Just got a new 35mm Summilux ASPH, but I have some concerns

[Ranma13]

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Hello all, I just got a new 35mm Summilux ASPH, but I have some concerns regarding the construction of the lens.

 

1. Is the lens supposed to open up slightly bigger than f/1.4? When I turn the aperture dial, it will turn past f/1.4 and will open up the aperture to the point where the blades aren't viewable inside the lens. At f/1.4, they still poke out a tiny bit.

 

2. There seems to be an unpainted spot (silver in color) on the inside of the filter threads, as well as several unpainted spots on the ring that you can use to cover the outer threads when you don't have the lens hood on. Is this typical for a Leica lens?

 

Edit:

I took some pictures to illustrate what I mean:

 

Lens on the 1.4 'click'. Notice how the dot is slightly to the right of the dot in '1.4'.

 

Lens to the left of the 1.4 'click'. Notice how the dot is almost lined up with the 1 in '1.4'. The aperture blades are also more recessed.

 

Silver spot on filter thread. I think this is where the threading ends. There's also a speck of missing paint to the left of that spot as well.

 

Metal ring for when you don't use the lens hood. Lots of missing paint.

[Ranma13]

And more on the other side.

[RockyIII]

I don't know for sure, but compared to M lenses I've owned, I do not think the aperture blades should be visible at f/1.4. Also, the missing paint is not typical of Leica quality. If I were you, I would talk to my dealer and perhaps get a replacement lens.

 

Rocky

[Ranma13]

I've also noticed that the focusing ring is quite stiff. Coming from AF lenses, I'm not sure if this is normal or if I have an overly-stiff sample.

[adan]

Aperture blades being visible is rather common, especially with the faster wide-angles. Leica builds the opening a bit oversized and then adjusts the blades in each individual lens to exactly f/1.4 or f/2 or f/2.8 - which may mean they are slightly visible at the "real" maximum aperture.

 

Or so the Leica lore says. You don't get much "extra" aperture - probably about f/1.395 - by going past the dot.

 

I've only touched a "new version" 35 f/1.4 once. But it does have a floating element, so turning the focus ring has to move two focus helicals - one for the whole lens, and one for the FE.

 

And yes, a manual brass-to-aluminum focus mechanism will definitely NOT feel like the focus ring on most AF lenses. Leica lenses are often a bit stiff from the factory, and loosen up with use.

 

However - if you are concerned, it wouldn't hurt to compare the focus feel to a similar new Leica lens if one is available. Some stiffness may be normal - and some stiffness may be abnormal.

 

The white spots look like tiny scrapes or rub marks or scratches, in that some of the spots line up in lines, and in that last image it looks like the dot is smeared or streaked downwards slightly. They don't look right, but they are cosmetic. I guess you'd have to make a judgement call - for a new lens in high demand, how long is it worth waiting for a replacement, for a cosmetic issue?

[hoppyman]

Hello and welcome. I do have this lens. In fact mine is just 10 different to yours in the serial number sequence (mine was suppied in Australia in July, one of only ten tht arrived then). Is this your first new Leica M lens perhaps? If so you have started with a very fine one.

 

Firstly, in my opinion the aperture operation that you are describing is completely normal. There is a detent position at each stop (and half stop) and it is usual to be able to move the aperture ring just past the largest marking. As long as it clicks softly into each position you will be fine. And yes I can see a difference in the aperture blades positions at f/1.4 and with the ring turned out of the detent just past that position.

 

Secondly you appear to have some tiny spots of paint missing. These are entirely cosmetic of course. My recommendation is to simply ignore these and enjoy your lens. However you may wish to speak to your dealer if you are uncomfortable. Very likely your lens could easily be offered to someone else should you not be satisfied. You may know perhaps that they are currently extremely hard to find and many people are waiting to obtain one.

 

Thirdly the operation of the focus fing will certainly feel completely different to any Auto Focus lens that you may have tried. Those are by necessity much lighter and looser to move since they need to be operated by a motor usually, of course.

