Others may differ and prefer the 2/75...

 

As long as we don't have an official statement by Leica, I don't beleive that they are really going to change the lens - only if they see a chance to better the optics, which I think almost impossible as it is already one of the best lenses ever made. The sunshade could be more effective in some situations, but this would make it even bigger with size already being it's disadvantage on the market.

 

The lens always has been rare in shops. When I bought mine just ten years ago I was told by the dealer that I was lucky he had one, since he had been waiting very long for Leica's delivery and had had to send away customers from the U.S.... This was the time when internet fora didn't exist...

 

The 90mm Summarit didn't replace the Summicron AA, it replaced the popular 2.8/90 Elmarit.

[glenerrolrd]

I am always up for a new improved M lens but this is one that still looks pretty good..unless they can make it smaller and still keep the qualities of the current version.

[farnz]

Chuck,

 

I've been using a 90AA for 4 years or so and have never had a problem with focus shift and have never heard of anyone else having a problem so I'd be surprised to hear that Leica is rectifying it.

 

The 90AA is an exceptionally good lens imho and very nearly as good as the 50 'Lux asph (which I believe is actually a 50AA although it's oddly not advertised as such).

 

Pete.

[tdtaylor]

As an aside- my wife was handing me my camera, and dropped it into the gravel...M9 fine, but the front coating of the 90 AA is fairly messed up. Testing showed the small pinpricks don't affect quality (except into the sun). Anyone have an idea how much it costs to replace the front glass element or replace the coating.

 

Beides the mishap my works just fine, although I am headed on a trip and my 90 TE got the call.

[doug_m]

I traded in a 90 Cron AA 6 bit latest model- used once-in mint condition to Glazers Camera in Seattle, Washington USA a few weeks ago (to fund a 35 lux purchase). I do not know if it is still there. Ask for Mark the Leica guy if you call up to check.

[Overgaard]

As an aside- my wife was handing me my camera, and dropped it into the gravel...M9 fine, but the front coating of the 90 AA is fairly messed up. Testing showed the small pinpricks don't affect quality (except into the sun). Anyone have an idea how much it costs to replace the front glass element or replace the coating.

 

Beides the mishap my works just fine, although I am headed on a trip and my 90 TE got the call.

 

I would just mail Leica at cs@leica-camera.com and ask. It's handmade and can be fixed with a new coating or front lens.

[beoon]

As I understand it, from reading here and elsewhere, the 90mm Summicron is not currently being manufactured because Leica is trying to resolve focusing issues. Does anyone have any insight on where this stands and when we might see new 90mm examples?

 

If I were to find a new one some place and buy it would I be in a world of hurt with focusing problems?

 

I purchased a mint condition late 90mm Apo Summicron lens recently and it is currently in Solms to get 6 bit coded. On the quotation from Leica service there is no mention of anything apart from the 6 bit coding.

 

I also have currently in Solms a brand new 50mm Summilux Asph which which I bought new in July (after months of searching for one). When the lens was delivered one of the screws on the outer barrel has sharp edges (i think it has been over tightened and "burred" the head of the screw).

So the screw is being replaced under warranty, but the interesting thing is on the quotation from Leica it also states "adjustment of all parts."

 

I would have thought that if there are issues with the 90mm lens then this would have been mentioned on the quotation?

 

Alan

[ho_co]

I purchased a mint condition late 90mm Apo Summicron lens recently and it is currently in Solms to get 6 bit coded. On the quotation from Leica service there is no mention of anything apart from the 6 bit coding....

Alan--

Just a guess:

 

Sending a lens for coding is a single, fixed process, probably with a single coded entry for the work sheet.

 

When a product goes in under warranty, the work entry automatically includes a full check. Two reasons IMO: 1) Gee, if this part was defective, who knows what else we might find? And 2) Let the customer know we're interested in doing the job fully.

 

 

... I would have thought that if there are issues with the 90mm lens then this would have been mentioned on the quotation?

 

Theoretically, yes. If something were obviously not right, they'd have noticed and offered to fix it.

 

But due to the fixed-price nature of the coding request, and because you didn't submit a request like "also check focus," it's possible that your assumption is incorrect. (Seeing coding as a 'modification' or 'upgrade,' not as a 'repair.')

 

 

In other words, in all likelihood you're correct and have nothing to worry about.

 

 

Sorry if this raises doubts, but I wanted to be as specific as I could from my own experience.

[peter_n]

I had a 90 ASPH and I thought mine was comparatively soft close up, great at medium and longer distances though. I exchanged it for a pre-ASPH E55 and have been very happy with that lens. I put it down to sample variation, as I bought it among a bunch of new ASPH lenses almost all of which had problems of one kind or another.