NZDavid Posted December 8, 2014 Share #1 Â Posted December 8, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) This just happened and I am not sure why. Focusing ring is stiff between about 1.5-3m on 35 Summicron-Asph. Still focuses OK. How common, how easy and costly to fix? Can it be done by a local camera technician? I am reluctant to ship to Germany as last time I sent a Leica from NZ waiting time was three months and I use this lens a lot. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted December 8, 2014 Posted December 8, 2014 Hi NZDavid, Take a look here Focusing ring stiff on 35 'Cron. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Hookeye Posted December 9, 2014 Share #2 Â Posted December 9, 2014 I bought my 35 'cron asph second hand from a camera shop in Norway. After a few months, the focusing became stiff and uneven (not smooth). Fortunately the shop sold it to me under warranty, so it was sent to Germany for a CLA at no cost. Now it is perfect. In fact my favourite of quite a sizeable collection. Â This never happened to any other of my Leica lenses and I have several that are as old as I am. That 35 'cron was less than two years old when I bought it. I suspect it could be something with this particular lens or the lubricant they used upon manufacture? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stealth3kpl Posted December 9, 2014 Share #3 Â Posted December 9, 2014 Don't worry about it. I sold my 35 cron asph to a chap through eBay. I couldn't believe it when he said the focus mechanism was stiff. After he'd assured me he hadn't dropped it, I agreed to refund and receive the lens back. Sure enough, it was really stiff and variable through the focus throw. I kept focusing back and forth through the day, and it gradually eased back to normal. I took the lens to Cuba for a couple of weeks and it showed no relapse, and it's fine to this day. I can't imaging what caused it. It was as though a more viscous patch of lubricant had fallen into the mechanism. Work it back and forth and see what happens. Mine's back to normal now. Pete Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NZDavid Posted December 9, 2014 Author Share #4 Â Posted December 9, 2014 Thanks, sounds like it may well be the lubrication. Same happened to my 50 Summicron Rigid, but that is a lot older. Serviced locally, it's fine. I will keep using the 35 some more rot see if it loosens up. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NZDavid Posted February 24, 2015 Author Share #5 Â Posted February 24, 2015 An update: I was going to have this lens serviced but guess what, it loosened up all by itself! No idea why (temperature variation possibly, we have had some very warm weather this southern summer) but very welcome. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
250swb Posted February 24, 2015 Share #6 Â Posted February 24, 2015 Tighten the screws holding the lens flange on. If they are even slightly loose the flange can rotate a tiny fraction as you take the lens on and off, and if the flange isn't centred on the lens next time you mount it then it may be stiff to focus. Equally a stiff lens can loosen itself again in the reverse situation. Â Steve Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pgk Posted February 24, 2015 Share #7 Â Posted February 24, 2015 Advertisement (gone after registration) No idea why (temperature variation possibly, we have had some very warm weather this southern summer) ..... Has the lens sat on its side in a warm place? Lubricant might just 'pool' on one side as its viscosity drops in the heat..... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wda Posted February 24, 2015 Share #8 Â Posted February 24, 2015 Drying lubricant does affect lenses out of use for some time. But your lens is understandably active. My Tri-Elmar 28-35-50 occasionally suffers in this way. Exercise frees it almost immediately. I have had the lens from new and it has not suffered any damage in that time. Leica coded it for me and I find it performs even better on my full-frame bodies. Given your needs, I would continue to use it as normal. Exercising the focusing between its extremities is good practice with any lens in my experience. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NZDavid Posted February 25, 2015 Author Share #9 Â Posted February 25, 2015 I use my 35 extensively which is why I was puzzled it suddenly stiffened up. My ancient 50 Summicron Rigid also stiffened up some time ago but a service returned it to normal. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted February 25, 2015 Share #10 Â Posted February 25, 2015 Doesn't help you in NZ, but in the US I recommend using DAG (Don Goldberg), who maintains a supply of the original Leitz grease, which he says performs significantly better and is longer lasting than the poorer version used in modern Leica lenses. He replaced the grease in my 50 Summilux ASPH, a lens known even more for stiff and uneven focus than the 35 Summicron ASPH, and it now is better than ever. Â Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted February 25, 2015 Share #11 Â Posted February 25, 2015 Tighten the screws holding the lens flange on. If they are even slightly loose the flange can rotate a tiny fraction as you take the lens on and off, and if the flange isn't centred on the lens next time you mount it then it may be stiff to focus. Equally a stiff lens can loosen itself again in the reverse situation. +1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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