Leica S Image thread

[xiaubauu2009]

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After the broken AF motor, I got it fixed in 3 hours in a shop in Shanghai by taking out the cracked nylon-ish gear and replaced with a brass one. the S24 is working fine now with even smoother feel to the focus ring, not sure why.... some rumour is that you have to turn the focus ring occasionally to prevent them from sticking from sitting too long. I did that on my other lens in the cabinet, and they all feel a little 'stuck' on the beginning of the turn. But after that it goes ok. So I think the rumour is true, that stick feeling of the focus ring is the reason why the AF motor will twist off the focus gear from its axis. Anyway, just glad that it's working now in such short time.

NanPu Bridge during Typhoon No.1

S007+S24

ISO400

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[alan.y]

Do you have a photo of the nylon and brass gears? I'm sure I'm not the only one desperate to see the culprit!

[xiaubauu2009]

I have only seen the nylon gear... look like those white color plastic kind of gear... the problem is that the wall is very thin between the axis and the pit of the gear cause the gear is so small. It's like 8mm~10mm in diameter, not much structural integrity there if the motor apply too much stress on a semi stuck focus ring/gear... it will just crack the wall and cause the AF motor to spin pointlessly...

I have not seen the brass one, I will ask them to show me next time I go to the shop.

Edited July 10, 2016 by xiaubauu2009

[alan.y]

I have only seen the nylon gear... look like those white color plastic kind of gear... the problem is that the wall is very thin between the axis and the pit of the gear cause the gear is so small. It's like 8mm~10mm in diameter, not much structural integrity there if the motor apply too much stress on a semi stuck focus ring/gear... it will just crack the wall and cause the AF motor to spin pointlessly...

I have not seen the brass one, I will ask them to show me next time I go to the shop.

 

 

white plastic gear

 

[xiaubauu2009]

It looks like that small gear in image 5!!!

[Guest chipcarterdc]

If a random repair shop in Singapore can complete a competent replacement with a brass gear in 3 hours, this is certain a service Leica themselves should offer.

[alan.y]

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If a random repair shop in Singapore can complete a competent replacement with a brass gear in 3 hours, this is certain a service Leica themselves should offer.

 

It's Shanghai, not Singapore.

 

China has an unusual number of unorthodox, quasi-self-taught, but highly competent and inventive camera technicians, particularly in the area of adapting lenses across platforms (e.g. still lenses for cine use). One might call them hacks, whether pejoratively or as praise.

 

I'm not sure if Xiaobauu has found one of these or someone more official or authorized by Leica.

Edited July 10, 2016 by alan.y

[xiaubauu2009]

I don't think I have found anything remotely official. Shanghai is going to get a Leica repair center in October or something. Meaning that most stuff can be repair here. I think even the Sensor swap. China do have one of the biggest market now.

[Guest chipcarterdc]

Yes, that was a typo. I'm aware that they're different places and I didn't mean anything pejorative (to anyone but Leica).

[xiaubauu2009]

Yes, that was a typo. I'm aware that they're different places and I didn't mean anything pejorative (to anyone but Leica).

 

Well, I am actually skeptical with the gear swap, but the guy assure me that most of the S lens AF motor broken so far in Shanghai at least, is fixed with this method cause sending lens out to Germany is very very very hard in China cause China as a very draconian rules to import export duties...

 

Anyway, I am very happy that they will open a full fletch Leica Service center in Shanghai, makes owning S that much more feasible. I am sure my other 3 lens will be needing the swap pretty soon...

[alan.y]

Yes, that was a typo. I'm aware that they're different places and I didn't mean anything pejorative (to anyone but Leica).

 

 

I didn't mean you were being pejorative. I think these people are really hacks in all senses, good and bad--or rather I should say "hackers." They're surprisingly resourceful and risk-taking, but it's a crapshoot hiring them.

 

When I lived in far northwest China in the middle of nowhere, I shipped a Contax-Yashica Zeiss and a Canon FD lens with misaligned elements or somesuch across the country to a man who ran an optics factory and fixed lenses as a hobby, apparently for fun. He claimed to be able to remove and recoat damaged coatings. I waited nervously for three weeks, communicating with him using via messages occasionally. Then the lenses showed up perfectly fixed. The repair cost me about USD 30 per lens, including shipping, far less than what the lenses themselves were worth.

