50/1.4 pre-ASPH & 90/2.8 front focus

[AnakChan]

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Mods, apologies if this is the wrong section, but I don't see a lens section.

 

I've found that both my 50 Lux pre-ASPH & 90 Rit lenses front focus at the closest distance (0.7m). I'm going to drop them off Leica Ginza today for a pretty expensive overhaul.

 

Before I do so, wondering if anyone here who has any tips (esp if they're cost saving tips).

 

Cheers

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[ho_co]

I take it you have other lenses that focus properly?

 

The reason I ask is that sometimes when more than a single lens shows the same behavior, it's the camera instead of the lens.

 

I'm a bit surprised by the mention of an expensive repair when you haven't dropped off the lenses yet. In my experience, Leica quotes after examining the product to determine what must be done.

[AnakChan]

Hi Howard,

 

The 50 lux pre-ASPH had a comparison (against a 50 lux ASPH though). The 90 Rit didn't have a comparison but (as with the 50 lux pre-ASPH) I took test shots at point of focus, front focus and back focus to determine my issue. The new 50 lux ASPH is scarily dead sharp at point of focus.

 

The lenses will have to be shipped to Germany and Leica Ginza categorises it as an "overhaul" which has a fixed price of approx few yen shy of Y40,000 per lens - I left the brochure at home so don't know the exact price (but basically Y39,+++).

 

Out of curiosity,which Leica store do you go to?

 

Cheers,

Sean

P.S. It sounds like I don't really have any other options for a fix but to send it back to Leica?

[brill64]

sean, why not ship them back to leica germany for overhaul yourself? ginza may send it to one of their expert technicians locally. you may also consider having them 6-bit coded whilst you're at it.

[muddyT]

I have 'Lux 50 Pre ASPH black paint 401xxxx focus sharp at 0.7 m and still does when turns down below 0.7(my 'Lux focus ring goes below 0.7m quite a bit, which does not happen on my Noct. f/1)

[ho_co]

... Out of curiosity,which Leica store do you go to? ...

Sean--

I'm in the US and always ship directly to Leica US.

 

I'm with those who prefer to avoid the middleman, just because he adds another level of communication and sometimes obfuscation.

 

 

... P.S. It sounds like I don't really have any other options for a fix but to send it back to Leica?

If it's a lens issue, I'm sure there are other folks who can do the job besides Leica--for example in the States, DAG or Sherry Kräuter, both of whom trained with Leica. That's generally less expensive than Leica, but sometimes slower. Good Leica technicians would also be able to handle coding.

[AnakChan]

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Thanks for the response all.

 

Looks like I'll just send it to Leica Ginza then. Wouldn't make much diff if I sent to Solms directly as Leica Ginza is a legit store which will do the same thing. I haven't found any 3rd party stores that repair these lenses yet - the stores I've come across so far will send to Leica Ginza (which in turn send to Solms).

 

At times I wish products & services in JP are less "black 'n white" if you get my meaning.

 

muddyT, as a clarification, when I meant "front focus" I actually couldn't turn my focus ring anymore (at minimum distance) and I physically had to move closer to the subject by maybe an 1" or thereabouts. In the viewfinder, it looks like I'm not in focus, but the resulting DNG/JPG is that it's sharper.

 

I've had Leica Ginza checked out my M9 focusing system & it's calibrated correctly. And my other 24/1.4 ASPH, 24/2.8 ASPH, 35/1.4 ASPH, & 50/1.4 ASPH,are pin point accurate. Only my older chrome 50/1.4 pre-ASPH & 90/2.8 aren't.

 

I hope I didn't misinterpret the definition of "front focus".

[TomB_tx]

I've had Leica Ginza checked out my M9 focusing system & it's calibrated correctly. And my other 24/1.4 ASPH, 24/2.8 ASPH, 35/1.4 ASPH, & 50/1.4 ASPH,are pin point accurate. Only my older chrome 50/1.4 pre-ASPH & 90/2.8 aren't.

 

My Leica lenses from the 1960s-70s also tend to front focus a small amount on my M9, but are fine on my older film Leicas. My new lenses are fine on the M9, so there was likely a change in final calibration on lenses for digital "film plane".

[menos I M6]

Hi Howard,

 

The 50 lux pre-ASPH had a comparison (against a 50 lux ASPH though). The 90 Rit didn't have a comparison but (as with the 50 lux pre-ASPH) I took test shots at point of focus, front focus and back focus to determine my issue. The new 50 lux ASPH is scarily dead sharp at point of focus.

 

The lenses will have to be shipped to Germany and Leica Ginza categorises it as an "overhaul" which has a fixed price of approx few yen shy of Y40,000 per lens - I left the brochure at home so don't know the exact price (but basically Y39,+++).

 

Out of curiosity,which Leica store do you go to?

 

Cheers,

Sean

P.S. It sounds like I don't really have any other options for a fix but to send it back to Leica?

 

This sounds like absolute madness!

Generally a not properly focussing lens is a standard fix for a specialist.

The lens has to be set (likely in Solms).

 

The quote of the Ginza shop surely includes insured shipping + a nice, fat margin on the repair.

 

Your biggest problem though is, to first find out, which of your lenses/ bodies really is off by Leica standards - it could well be, that your Lux ASPH and Leica body is off, while the pre ASPH Lux and 90mm are spot on within Leica tolerances.

 

I have had a 50 Lux ASPH coded and CLA'ed in Solms about a year ago - the actual cost where less than 300 EUR (for the coded mount alone, Leica charges over 100 EUR).

 

The quote from the store sounds excessive. I would not carry my business to them.