How "smooth" should the lens focus?

[carcam]

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Sorry for another newbie question. Since this is all new to me, I'm not sure what is normal. I just recieved a brand new 75/2 asph and the focusing is not smooth- grinding is too harsh a description but it's clearly rough. With the red dot on the right, as it would be shooting normally, it's OK but noticeable. If I rotate the lens, as the red dot is turned counterclockwise, pointing left now, it gets rougher. With the dot straight down, it's perfectly smooth.

 

The lens is incredibly sharp and contrasty and optically about the best I have ever used. Is this roughness common on the longer lenses? Worth returning for a smoother focusing lens, or might it get better with use? My 21, 35 and 50 focus as smooth as butter. I'm sure I could live with it or am I expecting too much just because it is an expensive piece of equipment.

 

As usual, I appreciate all the helpful comments.

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[Eoin]

I don't quite understand what your saying, I think your saying that if you rotate the lens it's self using the red dot as a marker, when the dot is at 6 o'clock the focus is smooth. At 9 o'clock it's rough and at 3 o'clock it's a tiny bit rough?.

 

Mounted on the camera I presume and turning the camera from landscape through portrait gives the same effect?.

 

I have noticed on one of my lenses, 21 Asph that if I place any lateral pressure on the focus ring things tighten up slightly. It is a tighter lens (my 21asph) anyway to focus compared to any of my other lenses, but I'm starting to like it as I tend to set it at hyperfocal distance and it's less likely to get knocked off focus than say my 35 or 50. But my 75 cron is very smooth, but has a different feeling than all my other chrome lenses.

 

Since it's a new lens, it could just be the grease in the helicoils working it's way through the groves and will soften up with use. If it's bothering you return it sooner than later otherwise the dealer may wish to send it to Leica for CLA rather than replace.

[carcam]

That's right Eoin- whether the lens is mounted on the camera or not, the lens gets smoother or rougher as it is rotated around. I think I'll call Tony and see what he says.