My used 35 lux is back focusing

[carstenw]

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Tim, Jennifer said that she had the 35 Lux, not the Asph version... Perhaps you could verify that, Jennifer?

 

Before sending anything anywhere, since you have two lenses which either focus okay or backfocus, but never seem to front-focus, I think it would be worth trying to adjust the camera first. Several people here have had their cameras not be quite right when they got them.

 

You will need a 2mm allen key, and you make small turns in the hex screw inside the little wheel which makes contact when you put a lens on. Try getting infinity bang-on first, and see how things are after that. Note that you will need a church spire very far away, or perhaps a star in the sky, to really nail infinity. I tuned mined last week on a star, and even with the 35/2 Asph I could tell that a tower perhaps 3-5 miles away was in front of infinity.

[charlesphoto99]

Tim,

 

That may be so, but my camera wasn't even focusing my 24mm properly in medium daylight. So I actually calibrated the rangefinder first to my 90mm APO, figuring that was going to give me the most concentrated view of mis-calibration. The 35 seemed to come into line, but it could be my useage of it is different or mamy other factors.

 

Jennifer I suggest if you have the opportunity to try a 90mm or any other lenses other than 35mm you can with the camera before ruling out lens, camera or both. As any longtime leica users know focus can be fiddly with M rangefinders and the mecahnical linkage doesn't help. And digital seems to amplify any focus problems, not matter what the camera. Best of luck.

[bsmith]

Jen,

 

The 35 Lux (and less so the cron) are both known for backfocus. Some people say theirs don't, some say theirs do, and some who say that theirs don't then discover that they do when they test them thoroughly.

Tim

 

Jennifer, don't believe that "bull" about the 35 asph luxes, it's just not true, most 35mm asph lux lenses DON'T back focus. , nor are they less sharp at f4 than 1.4 ! Mine and my friends are tack sharp on multiple M8s on whatever we focus on. Changing to f4 from 1.4 increases the dof and sharpness. Do you really think that all $3500 Leica lenses are soft at f4 and no one ever noticed it before Tim ?? It's by far my favorite lens on a M8. Maybe try your focus test at a dealer on another body, my guess is that your camera needs adjusting.

[Crazy Cat Lady]

Tim, Jennifer said that she had the 35 Lux, not the Asph version... Perhaps you could verify that, Jennifer?

 

 

Sorry about the confusion. I have the 35 Lux ASPH and it is 6 bit coded.

[carstenw]

William, while I believe that the lens was not designed as bad as Tim has experienced, he has examined several copies which were bad on several bodies. It is clearly not anything which justifies you writing "bull" about. Take a look at Tim's photos if you don't think he is capable.

 

There is simply more to it than a single explanation. Some copies work well, some don't, and even some people at Leica called Tim's copies normal.

 

Jennifer, although some copies of this lens have been known to have problems, it is more common that the body is simply out of adjustment. Your previous lens is more tolerant of this, so it can't be ruled out. Are you comfortable trying to adjust it? It is very simple, but requires some trial and error adjustment.

[bsmith]

William, while I believe that the lens was not designed as bad as Tim has experienced, he has examined several copies which were bad on several bodies. It is clearly not anything which justifies you writing "bull" about. Take a look at Tim's photos if you don't think he is capable.

.

 

He claims that "all" 35mm luxes except for a few "magical" lenses are soft in the center at f4 . I still say that's "bull" His test appears fine, maybe he had 2 bad lenses. It took me 3 different Nocts to finally get one that focus correctly. Quality control is not what it use to be or 6 bit conversions might be the culprit. But the lens design is outstanding, even at f4 in the center ! Maybe Solms got sick of listening to him and just agreed. I know , I regretted the time I spent reading that long thread.

[carstenw]

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Look at it from his point of view: he hasn't seen a good copy yet. There is just no call for writing "bull", really.

[cbretteville]

I have a 35 'lux ASPH that does not back focus on the M8, at least as far as i can see. It also works just fine on my M6. Here is a shot from this morning. Wide open, 1/8000, ISO160. Just about minimum focusing distance.

 

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- C

[bsmith]

Look at it from his point of view: he hasn't seen a good copy yet. There is just no call for writing "bull", really.

 

Look at it from the "common sense" point of view. In the last 10 years ( or however long it's been around) worldwide, thousands of photographers, hundreds of reviews (including Puts) yet, only in March 2007 do we discover that , except for 2 or 3 "magical lenses", this famed, $3500 lens is actually soft in the middle of the frame at f4 and f5.6 (and sometimes f8) No one shooting a M6, M7 or MP could discover the defect, even with Velvia or Kodachrome film. All these years, everyone always assumed they had misfocused at f4 when their frame was soft in the center...... Yes, I call that "bull".

[carstenw]

Aren't you forgetting that the copies Tim tested were both out? And the Cron Asph too? Look at his photos, and tell me he doesn't know what he is doing.

 

As you may know, digital is *much* less forgiving than film. Film has layers and layers of grain, and digital has to capture it all in one. What thousands of photographers have experienced with the film Ms is simply not relevant here. Don't forget that even Tim's was sharp wide-open, and only got worse stopped down. I would be willing to bet that most 35 Lux Asph owners shoot wide open much more often than not. And don't forget too: Tim was not the only one who saw the problem. I do believe that there are more good copies out there than bad, but if I ever get one, I will test very carefully before letting go of my money.

 

Look, if you want to overreact and use strong words without having the foggiest notion what is going on with the lenses Tim tried, then no one can stop you. It doesn't serve anyone though. Why you would choose to react that way is truly beyond me. This is clearly a situation of multiple simultaneous truths, yet you react as if there is only one.

