darylgo Posted May 20, 2012 Share #1 Â Posted May 20, 2012 Advertisement (gone after registration) I need advice on a recent purchase. I bought a 75mm Summilux from a reputable dealer, but I found the lens backfocuses consistently from 10 feet to infinity, closest focus is spot on. A 2mm turn of the focus ring gives sharp results. The lens appears to perform well. Is this easily repaired, or should I not bother and return it? The body is an M9 that has consistently given me good focus with other lenses. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted May 20, 2012 Posted May 20, 2012 Hi darylgo, Take a look here Purchase/Repair Advise 75mm Summilux. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
efreed2754 Posted May 20, 2012 Share #2 Â Posted May 20, 2012 Had same problem when got my Lux. Sent it to New Jersey Leica. Apparently digital focusing requires much narrower tolerances than film (which is thicker and easier to focus). Did 6 bit coding at same time. Might be best to send M9 at same time. Check with Leica. Â It's a glorious lens. Keep it, shoot wide open. Great for portraits, close-ups and more. It may be my favorite one now and I have 8 lenses, all great on their own. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ldhrads Posted May 20, 2012 Share #3 Â Posted May 20, 2012 Mines the same Now in new jersey getting 6 bit and calibrated Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
darylgo Posted May 20, 2012 Author Share #4 Â Posted May 20, 2012 Â It's a glorious lens. Keep it, shoot wide open. Great for portraits, close-ups and more. It may be my favorite one now and I have 8 lenses, all great on their own. Â The rendering of the lens is truly glorius and hence my angst to part with it. Also, I am not sure the next one will render as well. Thank you for your help. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pico Posted May 20, 2012 Share #5 Â Posted May 20, 2012 Mine is the 1st version and right-on and I don't know why. It is one of those lenses you might very well regret selling. Send it to be adjusted and be happy. . Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamie Roberts Posted May 20, 2012 Share #6 Â Posted May 20, 2012 Mine is the 1st version and right-on and I don't know why. It is one of those lenses you might very well regret selling. Send it to be adjusted and be happy.. Â I sold mine, along with various R lenses, and my Noctilux 1.0 and 50 Lux ASPH. Â The 75 is the only one I immediately regretted and re-purchased, at a small loss I just love that lens, but mine also back-focuses and needs a trip to NJ or DAG. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
darylgo Posted May 21, 2012 Author Share #7 Â Posted May 21, 2012 Advertisement (gone after registration) Thank you everyone. My concern is that focus will continue to be an issue post-Leica adjustment as this is not a small amount, can you tell me what your experience with adjustment has been. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
efreed2754 Posted May 21, 2012 Share #8 Â Posted May 21, 2012 Daryl. I sent my Lux back for second time for unrelated item with camera this time. Since then focusing only limited by my eyes. Â Hence my earlier suggestion to confirm with Leica about mailing camera and Lux. Â Since second time lens has focused fine. Now well over six months and have shot a lot with Lux doing great. Â Like a relationship, needs some patience and work but should pay big dividends. Let's see what others say. Â Ed Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
enenrf Posted May 21, 2012 Share #9 Â Posted May 21, 2012 My 75 lux (build in hood) can not focus on infinity. I sent it to DAG two weeks ago. Now I am waiting for the repair done. I prefer it over the Noct. f1 (E58) which I sold couple of months ago. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
darylgo Posted May 25, 2012 Author Share #10 Â Posted May 25, 2012 Thanks everyone. I did some further testing of the lens and it is sharp, corners are good, in addition I have done some portraits and close ups as has been suggested. The lens performed beyond my expectations, the colors and the way it draws have to be seen to be believed. The lens will consistently back focus, so a 2mm twist of the focus ring and it is perfectly sharp, this works surprising well. When I called Leica in NJ they said they will 6 bit the lens and check/calibrate focus as part of the 6 bit process/fee, so off it goes to NJ as soon as I can part with it for 3 weeks.....maybe in another 2 months. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marknorton Posted May 26, 2012 Share #11 Â Posted May 26, 2012 If the 2mm adjustment is consistent across the focussing range, the lens can be fixed by inserting a shim between the lens and the lens mount. My 75mm Summilux is the only one of my lenses so equipped, old Noctilux included. Worth getting fixed though because it is one of the most critical lenses for focussing. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
algrove Posted May 27, 2012 Share #12 Â Posted May 27, 2012 I got mine back from Leica NJ after 6 bit coding it and recalibration which was included in 6 bit price about a month ago. I tried it out in ernest on a trip 2 weeks ago and the images are stunningly sharp, even for me-the one eyed monster using a Walter eye piece. Â What a lens! Never sell it, use it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
