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50mm Lux asph...Barrel Wobble Normal??

D&A

By D&A
in Customer Forum

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D&A

D&A

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Hi All,

 

Today I had a chance to use an aquantences 50mm f1.4 Lux Asph (6-bit). After shooting it for a while, I noticed a slight wobble (play) in the front half (part) of the lens relative to the rear. I dismounted the lens and put on the front and rear lens cap and checked again in hand. Yep there was definitely play if I held the lower half of the lens in one hand and the upper half in the other. There was a slight (or a bit more) side to side and/or up and down wobble. I recall when the 50mm Lux asph was first released I thought I detected some play in that lens (different sample) but at the time didn't give it much thought. Since this is the second sample I've observed this with and know there is a floating element (or group) in the design of this lens, I thought maybe this might have something to do what I've observed. All external screws are tight (we checked).

 

Anyone else have any desgree of wobble "play" as described in their 50mm Lux asph lens...so I'll know whether or not to suggest to him that it might need adjusting. Thanks!

 

Dave (D&A)

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LeicaBraz

LeicaBraz

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Got mine on Monday. No play, but the lens aperture dial makes a really horrible, loud noise, like it reverberates in an empty space. Much different than the solid, quiet move and subdued noise of the Summicron and all the other Leica lenses. Mine is the metallic version. Think it may be caused by the movable hood?

Otherwise, works perfectly.

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D&A

D&A

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Yes, aperture ring also makes a metallic hollow sound as you described but its his wobble that concerns him. What did you mean you have the "metallic" model..orwere you just kindding (didn't see a smiley face)

 

Anyhow I'll wait for a few more responses but looks like the wobble I described certainly shouldn't be there. Thanks!

 

Dave

(D&A)

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nick.edwards1

nick.edwards1

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I had an initial problem with my 50 Summilux asph back-focusing on my M8 and the focusing ring was quite stiff to turn - I was reluctant to return it to Solms so I put up with this for a while - then I dropped the lens and MP body (strap slipped from my shoulder) - the camera and lens landed lens down with my B & W yellow filter and lens hood taking the impact .The lens seemed to be OK but I eventually noticed play in the lens much as you described - the play in this case was bad enough to affect the rangefinder focusing mechanism - I took the advice of this forum and returned the lens to Solms. I got it back a few weeks ago - The play was eliminated, the focusing is now much smoother and the back focus was eliminated - focus accuracy is now spot on.

Following my experience I would never again be reluctant to send anything to Solms for repair - they did a great job.

If you do nothing you will continue to be unhappy with a great lens, so get it parcelled up and in the post - you will not be disappointed.

 

Best regards,

 

Nick

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ho_co

ho_co

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Got my 50/1.4 aspheric about a month ago. Perfect focus, no wobble.

 

However, I noticed that if I hold it under running water for longer than a couple minutes, it tends to cloud up. Can I join the club? ;)

 

 

 

Seriously, there shouldn't be a wobble between the mount and the optics of any Leica lens. If you've got a wobble, get it fixed.

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D&A

D&A

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Thanks everyone for the feedback and timely replies! Seems like that lens has to go to Leica. Yes, he was hesititant to send it in after I noticed the wobble since the lens is focusing perfectly and everything else is fine. In time though I suppose it might get worse.

 

Japp, I'd say from what you mentioned (a mild form of wobble), pretty much sums up this lens. That other "early" 50mm Lux asph that I tried out also probably suffered from the same thing, so it appears these 50mm Lux asph lenses may be a bit more susceptable to developing a slight wobble, possibly due to its particular type of construction.

 

O.K., now tell me which brand of superglue I should use to mend the lens? :)

 

Dave (D&A)

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hoppyman

hoppyman

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You mean to say then that you had the problem and had to send it for adjustment?

Thanks

No. My lens never had any barrel wobble. None of my Leica M lenses have ever had that problem. When my M8 was upgraded the Solms technician volunteered to check my lenses for focus accuracy against my newly re-assembled and calibrated M8. They detected some looseness in the focus action at that time. This was due to my mis-handling (thousands of full cycle operations to 'loosen' the focus action. All I did was wear it out of adjustment).

 

Solms then serviced it and my 75 for free. The play in the focus ring (my fault) was fixed for free when they adjusted my lenses perfectly (also for free) to my upgraded camera. I got the finder and shutter upgrades but that means that the whole camera is checked and disassembled as part of the service (and extra 12 months warranty).

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  • 2 weeks later...
doug_m

doug_m

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I bought one of the first 50 lux ASPH lenses made -which after time developed some play as described in earlier posts on this thread. It was sent to Leica USA before the Passport warranty expired and fixed. However the play has returned and I also now notice that the lens focuses just shy of infinity in terms of vertical lines lining up in the rangefinder patch.

 

But guess what? The focus is dead on in terms of results- at all distances- including the "infinity" problem described above.

 

So I am inclined not to send it in for a "fix" as the highest priority is results and I'm afraid it will be worse off if anyone messes with it. And I'd rather save my money for something else.

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D&A

D&A

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Doug, after you got your 50mm Lux asph back from Leica N.J. for the wobble, how long have you used it before it developed the wobble problem again? Was it fixed by Leica fairly recently?

 

I heard from my aquantance that his lens has been adjsuted and on its way back to him...so we'll see. Thanks.

 

Dave (D&A)

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doug_m

doug_m

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Doug, after you got your 50mm Lux asph back from Leica N.J. for the wobble, how long have you used it before it developed the wobble problem again? Was it fixed by Leica fairly recently?

 

I heard from my aquantance that his lens has been adjsuted and on its way back to him...so we'll see. Thanks.

 

Dave (D&A)

 

I noticed it about a year or so later but the movement which I would call "play" rather than "wobble" is minimal (but about the same as it was originally).

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menos I M6

menos I M6

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I have the feeling, that the slight play of the barrel stems from a less rigid tolerance between the helicoids and is "fixed" in lenses, that have been CLA'ed with the standard lubing of the lens for a certain amount of time.

 

If the play is reasonable, I would not worry anymore, except a technician tells me something different about the 50's construction and it's nits.

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