Paul J Posted July 21, 2014 Share #41 Posted July 21, 2014 (edited) Advertisement (gone after registration) I'd be very hesitant indeed to spend this sort of money without either examining personally prior to purchase or having the guarantee of a full refund if the lens turns out to be other than as described. I bought mine from a very reputable dealer with a very honest and healthy track record and in fairness to them the issues were not obvious or even recognisable on inspection. It sure looked almost new. The sharpness was never quite right because of the broken focus mount, sometimes sharp, sometimes not. It was more disappointing sharpness than a lack of sharpness. I sent it in after 6 months of owning it after I realised something wasn't right. The fungus was only found when Leica opened it up at the time. You could easily miss and not even see it from looking in the inside of it (myself and the dealer didn't), it had grown on the outside very edge of the elements and barrel. £400 later, I have a perfect lens. By all means, it's up to you, you could very well be lucky. But a lens this age, a slither of DOF, made in an era of less tolerance can't be expected to be adjusted and focussing well or it's lubrication to still be active and functioning. Edited July 21, 2014 by Paul J 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted July 21, 2014 Posted July 21, 2014 Hi Paul J, Take a look here A 75 APO-Summicron or a 75 Summilux. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Jennifer Posted July 21, 2014 Author Share #42 Posted July 21, 2014 I bought mine from a very reputable dealer with a very honest and healthy track record and in fairness to them the issues were not obvious or even recognisable on inspection. It sure looked almost new. The sharpness was never quite right because of the broken focus mount, sometimes sharp, sometimes not. It was more disappointing sharpness than a lack of sharpness. I sent it in after almost a year of owning it after I realised something wasn't right. The fungus was only found when Leica opened it up at the time. You could easily miss and not even see it from looking in the inside of it (myself and the dealer didn't), it had grown on the outside very edge of the elements and barrel. £400 later, I have a perfect lens. By all means, it's up to you, you could very well be lucky. But a lens this age, a slither of DOF, made in an era of less tolerance can be expected to be adjusted and focussing well or it's lubrication to still be active and functioning. As I'll be sending it back to Germany for coding, I've also factored in the likely cost of having a CLA done at the same time. Fingers crossed, no expensive to fix horrors will be revealed. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
algrove Posted July 21, 2014 Share #43 Posted July 21, 2014 Do not just 6 bit code it. Have Leica do a complete CLA. This way you will miss it only once. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer Posted July 21, 2014 Author Share #44 Posted July 21, 2014 Do not just 6 bit code it. Have Leica do a complete CLA. This way you will miss it only once. Yes, that's my intention. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer Posted July 24, 2014 Author Share #45 Posted July 24, 2014 Yesterday, I went to inspect what turned out to be a very nice Canadian manufactured v2 Summilux 75. The vendor had owned the lens for over 20 years, but had only used it 4-5 times. Upon asking him why, he said that quite apart from it not being a FL which much suited his style of photography, it's quite big and heavy and also a pig to use, especially at anything less than f/5.6 when, a combination of ageing eyes and a wafer thin DoF makes it damned difficult to focus with any degree of accuracy. Well, of course, that did it. Being more than than a few years older than the vendor and well acquainted with the ageing eyes syndrome, I just had to have it ........ IMO there's nothing to beat a challenge when embarking upon your dotage. So this weekend it's off to Mayfair for CLA and coding. In the meantime I await in eager anticipation the hours of exquisite frustration my purchase will afford me once it's back from Leica. 9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul J Posted July 24, 2014 Share #46 Posted July 24, 2014 Hi Jennifer, Sounds like a great buy and challenge! I find the 1.4 Magnifier is a really great help in focussing this beast. It increases my hit ratio a lot. You should try one out when you visit Mayfair. Also I found the first few times I used it, the slither depth of field and hard to focus really threw me off. But keep at it. Practice with it and you will find, I'm sure, like me, that after a while it becomes no trouble at all. I have no issues focusing it now. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
IkarusJohn Posted July 24, 2014 Share #47 Posted July 24, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) I also use a 1.4x magnifier, I had mine CLA'd and my hit rate is very high. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
algrove Posted July 24, 2014 Share #48 Posted July 24, 2014 Jennifer Nice decision. Once back, suggest to start using it with the EVF to get an idea of your EVF hit rate. Then go to RF and see that hit rate. Sure it takes practice, but I just keep my shutter speed up high, like 1/1000 and I am pleased. By the way I do not use any magnifier with it and have lost my eyesight in one eye and am having problems with my "good" eye. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer Posted July 27, 2014 Author Share #49 Posted July 27, 2014 I've been playing with my 'new' Lux 75 prior to sending it off for coding and CLA (the focus ring has a couple of mm of play). One thing is for certain it's a very difficult lens to focus accurately, especially wide open. True I haven't got a magnifier on the viewfinder nor a EVF, though an EVF is due to arrive this week, so perhaps that and focus peaking will make things easier. However, I'm unconvinced that in normal light conditions one really needs to torture one's eyes trying to shoot this lens wide open as portraits seem pretty pleasant to me even at 5.6. BTW, the very bored looking sitter is my son Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! 2 Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/230570-a-75-apo-summicron-or-a-75-summilux/?do=findComment&comment=2638362'>More sharing options...
