Bent mount flange on 35 FLE ... help ...

[IPS]

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It had to happen eventually. Horror of horrors, I dropped one of my Leica lenses on to rocky ground and watched as it rolled away down a hill. I chased after it of course and managed to grab hold of it, thankfully, otherwise it would have ended up at the bottom of a Norwegian fiord! The good news is that the lens is completely unmarked and has no optical damage, it focusses fine and the aperture ring is all OK. Functionally and cosmetically perfect ... apart from the fact that the mounting flange on the back of the lens is very slightly dinted which now makes it rather stiff to attach to the camera.

 

Can anyone advise me on the best way to sort this out? Is it easy to get hold of a replacement (original 6-bit) rear mounting flange, remove the old one and screw the new one in ... or is it just better to send the whole lens off to Solms and get it done professionally? Is it going to cost me an arm and a leg?

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[wda]

My advice is send it to Leica via your dealer who will check progress etc. It probably needs a replacement flange and recalibration to check no internals were damaged or deranged.

[marknorton]

Well don't keep mounting it on the camera because that simply runs the risk of damaging the lens mount. Send it back to Solms.

 

I've just had a chrome 50mm Summilux ASPH repaired after I dropped it, something like €400. That included replacing a damaged part of the lens barrel and complete check. Looking at the estimate, the part was €163, labour €137 then add shipping and tax.

 

Who knows what it will be with the 35mm FLE - Leica may well find something which your untrained eye is missing. What you can be certain of is that the lens will come back in as close to new condition as makes no odds.

[IPS]

Thanks Mark & David. I'll have a word with my dealer tomorrow and see what he suggests. Certainly wont try mounting it on the camera again until its back from Solms.

Much appreciated.

Iain

[StephenPatterson]

Thanks Mark & David. I'll have a word with my dealer tomorrow and see what he suggests. Certainly wont try mounting it on the camera again until its back from Solms.

Much appreciated.

Iain

 

Is it still under Passport Warranty?

[IPS]

Sadly no ... not under passport warranty anymore. That was my first thought but its a couple of months outside the warranty now:rolleyes:

[Bill W]

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Was it insured? Some insurance policies include an "idiot" clause in it for just what you expreienced. I had the same thing happen years ago and it was covered. The idiot me set my bag down on a large rock and it fell over allowing my 135 lens to bounce down the hill. Leica repaired it to new and my insurance paid for it all.

[Jeff S]

+1

 

My idiot (me) clause covers all situations, even those resulting in complete loss, including damage or theft, with no deductible and full replacement cost (even with price appreciation) if necessary.

 

I highly recommend this to anyone who has comprehensive coverage available in their area. Mine is a relatively inexpensive rider to my premium home policy.

 

Jeff

[Simon Bee]

As it is out of warranty I would send it to Malcolm Taylor before sending it to Solms. It is most likely that he will be able to sort it and very likely to be considerably cheaper too.

 

Regards

 

Simon

[IPS]

Sadly ... not insured for accidental damage. Maybe I should sort that for future trips!

 

PaulMac - Interesting idea. Have you tried one of these? Are they as good/quality/build as an original direct from Leica do you know? I suppose there isn't a great deal that can be different really.

 

Simon, Thanks for the suggestion about Malcolm Taylor ... I will give him a call. Just looked him up and he's listed on the forum so I guess that's a good recommendation. Have you used him for repair work before?

 

Thanks all, much appreciated.

[lawman]

IPS - what camera do you have? The flanges mentioned work well on the M9 but do NOT read the 6 bit markings at all on the M(240)

[IPS]

PaulMac ... that does look like a very good solution indeed. Thanks for the suggestion. I'm pretty sure that everything on the lens is in good working order (other than the slightly dinted flange plate) and would see no reason for loads of 'added extras' that bump up the cost if done by Leica. Is there any glue/screw fix/anything that they add on to the screws to stop de-threading? I presume not.

 

lawman ... I am using an M(240). In which case, it sounds like I may have a problem using these Chinese mounts from what you say. Is the issue tighter tolerances on the newer camera's 6-bit code reader/diodes? Strange that they should change specifications for this on the newer camera. Arghhh ...

 

Thanks again.

[250swb]

For people who may have had problems coding a lens for their M240 I suspect that the M240 is like the M9, and requires the code rebates filling in with opaque black enamel paint, not a Sharpie pen. It would be strange if Leica made the M240 more sensitive to shape or size of the rebates because it would mean all previous lenses would need another new mount. Come to think of it, that may be the plan.

 

Steve

[lct]

Sharpie works fine with the M240 if the coding pits are properly drilled. Easier than paint to remove if you want to change coding. About the "Chinese" flanges, beware that some of them don't work for different reasons. Some original flange have a recessed part for instance, which lacks in the "Chinese" ones. Given their price, it is not a problem though. Never tried them on the 35/1.4 FLE though.

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[Simon Bee]

 

Simon, Thanks for the suggestion about Malcolm Taylor ... I will give him a call. Just looked him up and he's listed on the forum so I guess that's a good recommendation. Have you used him for repair work before?

 

 

Iain,

 

Sorry for the delay in my reply, I have been on a short trip with no internet access. Yes I have often used Malcolm Taylor and I assure you his work is of the very highest calibre as I am sure many on this forum will agree with.

 

Mention his name to any of the best independent dealers in the UK and they will all know of him and also agree in recommending him. When recently looking to sell some vintage Nikkors to "Grays of Westminster" I mentioned that M.T. had just completed a polish and an optical vacuum re-coating of one of the lens' I wished to sell, Toni at Grays had nothing but total praise for Malcolm stating that IHO he is the finest lens tech in the UK and quite possibly worldwide.

 

One thing I would say is that sometimes his turn around time can be a while as he often has a lot of work to deal with, which of course is another sign of the quality of his workmanship.

 

Simon