andrewbirdsall Posted May 3, 2012 Share #1 Posted May 3, 2012 Advertisement (gone after registration) I recently bought a brand new 35mm Summilux FLE as my first Leica lens and have been very impressed with its performance and build quality. Last week I bought a second hand 28mm Summicron, and I've noticed a few issues... I wondered if these were to be expected with this older lens, or if there is something wrong with my copy. Basically there is some off axis play with the aperture ring, and the front of the lens body (forward of the aperture ring) twists a mm or so under light pressure. I got the lens for a very good price so I would like to keep it, has anybody elese experienced this? Is it serious? Can it be fixed? ...or not worth worrying about? Thanks, Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted May 3, 2012 Posted May 3, 2012 Hi andrewbirdsall, Take a look here 28mm Summicron - Build quality. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
lars_bergquist Posted May 3, 2012 Share #2 Posted May 3, 2012 The problem with the front part of the lens is not unknown. Mine had it, and I got it fixed locally (though Leica say that only they can service aspherical lenses). It is up to you to decide how serious the play in the aperture ring is, but if you send in the lens, this should be fixed too. I should not be surprised if Leica bring out a modernised mount for the Summicron, for the optics is really superb. The old man from the Brass Age Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrewbirdsall Posted May 3, 2012 Author Share #3 Posted May 3, 2012 Thanks, How much should I expect to pay for it to be serviced? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted May 4, 2012 Share #4 Posted May 4, 2012 Depends on where you send it. Leica will bring it up to the full factory specs for you at a considerable price, if you send it to one of the well-known independents the price will be considerably less and you can decide what level of repair/ refurbishment fits your needs. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrewbirdsall Posted May 4, 2012 Author Share #5 Posted May 4, 2012 Thanks Jaap, I'm just wondering whether I should keep the lens or ask for a refund - I would keep it If the cost of repair is less than EUR300. Given that the front section can lock into different orientations (~1mm apart) I'm guessing the optical formula is compromised, but would it be damaging to use the lens for a few months before getting it repaired (I don't want to send it away to Leica after just receiving it). Finally, could anyone recommend a good Leica repair shop in the London area? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
delander † Posted May 4, 2012 Share #6 Posted May 4, 2012 Finally, could anyone recommend a good Leica repair shop in the London area? Personally I would send it back to Leica but the are other repair specialists. See here: http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-news/leica-repair-specialists/ Malcolm Taylor is recommended by quite a few people as are CRR in Luton. It is a great lens, one of Leica's best. Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted May 4, 2012 Share #7 Posted May 4, 2012 Advertisement (gone after registration) Caveat!! This is advice sight unseen!! The Internet will not show me any hidden defects! I would ask for a price reduction if I were you if that is still in the cards. Basically there is nothing wrong with the lens, the phrase "they all do that" is relatively close to reality, and if you send the lens to Will van Manen (Zoetermeer is about 100 Km from London...)or any other reputed repairperson, I would be surprised if you would exceed your limit. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wattsy Posted May 4, 2012 Share #8 Posted May 4, 2012 You might want to consider tightening (very carefully and with a quality screw driver) the little grub screws at the front of the lens. That seems to be the most common problem with this lens. If you send it back to Leica a technician will probably just tighten the screws (as they will have done countless times by now), put the lens back in its box and return it with a nice fat invoice. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
250swb Posted May 4, 2012 Share #9 Posted May 4, 2012 Ditto what Ian said, try tightening the tiny screws first. Steve Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted May 4, 2012 Share #10 Posted May 4, 2012 If he sends it to Will he can get it coded too. ( at Leica as well, but he won't keep his budget ) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrewbirdsall Posted May 4, 2012 Author Share #11 Posted May 4, 2012 Does tightening the screws usually fix the front section, the aperture ring or both? The front section is not really loose, it kind of snaps between two different positions... so I'm not sure that tightening the screws will fix it. Anyway, thanks for all your advice, it's been very reassuring. I think I'll be sending the lens to Will at some point... but I need to take some pictures first Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lars_bergquist Posted May 4, 2012 Share #12 Posted May 4, 2012 If you are referring to the estimable Will van Manen, I can only cordially endorse your decision. Will is what the Brits of yore used to call 'a capital chap'. The old man from the Brass Age Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