A new Leica M lens will certainly feel stiffer. The action should be smooth through the entire range though and most importantly when you release the ring there should be no movement or 'play' in the ring at all. If you can move the ring smoothly around with just your index finger, you should be fine. Once again of course, should you not be satisfied then doubtless your dealer could find another willing buyer very quickly (but you may be waiting months for another (which very likely would be similar). In my opinion you would be crazy to do so

Good luck, keep it, shoot a lot with it and enjoy!

[Doc Henry]

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I just watched my 35-Summilux previous version, I bought new.

Actually there's a little "point" to the end at the opening at f: 1.4 to about 1 millimeter,

which corresponds to the full opening but which in fact does not remain in this position when replaced on 1.4.

You see the aperture blades returning a little

As for stains caused by paint, I have no spots and everything is spotless.

I'm very happy with this purchase and the pictures are of very good quality

I hope my message can help.

 

I am like Andy and Geoff , in your place, keep it and enjoy your purchase

Good pictures

Henry

[lars_bergquist]

My own lens, 4099xxx, focuses very smoothly. What Howard says about autofocus lenses is correct: they are loose to the point of rattling. What you feel when you focus your Summilux is quality -- precise work, close tolerances, smooth surfaces working against each other with a minimum of lubricants. Enjoy!

 

It is a very common phenomenon with lenses of all brands and types that the aperture mechanism can be moved a little bit past "fully open". It is true with my lens too, but minimally so. It is way within exposure tolerances. Keep your pants on.

 

Minor finish blemishes are just that, minor. They are of concern only to collectors. Your lens will in any case start to pick up the marks of use as soon as you put it to work. But yes, Leica lenses are normally delivered in a pristine state. Was there any evidence that the package had been opened before you received it? How you react to this is a personal thing.

 

The old man from the Brass Age

[Ranma13]

Thanks everyone for your input. The aperture being able to go wider than f/1.4 wasn't really a major concern, I just wanted to confirm that it was normal behavior. I've never used a lens with an aperture ring before so I have no idea what the norm is like.

 

The missing paint was more of a concern. For a $5000 lens that has a hand-signed card that says it passed vigorous inspection, I find it pretty worrying that something so visible went unnoticed. Luckily, most of the missing paint spots are on the ring that goes on the lens when you're not using the lens hood, and they're all on the inside of the ring so that they're hidden from view when you screw it on.

 

I don't have a body to test the lens with yet so maybe the focusing ring felt more stiff than it would be if it was on a body. This will be my first Leica system and I'm hoping to avoid all the issues with cracked sensors, misaligned viewfinders, SD card read errors, dead pixels causing vertical lines, etc...

[lct]

Never used the current 35/1.4 but floating elements may cause focus stiffness with some lenses and not others depending upon the level of quality control applied to them.

Does not loosen up with time, only with operation, and it can take hundreds of pictures before you retrieve a normal focussing feeling.

Also some lenses, as my 50/1.4 asph did for instance, remain definitely stiff and need to be fixed at Solms or in a good workshop.

It is not a difficult fix, i've been told, but using a stiff lens may be a real pain so this kind of QC issue, that i don't understand at all on such expensive lenses, deserves consideration.

[Doc Henry]

"Metal ring for when you don't use the lens hood. Lots of missing paint."

 

In my opinion it's not important

You can request a change of this piece

Henry

[Rick]

Wow. This thread is beyond anything I can comprehend. If, it helps, I've had my lens for about 2 months and it is already more nicked up than yours.

 

By the way, have you held the lens up to your ear and shaken the lens to see if anything is rattling around inside?

 

LCT, good to see you hot on the QC issues. Must be a full time job?

[ho_co]

Lars, if that's my name appearing in your post, I'm honored. And I'm sure the others doubtless more so.

 

Although I hadn't posted to this thread, I agree completely with you. I agree with almost every considered comment here.

 

 

What ever happened to those days of discovery? I remember picking up a lens and noticing that the diaphragm extended slightly into the lens at full aperture and simply thinking, "my, that's interesting." I didn't think "OMG, WTF, A DEFECTIVE LENS."

