Axot Posted November 8, 2012 Share #1 Â Posted November 8, 2012 Advertisement (gone after registration) I intend to buy my 1st Leica lens at the beginning of a trip. Â Using an MP, I pretty much need the lens to be perfect, else all photos of the trip are at risk. Â On top of that, being a rangefinder virgin, it will be very hard to detect problems - I'll just assume that's my fault. Â What are the odds of getting a flawed brand new, out of the box, lens? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted November 8, 2012 Posted November 8, 2012 Hi Axot, Take a look here brand new Leica lenses not calibrated - how common?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
250swb Posted November 8, 2012 Share #2 Â Posted November 8, 2012 You hear about the few lenses that for whatever reason have a problem, but never hear about the thousands that don't, why is that? Â Steve Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Axot Posted November 8, 2012 Author Share #3 Â Posted November 8, 2012 I'm particularly troubled by the report in other thread of a member that recently had 2 brand new lenses not calibrated. Either the guy won the lotery or this might be a trend. Hence I would like to hear from other members. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith (M) Posted November 8, 2012 Share #4 Â Posted November 8, 2012 I intend to buy my 1st Leica lens at the beginning of a trip. Â How long does it take to run a 24 frame test roll of C41 through an MP and have it developed at one of those 'One Hour' lab places? Add that into your schedule and rest easy on your trip... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
UliWer Posted November 8, 2012 Share #5 Â Posted November 8, 2012 Most lens faults are in the eye of the beholder Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pop Posted November 8, 2012 Share #6  Posted November 8, 2012 (...) else all photos of the trip are at risk. On top of that, being a rangefinder virgin (...)  If it's important to you to bring photographs back from your trip, I do not recommend using a camera which you are not used to, and even less any part of the equipment which you have not even used before.  That way lies disappointment. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angora Posted November 8, 2012 Share #7 Â Posted November 8, 2012 Advertisement (gone after registration) Why are you bunch so obnoxious? Some lenses have been more prone to focusing problems than others, and the poor friend probably wants to find out which ones it is. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pop Posted November 8, 2012 Share #8 Â Posted November 8, 2012 And then he goes and buys one which is - in theory - less likely and happens upon a lemon? I stand by my advice - don't go traveling with gear you are not used to and which you have not personally made sure that it does what you expect it to. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlorianM Posted November 8, 2012 Share #9  Posted November 8, 2012 I intend to buy my 1st Leica lens at the beginning of a trip.  What are the odds of getting a flawed brand new, out of the box, lens?  I think those odds are exceedingly low, but also a lot depends on the lens type, i.e. the 135mm APO-TELYT is more likely to have a visible, albeit slight miscalibration than a 35 Summicron.  My brand new 50 Lux has an engraved marking which hasn't been filled with paint, but I only noticed it after 8 months  At any rate, the above advice is most excellent.  hth! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wda Posted November 8, 2012 Share #10  Posted November 8, 2012 I intend to buy my 1st Leica lens at the beginning of a trip. Using an MP, I pretty much need the lens to be perfect, else all photos of the trip are at risk.  On top of that, being a rangefinder virgin, ... In addition to the above advice regarding inexperience with a new camera system, why not just go ahead with your plans BUT take a trusted alternative with you as well. It is vital to run a few films through your Leica and lens well before you depart. You then travel with confidence. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
philipus Posted November 8, 2012 Share #11 Â Posted November 8, 2012 What are the odds of getting a flawed brand new, out of the box, lens? Â It seems to me the odds of getting a flawed new lens from the factory are smaller than getting a flawed lens when buying second hand. Â I can only speak from my own experience, of course, and in terms of lenses that is limited to eleven lenses. Â All eleven have been bought second hand, though several have been in mint condition with one previous owner and bought from reputable dealers. Other lenses have been in various degrees of worn state, including one that is very worn. Two are from the 1930s and four are from the 1950s. Â On the four film bodies I have used them, none has been out of calibration, but each one works flawlessly. Â I also think David's advice is good, to take along a second lens which you could try out beforehand (and can likely be sold on after the trip with little or no loss). In practical terms it may be tricky with only one body though. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