darylgo Posted May 28, 2012 Author Share #13 Â Posted May 28, 2012 If the 2mm adjustment is consistent across the focussing range, the lens can be fixed by inserting a shim between the lens and the lens mount. Â I tried this using crude shims, the shims were .75mm thickness, the major problem incurred was an inability to mount the lens easily. In addition I was anxious about the screws having less bite. Is there a technique or shim that might work better? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulus Posted May 28, 2012 Share #14  Posted May 28, 2012 Thank you everyone. My concern is that focus will continue to be an issue post-Leica adjustment as this is not a small amount, can you tell me what your experience with adjustment has been.  € 110,- ex VAT. at Leica Solms Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marknorton Posted May 28, 2012 Share #15  Posted May 28, 2012 The 75mm Summilux has at once a simple and a complex lens mount. Simple in that the lens was introduced before close focus correcton whch means the lens has only two helicoids - one to move the lens barrel as the focussing ring is turned, the second to move the focussing cam which mates with the rangefinder mechanism.  Job 1 is to adjust the lens mount so that the lens focusses correctly at infinity. If your lens is back focussing and an adjustment of 2mm in the focussing ring is required, that suggests the lens is 0.25mm closer to the camera than it should be (7cm focussing throw, 9mm focussing extension).  Job 2 is then to adjust the focussing cam so that it is correct at infinity and throughout the focussing range, though this is a problemmatic lens because of the shallow DoF. It's also a "pre-digital" lens so was always set up for film and the adjustment now might well be different. The problem is that the cam looks like it is hand ground by an expert touch to achieve the profile required and you have to hope that its position relative to the lens barrel can be adjusted to give acceptable focus throughout the focussing range.  On my old-style Noctilux, which is this lens' first cousin, it could not be and I had to have a completely new lens mount and focussing cam, fortunately under warranty.  Hopefully, Leica will be able to adjust it to give the performance you want but it's THE lens which stretches the rangefinder to its limits and you might have to choose a shooting distance where you want optimum focus to be achieved, such as head and shoulders portraits.  Hard to believe it was sold to those of us with 30% discount vouchers in the M8 recall days for £1300, and I would certainly send it back to Leica for them to adjust it. Well worth the investment, the lens went through an unloved period when prices were soft but it's now a rather special lens in its way. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
algrove Posted May 28, 2012 Share #16 Â Posted May 28, 2012 I need advice on a recent purchase. I bought a 75mm Summilux from a reputable dealer, but I found the lens backfocuses consistently from 10 feet to infinity, closest focus is spot on. A 2mm turn of the focus ring gives sharp results. The lens appears to perform well. Is this easily repaired, or should I not bother and return it? The body is an M9 that has consistently given me good focus with other lenses. Â Take a look at my Memorial Day post on how I love my 75/1.4. Leica NJ did a wonderful job on it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
darylgo Posted June 8, 2012 Author Share #17 Â Posted June 8, 2012 Thanks again everyone. I shot the lens on a second M9 body and with lens adjusted 2mm gives optimal focus, consistent with my M9 body. Despite the 2mm adjustment I get a very high rate of good to excelleent focus at 1.4, greater than with other less demanding lenses. It makes me wonder if the softness at 1.4 is more forgiving of slight focus error, if so I might have to rethink my preference for lens sharpness as the holy grail. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
philipus Posted June 10, 2012 Share #18 Â Posted June 10, 2012 Just a bit off topic - reading threads like this has made me wonder if I really should be getting a 35 Summilux or Summicron as my next lens to complement my 50 asph and 90 Elmarit-M. Yesterday I was in a pub watching football and brought the 50. Having a 75 would have been perfect for tighter shots in the available darkness. Â Decisions decisions Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
algrove Posted June 10, 2012 Share #19  Posted June 10, 2012 Philipus  Pub work is good for 50, 75 and maybe 90, but streets and some landscapes you might want to have a 35. Problem is do you need a 1.4 or 2.0. Personally I want to have the 1.4 and then stop down from there only for artistic interpretation. Having something wider seems the way to go, but if you want a 4 lens setup then the 75 might be good for you. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pico Posted June 10, 2012 Share #20 Â Posted June 10, 2012 Daryl: Does your lens have the vertical type as shown by the blue arrow below, and is it "00" or a different number? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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