50mm summarit f2.5 a bit loose front part

[DimLs]

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Hello,

I have a new 50mm summarit for my me. My gf's father holded the camera with much strength while holding the summarit lens. After that i was a bit anxious if he stressed the lens or the mount. While examining i saw that the front part of the lens can move a bit left -right, not top-bottom when you use little power with your hands.

 

I would like to ask if other new summarit 50mm lenses that you own show that characteristic. My nokton 35mm f1.4 is completely firm at this point: no front part movement in whatever direction you try to move the front part.

 

Thank you!

[FlashGordonPhotography]

You may need to provide a photo with a bit more detail. Are you talking about the ring that can screw on and off right at the front of the lens. That's for the Leica lens hood and being able to screw it of is normal. Other than that there shouldn't be any wobbling or unscrewing. And I don't think a firm grip should be able to alter that. If there is play in the build of the lens I would take it in for a warranty service.

 

Gordon

[Guest Marc G.]

for me it is a known summarit issue. had to send my 35 and 90 to leica because the front parts came loose in the way you describe it

[Salander]

The front most part of the lens is a protective cover that can be removed. There to protect the threads for the optional hood

[DimLs]

Thank you for your replies!

 

The movement i am talking about is not of the front ring, its of the lens barel where the aperture ring sits. Seems that the lens consistes of 2 main barels. The one is where the ficus ring sits and the other where the aperture ring sits. Unfortunatelly i dont kbow how to post a photo here but i think i describded it ok.

[Guest Marc G.]

just the same thing my 2 summarits had. send it to leica

[DimLs]

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Seems its a design property. May not be a defect. Did Leica fixed at your summarits?

[TomB_tx]

The movement i am talking about is not of the front ring, its of the lens barel where the aperture ring sits. Seems that the lens consistes of 2 main barels. The one is where the ficus ring sits and the other where the aperture ring sits. Unfortunatelly i dont kbow how to post a photo here but i think i describded it ok.

 

Every lens where the front does not rotate while focusing has sliding guides that keep the front and rear barrels aligned. There can be a bit of play between the guides that you feel when trying to rotate the front back and forth.

Since making a solid guide fit perfectly in a slot with no play allows no tolerances, most lenses use a split guide (forked) which can be spread and have a bit of spring to fit in the guide slot with no play. Too much force on the front of the lens can compress the fork and cause excess play. I've tightened many Japanese SLR lenses by disassembling and spreading the guide fork a bit so it is tight again.

I don't know if the Summarit has a similar split guide, but a small bit of play will not affect the function of the lens. So the real question is how much it bothers you as to whether it is worth fixing.

[01af]

Seems its a design property. May not be a defect.

It most definitely is not a design property but a defect. I have both the Summarit-M 35 and 50 mm lenses (both bought used off eBay), and neither has loose or wobbly barrel parts.

 

If a part is loose then have it fixed. I'd guess if a heavy-handed person grabs the font part and tries to mount or unmount the screw-on hood with a lot of force, for example, then the front barrel sooner or later may come loose. The Summicron-M 28 mm Asph also is notorious for this kind of mishap—so no, this is not specific to the Summarit-M series of lenses.

 

There's a myth that Summarit-M lenses were mechanically inferior to all other Leica lenses ... however in my experience, this just isn't true. Their design is slightly different but their quality is not.

[DimLs]

Thanks a lot for the answers! I realy appriciate that. I will speak with the dealer here in Greece.