farnz Posted May 4, 2012 Share #13 Posted May 4, 2012 Does tightening the screws usually fix the front section, the aperture ring or both? ... Just the front section, Andrew. I've just tightened mine up again and it took about 2 minutes with a 1/2mm (?) screwdriver. There is no play in my aperture ring but it will go slightly beyond f/2 and f/22 but it returns itself. Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
viramati Posted May 4, 2012 Share #14 Posted May 4, 2012 mine had/has the same problem which I think is quite common. As has already bee said all you need to do is slightly tighten the screws on the front ring Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
IWC Doppel Posted May 4, 2012 Share #15 Posted May 4, 2012 A great lens, I am just starting to experiment with my 28 Summcron on my M9-P after faultless performance on my M8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andalus Posted May 4, 2012 Share #16 Posted May 4, 2012 Love the 28 more than ever after I discovered it was lily worth 6k, but who would trade it for $. Not me. As a journalist for a US newspaper, it served me well this past year in Maidan Tahrir in Cairo during the revolution, in Spain shooting stills on Andalusian donkeys for a film, and last month in Cambodia. Truly THE reportage lens! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrewbirdsall Posted May 4, 2012 Author Share #17 Posted May 4, 2012 Just the front section, Andrew. I've just tightened mine up again and it took about 2 minutes with a 1/2mm (?) screwdriver. There is no play in my aperture ring but it will go slightly beyond f/2 and f/22 but it returns itself. Pete. Thanks Pete, Which way should I twist it before tightening it up? Does it unscrew completely? The reason I ask is because there appears to be a healthy amount of dust inside the lens (when I shine a light through it)... which I'm guessing entered when the previous owner opened it up. I've read that this doesn't really affect it's performance but I wondered if this was something that could be dealt with during a service? Well despite these minor issues I'm looking forward to using the lens over the weekend. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdk Posted May 4, 2012 Share #18 Posted May 4, 2012 Thanks Pete, Which way should I twist it before tightening it up? Does it unscrew completely? The reason I ask is because there appears to be a healthy amount of dust inside the lens (when I shine a light through it)... which I'm guessing entered when the previous owner opened it up. I've read that this doesn't really affect it's performance but I wondered if this was something that could be dealt with during a service? Well despite these minor issues I'm looking forward to using the lens over the weekend. You should make sure the white index dot aligns with the aperture selection before tightening the 3 screws, so which way you twist the filter holder part depends on if its dot is off to clockwise or anticlockwise. Proper alignment ensures that when you put a hood on the 28mm/2, the hood won’t be askew. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marknorton Posted May 5, 2012 Share #19 Posted May 5, 2012 The more you twist the front of the lens - the accessory carrier - back and forth, the worse it will get and the grub screws - which are pointed and form an indent in the aluminium barrel - will have a more difficult task even when tightened. Since there is also dust in the lens, it's probably wise to factor in a CLA either at Leica or one of the specialists. I'd be surprised if Solms charged more than €300 unless there were parts to replace but you need to factor that cost in to your decision whether to keep the lens. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobertJRB Posted May 7, 2012 Share #20 Posted May 7, 2012 Does tightening the screws usually fix the front section, the aperture ring or both? When I got my 28 cron (new) there was more play in the apenture ring than I have had with any other leica lens. Not only beyond f/2 and f/22, but also in the other direction. I talked about this with the store and they told me its normal with the 28 cron. Later send the lens together with my camera to leica (for calibrating my camera) and asked them if they could take a look at it. Got back they checked the lens and everything was working like it should. So the loose aperture ring should be normal for the 28 cron. First it annoyed me, but after using the lens for some time, and looking at the images it produces, you totally forget it and just enjoy the lens. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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