 

 

Guys! Please! Just Go Shoot the Damned Thing.

 

Leica lenses are optical wonders, not artworks designed to be gone over with a magnifying glass for cosmetic variance. Ever notice that you seldom find cosmetic variations is mass-produced products? Only when humans are involved.

 

Ran, if you're not happy with it, I'll give you half what you paid for it, no questions asked.

 

 

BTW--Aren't the parts of the lens you're talking about anodized, not painted? The engravings are painted, of course, and easily smudged, and who cares?

 

 

 

 

Wenn ich nun mal mein Faust schreibe...

 

 

 

Edit--Sorry. Didn't mean to come down so negatively here. I'm in a bad mood after reading so much rampant inanity on the forum. Not here. Generally. Just spent an hour responding to an inconsequential misunderstanding.

 

Oh, Puck, indeed, thou speakest well: What fools we mortals be. And now we've got the Internet to signal it for all to see.

[Ranma13]

Rick, I did try to shake it f/1.4. There was only a faint sound, definitely not enough to be considered 'rattling' as was described in the other thread.

 

ho_co, as I've said before, this is my first Leica lens. There's a certain expectation that people have when they drop $5000 on a lens and I don't believe my concerns are unjustified.

[Rick]

Howard... your message box is full.

 

Ranma, your concerns are justified to you, and that is fine, just not most of us. To be honest, I don't think the point is about wether or not your concerns are justified, what strikes me is that your concerns are trivial, as are a lot of things that are posted on LUF.

 

I believe Leica makes the finest optics and this attracts a certain type of person. It is obvious reading the sort of minuscule nonsense that gets posted here on LUF that many Leica owners obsess and spend spend time out of their lives doing so. They sit and fondle and inspect and peep and shake and conduct themselves in all other manner of obsessive behavior.

 

I guess this is just the nature of what gets discussed here. We are an odd perverse group.

[!Nomad64]

Ranma13,

 

1 - Don't worry, that's pretty common with Leica lenses. I have a 24/.2.8 ASPH, a 90/2.8 and a 90/2 ASPH. ALL of them behave in the same way.

 

2 - Can' t comment. Mine are in chrome barring the 90 ASPH which is perfect, but I wouldn't lose my sleep about that anyway.

 

As to focusing ring stiffness, every lens behaves differently. My Elmarit 90 is the stiffest - or the heaviest - of the group. The 'cron is the most butter-like and the 24 lies somewhere in between.

Again, none of this makes me sleep worse. As ho-co cleverly remarked, these are not mass products but hand made. It's normal that they differ one from another. And I'm way happier this way than the opposite.

 

Cheers,

Bruno

[myshkine]

Too much ironical comments in my view. What's the problem with wanting to have a perfect product out of the assembly line? When you receive your new car you want it to be pristine, and I bet that everyone would protest if there was a scratch on the paint, even a tiny one. And BTW it could have been a fake lens. One year ago I bought a (used) Summicron 50, came out of the box cosmetically beautiful, but had serious mechanical problems. So you never know...

[Rick]

What's the problem with wanting to have a perfect product out of the assembly line?

 

Agh, what is the problem with wanting material perfection? Does that really require an answer?

[lct]

...LCT, good to see you hot on the QC issues. Must be a full time job?

I don't mind to laugh with you but i don't understand what you mean exactly. Would you be kind enough to elaborate?

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[hoppyman]

Howard I think that Lars may have meant me!

I am totally in tune with your thinking in that post though. I'm getting frustrated and intolerant with a lot of posts of late as well, so I'll disappear for a while.

 

For the OP, I think that you got some useful comments, do please keep in mind that there will commonly be a range of views. It's smart to evaluate those for yourself.

You can look at previous posts by any member if you want a better feel for that person's photography, contributions, background and views here.

 

Your dealer and then Customer Service are the best official support of course. Everything here is opinion and chat. Get a camera to go with that lens shoot it a lot and share some pictures.

 

Lars, if that's my name appearing in your post, I'm honored. And I'm sure the others doubtless more so.