 

But I wouldn't dare do that with an S lens of course.

[Guest NEIL-D-WILLIAMS]

 

But I wouldn't dare do that with an S lens of course.

why not??!

[xiaubauu2009]

I didn't mean you were being pejorative. I think these people are really hacks in all senses, good and bad--or rather I should say "hackers." They're surprisingly resourceful and risk-taking, but it's a crapshoot hiring them.

 

When I lived in far northwest China in the middle of nowhere, I shipped a Contax-Yashica Zeiss and a Canon FD lens with misaligned elements or somesuch across the country to a man who ran an optics factory and fixed lenses as a hobby, apparently for fun. He claimed to be able to remove and recoat damaged coatings. I waited nervously for three weeks, communicating with him using via messages occasionally. Then the lenses showed up perfectly fixed. The repair cost me about USD 30 per lens, including shipping, far less than what the lenses themselves were worth.

 

But I wouldn't dare do that with an S lens of course.

 

I think I won't dare to do optical fix to S lens, but mechanical problem such as the AF problem, it should be fine. Wait, I think we should continue these discussion in other thread.

[mgrayson3]

West Village architecture. Leica S(006), 70 Summarit.

 

 

--Matt

[RobertGeorge]

Here are three quick-and-dirty edits from my first day in Pamplona:

 

 

 

[traveler11]

My sister and brother in law spent a few weeks in Italy.  While gone she had me plant sit her Shamrock plant (Oxalis sp.).  It was such a bloomer, so I had to take a corm for myself.

 

S2P 120MM Summarit f8 1/8 sec 11 deep stack

 

 

 

 

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Edited July 12, 2016 by traveler11

[Sailronin]

Lovely image.

[Guest NEIL-D-WILLIAMS]

Dolomites Norther Italy

I took this on Thursday while driving back to the hotel............I was lucky as I just caught a glimpse of it through the trees while diving past at 70 kph so made a U turn to investigate it some more............

 

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Hallo,

Look here: Interesting Leica gear

[hoppyman]

After the broken AF motor, I got it fixed in 3 hours in a shop in Shanghai by taking out the cracked nylon-ish gear and replaced with a brass one. the S24 is working fine now with even smoother feel to the focus ring, not sure why.... some rumour is that you have to turn the focus ring occasionally to prevent them from sticking from sitting too long. I did that on my other lens in the cabinet, and they all feel a little 'stuck' on the beginning of the turn. But after that it goes ok. So I think the rumour is true, that stick feeling of the focus ring is the reason why the AF motor will twist off the focus gear from its axis. Anyway, just glad that it's working now in such short time.

NanPu Bridge during Typhoon No.1

S007+S24

ISO400

 

That is a great image and I am pleased for you to read that you got a lens repair done so quickly and cheaply.

The only negative to that is that an un-authorised non-Leica repair may affect the warranty with Leica Camera themselves.

The warranty for the design defect causing the AF fail to some lenses is for the life of the lens, which is additional to the normal warranty or service plan purchased.

So if the lens were to develop an AF defect again, you may have voided that warranty.

 

I would add comment regarding  the rumour about moving the focus ring to prevent sticking. Are you referring to lenses not in use fitted to the camera?

Every time the camera is powered on, the camera performs a calibration movement of the internal AF mechanism of the mounted lens automatically.

The camera does the same thing every time you wake it by touching the shutter release .

That is if the lens was parked at infinity (or any other position) the camera will drive the AF mechanism off the parked position and then return to the same position.

If you turn the focus ring manually, you are engaging the MF clutch to then move a new AF parked position.

That is useful for lenses with a long focus travel such as the APO Macro Summarit S 120 to avoid delay if you were focusing from infinity to a close range.

Edited July 17, 2016 by hoppyman

[tom0511]

Just about to start a quick Sunday ride and shoot some panorama's of some sites I have found over the weeks bike rides:

 

what's in my bag by teknopunk.com, on Flickr

 

Have a great Sunday!

 

Nice bike. Is this one of the last steel versions of the Blizzard?