TheGodParticle/Hari Posted July 28, 2014 Share #50 Posted July 28, 2014 I've been playing with my 'new' Lux 75 prior to sending it off for coding and CLA (the focus ring has a couple of mm of play). One thing is for certain it's a very difficult lens to focus accurately, especially wide open. True I haven't got a magnifier on the viewfinder nor a EVF, though an EVF is due to arrive this week, so perhaps that and focus peaking will make things easier. However, I'm unconvinced that in normal light conditions one really needs to torture one's eyes trying to shoot this lens wide open as portraits seem pretty pleasant to me even at 5.6. BTW, the very bored looking sitter is my son Hi Jennifer, you made a good decision in opting for the 75Lux I have the 75cron, 75Lux and the 75/2.5Heliar but it's the 75Lux that almost always comes out to play (also because my copy of the 75cron flares like hell) The 75Lux takes some getting used to (Like the Noctilux f1) but it is well worth the effort you put into mastering the lens as the images it rewards you with are really gorgeous I posted some images here (on my m9) in case you're interested http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/showpost.php?p=2578351 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer Posted July 28, 2014 Author Share #51 Posted July 28, 2014 Hi Jennifer, you made a good decision in opting for the 75Lux I have the 75cron, 75Lux and the 75/2.5Heliar but it's the 75Lux that almost always comes out to play (also because my copy of the 75cron flares like hell) The 75Lux takes some getting used to (Like the Noctilux f1) but it is well worth the effort you put into mastering the lens as the images it rewards you with are really gorgeous I posted some images here (on my m9) in case you're interested http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/showpost.php?p=2578351 Thanks, I guess I need to persevere with practising using it wide open. Hopefully, the EVF I've ordered will make it a bit easier. BTW, it was your photos in that post which persuaded me to seek out and buy a Lux 75. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGodParticle/Hari Posted July 28, 2014 Share #52 Posted July 28, 2014 Thanks, I guess I need to persevere with practising using it wide open. Hopefully, the EVF I've ordered will make it a bit easier. BTW, it was your photos in that post which persuaded me to seek out and buy a Lux 75. The EVF is good but it's very slow and not something I use on a frequent basis ... But for still life and if you have time, it's a great benefit I'm happy my post helped you get to the 75Lux - what a lens! Happy shooting Jennifer, do share your images 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
349A Posted July 28, 2014 Share #53 Posted July 28, 2014 Please stop these threads! You guys are making me poor. 75Lux on the way. Mint in box, 6 bit. 50MM APO on the way too. I'm broke. 4 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted July 28, 2014 Share #54 Posted July 28, 2014 Please stop these threads! You guys are making me poor. 75Lux on the way. Mint in box, 6 bit. 50MM APO on the way too. I'm broke. There are glowing reviews on inexpensive lenses, too. And mixed reviews even on expensive ones. As you demonstrated on your Monochrom thread ("try to talk me out of it") it took you all of five hours after posting, despite suggestions to the contrary, for you to order one. Face it, the threads have nothing to do with your GAS, only for your rationalization. I expect a Noctilux is forthcoming. Jeff 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
349A Posted July 28, 2014 Share #55 Posted July 28, 2014 Truth. What can I say. Noctilux was purchased awhile back. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGodParticle/Hari Posted July 28, 2014 Share #56 Posted July 28, 2014 Truth. What can I say. Noctilux was purchased awhile back. 50/0.95 Or 50/1 Or Both? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
349A Posted July 28, 2014 Share #57 Posted July 28, 2014 50/0.95… Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGodParticle/Hari Posted July 28, 2014 Share #58 Posted July 28, 2014 50/0.95… Oh man ... The Noctilux f1 ... Mandler Magic https://www.flickr.com/gp/dementedjesus/07V65r Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
349A Posted July 28, 2014 Share #59 Posted July 28, 2014 Nice shots! No Nocti for me today, two lenses in one week is enough;) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGodParticle/Hari Posted July 28, 2014 Share #60 Posted July 28, 2014 Nice shots! No Nocti for me today, two lenses in one week is enough;) Just when I was about to pitch the Nocti 50/1.2 ... 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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