250swb Posted November 8, 2012 Share #12 Â Posted November 8, 2012 Why are you bunch so obnoxious? Some lenses have been more prone to focusing problems than others, and the poor friend probably wants to find out which ones it is. Â And some lenses are more prone to user problems than others. Â But focusing problems caused by the lens being completely badly adjusted, but still getting through multiple checks during its manufacture are still rare. The loud voice's raised on a camera forum have now become a trademark for people who either don't know what they are doing, or simply can't ask for the lens to be checked without waving their arms around and making a scene in public. Leica do not aim to sell you a bad lens, so why expect it? Â Steve Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomB_tx Posted November 8, 2012 Share #13 Â Posted November 8, 2012 This week received a new 50 Summicron. Focus calibration on my 2-yr old M9 is perfect, and the camera has never been serviced either. Of course, the Summicron is a simpler mechanical assembly than the newer designs, and focus isn't quite a critical - but that is also partly the reason I got this model. My other Leica lenses are all 1971 and earlier, and are fine on the M9 (&M6, M5, M4, M3). Earlier this year I bought a new Zeiss 35 f2.0 which came with significant front-focus. DAG checked it and agrees it needs adjustment. My (used) Planar was focus-perfect, as are all my new Voigtlander lenses over the last few years. I wonder how many people notice the apparent rangefinder focus point changes as they shift their eye slightly side-to-side at the M viewfinder. That may be behind some of the complaints. Need to position your eye carefully centered for focus accuracy. (Try a tripod-mounted M and see...) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bybrett Posted November 9, 2012 Share #14 Â Posted November 9, 2012 Why are you bunch so obnoxious? Some lenses have been more prone to focusing problems than others, and the poor friend probably wants to find out which ones it is. Â I agree. Currently all 75mm APO lenses from the factory are front focussing. Well at least 9 delivered to the UK. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted November 9, 2012 Share #15 Â Posted November 9, 2012 Lens 'calibration' issues seem to be mostly limited to use on a digital body. You're using an MP so you are less likely to notice any front/back focus issues. Â The chances are that whatever lens you buy will be fine. As others advise, run a quick test roll to be 100% sure (or another idea, assuming you're buying from a dealer, try it on a digital body and ask to view the files on their computer - if they look fine on digital then you are OK). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolfgang Esslinger Posted November 9, 2012 Share #16 Â Posted November 9, 2012 As others advise, run a quick test roll to be 100% sure (or another idea, assuming you're buying from a dealer, try it on a digital body and ask to view the files on their computer - if they look fine on digital then you are OK). Â I agree with this advice. If you buy a new lens then test it for yourself, esp. if it is a summilux. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
enboe Posted November 9, 2012 Share #17 Â Posted November 9, 2012 I would have no reservations in purchasing and using a new Leica lens. Even every single used lens I have purchased has been fine. But... Â Two simple in-store tests: mount the lens on your body, set the lens to infinity, and verify that something very far away is in focus, demonstrated by perfectly-overlapped rangefinder images. Second test - repeat this only with the lens set at 2 meters, and putting a small object on a tape measure at a distance of 2 meters from your film plane (not the front lens mount, but closer to the back of the camera). Â Triple-check? Run a 24 exposure through the camera, exercising different apertures and distances. Keep a log book of each exposure. Have it one-hour processed - Walgreens still does this in many stores, dig out the loupe or microscope, and see if you are satisfied with the results. Â Happy shooting. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoppyman Posted November 9, 2012 Share #18 Â Posted November 9, 2012 However checking the rangefinder coincidence in the store assumes that the rangefinder is correct in the first place. In this instance the OP has a new to them camera as well. They both may well be fine and probably are but it is always sensible to check with any camera before relying on it for any important subject. Â Shooting a careful test roll will tell you exactly what the combination of your camera and your lens is doing. Also it is possible for a lens that was delivered new perfectly adjusted or bought used perfectly adjusted to get out of adjustment in use (or from impact for example). My Summilux 50 ASPH bought new developed play in the focus ring after 2 years and what was likely my fault deliberately working it hundreds and hundreds of times to make the action less firm. Solms checked and fixed it for free. Now three years later it is back focusing quite a bit (on a proven body where it was working very well) and it is back in Germany right now actually Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thighslapper Posted November 12, 2012 Share #19 Â Posted November 12, 2012 Those with floating elements feature regularly ... as, fairly predictably, do those with a very shallow DOF used wide open. Â Using film and anything but the longer summiluxes wide open should not be a problem.... and even then you would have to be very unlucky... Â There is a big difference between 'absolute' lack of perfect calibration and 'real world usage' calibration. Â If I was going off with a new M9 and 50/1.4 asph that I had never road tested I would be worried.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
smkoush Posted November 13, 2012 Share #20 Â Posted November 13, 2012 Lens 'calibration' issues seem to be mostly limited to use on a digital body. You're using an MP so you are less likely to notice any front/back focus issues. Â My brand new 50mm Summilux-M ASPH on an MP displayed very obvious back focusing (on film), so it does happen on film as well. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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