[bsmith]

Aren't you forgetting that the copies Tim tested were both out? And the Cron Asph too? Look at his photos, and tell me he doesn't know what he is doing.

.

 

OK, let's call Ralph Nader and get all the Leica 35mm crons and luxes recalled and relabled, "film camera use only" .... gotta go call CNN and " Fox News on this breaking consumer story.

[carstenw]

Do you own a copy of the 35 Lux Asph? If so, could you run through the test Tim suggested?

 

Like I said, like you I am sure that there are many good copies out there. Lenses with flaws that obvious don't become legendary like this lens, but I do trust Tim to test a lens properly, having seen his work and what he is capable of.

[tashley]

Jennifer, don't believe that "bull" about the 35 asph luxes, it's just not true, most 35mm asph lux lenses DON'T back focus. , nor are they less sharp at f4 than 1.4 ! Mine and my friends are tack sharp on multiple M8s on whatever we focus on. Changing to f4 from 1.4 increases the dof and sharpness. Do you really think that all $3500 Leica lenses are soft at f4 and no one ever noticed it before Tim ?? It's by far my favorite lens on a M8. Maybe try your focus test at a dealer on another body, my guess is that your camera needs adjusting.

 

 

Bsmith,

 

Please... before shooting from the hip, read my post and read the thread I referred to: I have been into this in a lot of detail. Multiple lenses, multiple bodies, multiple other people doing the same.

 

1) Plenty of other people have noticed it

2) Solms agrees.

 

I am not a beginner. Really.

 

Tim

[tashley]

OK, let's call Ralph Nader and get all the Leica 35mm crons and luxes recalled and relabled, "film camera use only" .... gotta go call CNN and " Fox News on this breaking consumer story.

 

 

Err..I don't think we need drama here.

 

Tim.

[tashley]

Do you own a copy of the 35 Lux Asph? If so, could you run through the test Tim suggested?

 

Like I said, like you I am sure that there are many good copies out there. Lenses with flaws that obvious don't become legendary like this lens, but I do trust Tim to test a lens properly, having seen his work and what he is capable of.

 

 

Carsten,

 

I can say nothing other than...

 

Thank You!

 

Tim

[tashley]

Tim,

 

That may be so, but my camera wasn't even focusing my 24mm properly in medium daylight. So I actually calibrated the rangefinder first to my 90mm APO, figuring that was going to give me the most concentrated view of mis-calibration. The 35 seemed to come into line, but it could be my useage of it is different or mamy other factors.

 

Jennifer I suggest if you have the opportunity to try a 90mm or any other lenses other than 35mm you can with the camera before ruling out lens, camera or both. As any longtime leica users know focus can be fiddly with M rangefinders and the mecahnical linkage doesn't help. And digital seems to amplify any focus problems, not matter what the camera. Best of luck.

 

 

Charles,

 

I won't bore you with the details (trust me it would bore you!) but the Loooooooong thread has them if you're interested.

 

I have calibrated everything to within a nanometre of perfection. I have more Allen keys than Allen. I have had two luxes, 1 cron (and tried one more of each) on three bodies. The point here is that Solms agrees that these lenses 'do' this; that I have six other lenses that focus perfectly, and that I have tested the tits off this...

 

Tim

[bsmith]

Do you own a copy of the 35 Lux Asph? If so, could you run through the test Tim suggested?

 

Like I said, like you I am sure that there are many good copies out there. Lenses with flaws that obvious don't become legendary like this lens, but I do trust Tim to test a lens properly, having seen his work and what he is capable of.

 

Yes, I do own black asph #398xxx, and yes I am sad to say I did spend time doing the "test" (although not as much time as it took to read the thread) ... results, tack sharp at 1.4 even sharper at f2.8, f4, 5.6 and my eyes bled at f8. didtances were 5 ' , 10 ' and approx 20 '

I never said I doubted Tim's procedure or results...deserves an A+. But his comments assuming most all 35 luxes are soft at f4 in the center are just not true. I agree he had 2 bad lenses, it took me 3 Nocts !

[tashley]

I have a 35 'lux ASPH that does not back focus on the M8, at least as far as i can see. It also works just fine on my M6. Here is a shot from this morning. Wide open, 1/8000, ISO160. Just about minimum focusing distance.

 

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- C

 

 

C,

 

With respect, wide open is not a problem for anyone. Nice coffee cup, lovely light, but the issue is focus shift at mid-apertures.

 

Tim

[carstenw]

Alright, well we're essentially all at peace then Tim's copies and those of some others were bad, yours and those of some others are good, and all is well. I do hope to get a copy of this lens one day, but I will be sure to test carefully. I hope that Leica straightens out whatever it is that churns out the (occasional?) bad copy. What worries me is that those were recent copies, whereas I presume yours is older?

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[tashley]

Yes, I do own black asph #398xxx, and yes I am sad to say I did spend time doing the "test" (although not as much time as it took to read the thread) ... results, tack sharp at 1.4 even sharper at f2.8, f4, 5.6 and my eyes bled at f8. didtances were 5 ' , 10 ' and approx 20 '

I never said I doubted Tim's procedure or results...deserves an A+. But his comments assuming most all 35 luxes are soft at f4 in the center are just not true. I agree he had 2 bad lenses, it took me 3 Nocts !

 

 

You're obviously posting in good faith but you've not read the detail: this is about two luxes and one cron on three bodies, with another couple tested at the dealer's and with confirmation from Solms and plenty of other users.

 

We all know that some examples of these lenses don't 'do it' but it is quite clear that an awful lot do.

 

I will pay you full list price plus 20% for your lens, provided that I can test it first and post the results here.

 

Tim