Summicron-M 50mm f/2 Focus Ring Problem

[skovbo13]

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Hello everyone,

 

Last week I purchased a brandnew Summicron-M 50mm f/2, to use on my M9. After mounting the lens on the camera for the first time, I noticed that the focus ring felt rather stiff from its closest focus setting (<0.7) up to approximately 0.7m. In the middle distance, the ring felt slightly bumby as well. In short, not the smooth ride I am accustomed to from my 35 'Lux or even my (now sold) 50 Summarit. I call the Leica store in Berlin, where I purchased the lens, and I am being told not to worry, new lenses could often have a bit of a stiff focus in the beginning, which would subside eventually. Indeed, the focussing eventually got somewhat smoother after using the lens for a few days.

 

Two days ago I am out shooting and after trying to shift the focus to infinity, the focus ring suddenly becomes considerably stiffer, up to the point where it almost feels like grinding of metal on metal. I right away stop what I am doing, unmount the lens, and while unmounted the focussing works perfectly well again.

 

Now it is on the camera again and seems to be working fine. I am also noticing that trying to turn the focus ring with only one finger does not really work at all, since the resistance of the focus movement seems much stronger that way.

 

Am I dealing with a defect lens here or is the focussing eventually going to become smoother, by further usage? Has anyone experienced this before?

 

I am hesitant to send the lens back to Berlin and having to wait for a replacement, I am in Iceland at the moment and was intending on using the Summicron on a project I am currently working on.

 

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[likalar]

Ouch, tough break! I have that same lens, and it was silky smooth from day one. Something is wrong with yours. It needs to be examined and repaired by Leica, but before going that route, request from your selling dealer to arrange an exchange for another one. It seems like it was defective when you bought it. Good luck.

 

Larry

[skovbo13]

Thanks for your reply.

 

I should pay no attention to the advice found on some threads that sometimes you need to "break in" a lens?

 

Can you operate the focus ring on yours with only one finger?

 

I remember testing a summicron 50 at the store a while back, and there the focussing was indeed very smooth and nice.

 

This is the second new Leica lens I buy which has something wrong with it. On my very first one, a 50 Summarit, the (separately purchased!) lens hood didn't fit properly. Leica needs to step up their quality testing.

[algrove]

I have a new one which I have had now maybe 2-3 months. It never was rough and was always smooth. Send it back and ask them for a 50 APO as a replacement. Just joking, but DO send it back.

[skovbo13]

I guess I'll go ahead and call Meister Camera on friday.

Algrove, could you possibly check on your summicron if you're able to operate the focus ring with one finger only? I realise the smoothness of focus is rather subjective, so this would be a way for me to judge if mine is truly defect.

 

Many thanks for the advice so far!

[likalar]

Yes, my 50 Summicron's focus is operable (though awkwardly, and with a bit of resistance) with a single finger; I always use 2 fingers to focus, which was probably Leica's intention.

 

The only modern Leica lens I've ever had that was less than perfect was the focusing of my 35mm Summicron Asph. If the finger put any fore or aft pressure on the focus tab, a bit of binding would result.

Larry

[skovbo13]

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I just spoke to the Leica-man in Berlin and was told I should wait a couple of days, use the lens and see if the problem persists. According to him it can apparently happen that lenses are stiff right out of the box. Worst case scenario the winding mechanism is bent, in which case it would need to be fixed.