paul chiu Posted November 10, 2014 Share #1 Â Posted November 10, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) I understand there were some flare or distortion issues with an early batch of the Leica 11141 APO-Summicron-M 50mm/f2 super lens. Â my dealer called and is shipping one i ordered back in June. Is there something on the lens or packaging that indicates the APO 50mm is the latest version? Â thanks! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted November 10, 2014 Posted November 10, 2014 Hi paul chiu, Take a look here how to tell if a APO 50mm is the latest?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
A miller Posted November 10, 2014 Share #2 Â Posted November 10, 2014 no idea but I would simply call Leica in Germany when you get and give them the serial number and I'd think they'd be able to tell you Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
k-hawinkler Posted November 10, 2014 Share #3 Â Posted November 10, 2014 I would send an email first and then follow up a few days later with a phone call. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill W Posted November 10, 2014 Share #4 Â Posted November 10, 2014 If your dealer just received the lens, it is the current production. When the flare issue surfaced over a year ago, Leica stopped producing them for several months I believe and there were no new ones available till recently. There should be a test certificate in the box and it will give the build date. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul chiu Posted November 10, 2014 Author Share #5 Â Posted November 10, 2014 So the price increase was not because of a new re-design? Â If your dealer just received the lens, it is the current production. When the flare issue surfaced over a year ago, Leica stopped producing them for several months I believe and there were no new ones available till recently. There should be a test certificate in the box and it will give the build date. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill W Posted November 10, 2014 Share #6 Â Posted November 10, 2014 No, there was no redesign of the lens. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeicaPassion Posted November 11, 2014 Share #7 Â Posted November 11, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) I called Leica New Jersey. A quick check of the serial number confirmed I have the latest version. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thighslapper Posted November 11, 2014 Share #8 Â Posted November 11, 2014 No, there was no redesign of the lens. Â ?? Â I'm sure I read that they replaced one of the glass elements .... which is a re-design of sorts .... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul chiu Posted November 11, 2014 Author Share #9  Posted November 11, 2014 When did they announced this glass element implementation?  ?? I'm sure I read that they replaced one of the glass elements .... which is a re-design of sorts .... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
01af Posted November 11, 2014 Share #10 Â Posted November 11, 2014 It was my understanding that just the innards of the barrel were re-designed but not the glass. I could be wrong, however ... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thighslapper Posted November 11, 2014 Share #11 Â Posted November 11, 2014 It was my understanding that just the innards of the barrel were re-designed but not the glass. I could be wrong, however ... Â I can't remember where this info came from ...... possibly during an hour or so I spent at Leica Mayfair with my Leica T + adapter trying to convince them that it was hopelessly out at infinity with manual lenses ..... but at any rate I am fairly sure I am not imagining this .... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thighslapper Posted November 11, 2014 Share #12 Â Posted November 11, 2014 When did they announced this glass element implementation? Â The lens went out of production completely for about 6 months while they sorted out the flare issue. Supply was only re-started when Leica were sure that the problem was solved. The number of lenses in actual circulation by the time production was suspended was probably relatively small..... and anyone with significant flare issues returned their lenses for modification. All current lenses should be fine. Leica never indicated precisely what the problem was ..... or what they did to resolve it. Someone needs to source a before and after pair of lenses and dismantle them to find out ..... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Posted November 11, 2014 Share #13 Â Posted November 11, 2014 It was my understanding that just the innards of the barrel were re-designed but not the glass. I could be wrong, however ... Â Mark Norton was told that an element was replaced. http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m-type-240/346871-two-things-confirmed-me.html#post2783467 Â Rick Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pop Posted November 12, 2014 Share #14  Posted November 12, 2014 Mark Norton was told that an element was replaced. http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m-type-240/346871-two-things-confirmed-me.html#post2783467 Rick  "Replacement" could just as soon mean that one element was replaced by another instance with the same specifications. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wattsy Posted November 12, 2014 Share #15 Â Posted November 12, 2014 "Replacement" could just as soon mean that one element was replaced by another instance with the same specifications. Â Presumably not exactly the same specification otherwise I don't see the point of replacing the element. In my book, a change to something like the coating, even if the glass has the same optical qualities, does constitute a minor design change. Â I think the OP is unduly worried. Any 50 APO supplied by Leica this year will be the latest more flare resistant version. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivar B Posted November 26, 2014 Share #16 Â Posted November 26, 2014 I called Leica in Wetzlar and asked if I should send in mine (I have an early production item) but I was told that unless I experienced problems and could document it with photos I should leave it as it is. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul J Posted November 26, 2014 Share #17 Â Posted November 26, 2014 Some of the original batch had an anti-reflective coating which was not within tolerances. Apparently there is no way to determine affected lenses by serial number because the elements are made in batches and were not assembled at the same time. Affected lenses had the element, or elements, replaced. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Posted November 29, 2014 Share #18 Â Posted November 29, 2014 I called Leica in Wetzlar and asked if I should send in mine (I have an early production item) but I was told that unless I experienced problems and could document it with photos I should leave it as it is. Â They actually told you that you needed to document it with a photo? That is massively screwed up customer service. I would still just send it back. I did. Actually, I flat out returned mine to the dealer. Â How would you know if you are experiencing the problem? You don't have a good sample lens to compare it to. Does Leica believe their customers are set up with optical benches and equipment to test their lenses? Leica should recall all lenses and check them as a "courtesy" to their valued customers (read; it's the right thing to do). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Posted November 29, 2014 Share #19 Â Posted November 29, 2014 Â I think the OP is unduly worried. Any 50 APO supplied by Leica this year will be the latest more flare resistant version. Â Probably true. But, Leica should provide the serial numbers of lenses that are effected. They should be transparent. I know I'm not going to buy one of these lenses again for at least a year so that I feel relatively assured the duds are out of the system. I certainly would never buy this lens used until the serial numbers are sufficiently high. Early samples will probably have a more difficult time selling used. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted November 29, 2014 Share #20 Â Posted November 29, 2014 Transparency would reveal that one of the very best if not the best lens maker in the world can be arrogant enough to abstain from testing seriously the most expensive 50/2 ever made. Will never happen if you ask me Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.