Mr_Jones Posted January 14, 2014 Share #1 Posted January 14, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) I've just received a 50 Lux ASPH (chrome) and it has a stiff point in the focus. With the camera off the body I can hear a noise coming from the rear elements which sounds a bit like air bubbles/tearing soft paper?!? It seems very unlikely that this is normal but I guess it could be the FLE part moving and the resistance is air passing through a gasket/helicoil. Does anyone have a clue? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted January 14, 2014 Posted January 14, 2014 Hi Mr_Jones, Take a look here 50 Summilux ASPH problems. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
wattsy Posted January 14, 2014 Share #2 Posted January 14, 2014 I don't know about the noise but the focus should have a consistent resistance throughout the whole range. The last lens I bought, a 75 Summicron, wasn't perfect in this regard (it seemed to bind slightly in the near focus range) but was quite quickly sorted by Leica at Solms. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr_Jones Posted January 14, 2014 Author Share #3 Posted January 14, 2014 Thanks for the response, it's definitely not constant. I'll take it to Leica Mayfair this afternoon. Out of interest how much did they charge for a CLA. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wattsy Posted January 14, 2014 Share #4 Posted January 14, 2014 I've no idea. My lens was brand new and went to Solms under warranty. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marknorton Posted January 14, 2014 Share #5 Posted January 14, 2014 The 50mm Summilux has a complex focussing mount - just look at it - but it should be silky smooth, none of this "it will bed in" nonsense. Send the lens back. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted January 14, 2014 Share #6 Posted January 14, 2014 More here. Don't know how Solms would handle it, if it's the same issue, but Leica NJ couldn't do what Don Goldberg (DAG) fixed easily, at minimal cost. Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted January 14, 2014 Share #7 Posted January 14, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) Agree, it is maybe not as super smooth as some non-FLE lenses, but things like a rough point and a tearing sound suggest to me that the lens has been dropped at some point. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LotharZhou Posted January 14, 2014 Share #8 Posted January 14, 2014 The summilux 50asph, both chrome and black version have the most stiff focus action. Not sure about the noise though. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr_Jones Posted January 14, 2014 Author Share #9 Posted January 14, 2014 Dug a little deeper into this type of problem, thanks for the links. It's more like a high frequency ticking, maybe grease??. I can understand how the helicoils have to move in opposite directions so I guess tension between them is the cause. Optically the focus is spot on and dead sharp at least. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoppyman Posted January 15, 2014 Share #10 Posted January 15, 2014 It's problematic to try to understand what is happening in anyone's individual lens based on descriptions that we post of course. high frequency ticking sounds better than tearing at least We have had other threads discussing a detectable sound with some lenses when shaken. Those range from tinkling to I don't know what! Try this. Check for the noise you are hearing when you operate the lens with and without a rear lens cap fitted. There is some air movement from operation. I can comment on some specifics with the Summilux M 50 ASPH. We know that the focus mount mechanism is very complex. It may have been one of the earlier designs with the floating rear elements mechanism. If you rotate the focus ring carefully towards the minimum distance, you may detect a subtle changeover point in the mechanism. The rotation though in general should be very smooth and most importantly should be without any backlash or looseness in operation. If there is detectable 'play' in the ring movement it can cause variation or inaccuracy in the focus. That is turning near to far might differ from far to near for example. The actual feel does vary in 'stiffness' or effort needed to turn it. These lenses are hand assembled complex mechanisms. If you ever visit the German facilities you may actually see the technicians twisting repeatedly by hand to judge the 'feel'. My own 50 is 7 years old and I've used it extensively (for an amateur) on M cameras from the M6 forward. Maybe 15-20,000 exposures and carried on the camera most days. I initially mistreated mine from new with hundreds of full range rotations to try to lighten the turning effort. It was firm but perfectly consistent from new. Two years of frequent use later it had developed 'play'. Solms actually tested it and fixed it for me for free as a generous courtesy when I was having my M8 upgraded. It came back not overly firm to rotate at all and perfectly smooth, consistent and accurate in practical use. Four years on from that I was seeing some back focus error (by now on my M9). It went to Solms again and came back equally smooth and consistent with excellent accuracy. Not a cheap exercise at all, especially when done via the local agent. I consoled myself that it was reasonable if I averaged the two servicings A year on from that I dropped the lens, on my M (Typ 240) and myself onto a hard stone surface. Visibly the extended hood was crushed although the mechanism felt OK It is now just back. New ($110!) hood. On testing the he focus mechanism did prove to be knocked out of adjustment. I can report though that the lens feels and looks new in every respect and I'm back to quite firm rotation. Focus adjustment on the M (typ) 240 which was also adjusted is superb. As best as my amateur test setup can show, with about 2-3 mm of perfect at 1 metre wide open. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr_Jones Posted January 16, 2014 Author Share #11 Posted January 16, 2014 Thanks for the detailed answer. It is very difficult to describe or diagnose lens problems on line for sure. It has helped to know that this lens exhibits some different characteristics because of the FLE. It's a 2010 model by the way. When I received the lens it was very cold, that might have had some impact on the tightness/grease in the lens. Interesting that I didn't notice it being stiff in normal use, i.e. walking around shooting. More when fondling! It definitely needs more effort than any of my other lenses, I've not had a chance to get into Leica mayfair yet but it will be interesting to let them have a look and listen to see if it's likely that I'm doing any damage by operating it. 50mm is my favourite focal length so this is likely to be my main lens. For that reason I don't mind spending a bit of money on a CLA. The price you gave for the lens hood $100, is that USD? I could replace the current one but I will probably mark it further anyway. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoppyman Posted January 16, 2014 Share #12 Posted January 16, 2014 Your description of noticing the firmness of the grease sounds like a common one for the lens when new. As you say it will be worthwhile to have that dealer give you an opinion. Some people here have reported having their lens serviced because they preferred the feel to be lighter. One lens (an Elmar M Macro 90) that I bought new had been stock that the dealer had for a number of years (and was discounted as such). The action was very firm. It proved to have been made 7 years earlier. Solms serviced it for free, after some debate locally about the warranty. It came back perfect. I think that the most important thing is whether your 50's focus is accurate for you. It really is a superb lens. L1022185 photo - Geoff Hopkinson photos at pbase.com Emily 3 photo - Geoff Hopkinson photos at pbase.com Unless you determine with your dealer that it is faulty, or can't live with the feel of the operation, my suggestion is to shoot it a lot before you deciding if you'll send it off and not have it for some weeks at least. The only part listed as replaced in the servicing of my M (Typ 240) and the lens was that lens hood. The cost to me was AUD 110. Some minor disassembly or the lens is required to replace it, if you were considering trying to buy one as a spare. There are some very inexpensive OEM metal cylindrical screw in ones available if you want something different. The design of the retractable original is limited by nature since it needs to not add bulk to the lens. I've never been unhappy with the job it does personally though. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr_Jones Posted January 16, 2014 Author Share #13 Posted January 16, 2014 I wonder if Leica would sell that hood as a part. And whether it can be replaced by unscrewing the screw under the hood (when it's retracted). I guess that the hood is actually the two parts which are fixed to the end of the lens by that screw? I agree with you about keeping the lens and using it for a while before deciding. Of course Leica Mayfair will probably want to send it off for service if they think anything is wrong with it, although they are quite reasonable there. The lens is superb indeed, now I'm looking at upgrading the 35 cron to a lux. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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