Leicauser7 Posted March 13, 2017 Share #1 Posted March 13, 2017 Advertisement (gone after registration) I just purchased a 28 Summilux. I am quite certain that the vendor placed an order for it and received it from Germany last week and I then received it with a sealed outer box. There are two things that seem odd. 1. The sticker date on the outer box is 2017/02/22 and the date on the sticker on the inner box is 2015/04/13. So they don't match, though the serial numbers on the stickers are identical. 2. The serial number on the lens is 4205xxx. So the serial number does reflect (I believe) a 2015 manufacturer date. I am thinking that Leica made a large batch of these back in 2015 around the time that they were released and hasn't made a batch since? Although even that seems a bit odd as I noticed there is a used one for sale now on ebay that has a serial number of 4206xxx. So clearly Leica is not sending them out in order. Does this seem weird to anyone? Having just received the lens at work I haven't even had a chance to put it on my camera and confirm it works perfectly, though it looks perfect.... thanks for any thoughts... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted March 13, 2017 Posted March 13, 2017 Hi Leicauser7, Take a look here 28 Summilux Serial Number/Boxing Questions. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
MaticB Posted March 13, 2017 Share #2 Posted March 13, 2017 Probably you should cheque test certificate of the lens! There too, is sticker with date of examination and signature of technique. Mine was tested on May 20th 2016, and serial number is 4263xxxx, so I don't believe the number reflect manufacturer date! Anyway, wonderful lens! Matic Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leicauser7 Posted March 13, 2017 Author Share #3 Posted March 13, 2017 Thanks... yes, the test certificates all say February 22, 2017... though the manufacturing date is April, 2015... is that weird? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NB23 Posted March 13, 2017 Share #4 Posted March 13, 2017 I noticed a very WEIRD trend in the Leica forum lately; people refer to their lenses and cameras by manufactured date. Is this yet a new way to give their gear somekind of importance? In this instance, why is it important? If you brlieve you got a used lens, then return it. And if it's brand new, well... it's brand new. Anyhow, the important part is the 5 years warranty starting at the date of purchase. Anything else is Leica internal business. There's nothing for us to decode, really. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leicauser7 Posted March 13, 2017 Author Share #5 Posted March 13, 2017 It doesn't matter other than my understanding that this particular lens had a recall in the beginning and his lens was manufactured before it was even announced a couple of years ago. In any event, I just tested the lens and unfortunately it's front focusing. For the money Leica charges its mind boggling that they don't do a better job with qc. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdlaing Posted March 13, 2017 Share #6 Posted March 13, 2017 The serial number, if I remember correctly, has nothing to do with the manufacture date on a lens. They are assigned in blocks. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leicauser7 Posted March 14, 2017 Author Share #7 Posted March 14, 2017 Advertisement (gone after registration) The serial number, if I remember correctly, has nothing to do with the manufacture date on a lens. They are assigned in blocks. Perhaps but regardless the date of manufacture is reflected on the sticker on the box and in this case it was manufactured before the lens was even announced. If it works perfectly I don't care but in this case it doesn't. Sort of makes one wonder why Germany would send out a lens (shipped on February 22, 2017 as per sticker on the outside box) manufactured so long ago when LeicaUSA informed me this afternoon that all of their examples of this lens have been coming in with more recent manufacturing dates for quite some time (well over a year). I'm not worried, I know Leica will make it right, it just strikes me as very odd... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NB23 Posted March 14, 2017 Share #8 Posted March 14, 2017 It doesn't matter other than my understanding that this particular lens had a recall in the beginning and his lens was manufactured before it was even announced a couple of years ago. In any event, I just tested the lens and unfortunately it's front focusing. For the money Leica charges its mind boggling that they don't do a better job with qc. Yes, unfortunately it is a SHAME! My brand new 24 lux front focused and my 21 lux, too, by quite a margin. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leicauser7 Posted March 14, 2017 Author Share #9 Posted March 14, 2017 So what is the normal procedure is such a situation? If you have just dropped 6 or 7k on a lens, will they bump you to the front of the line to recalibrate, or provide a replacement? Thx. Also, assuming that they recalibrate, did you find that they were able to get it dead right on their first attempt to fix? Did you use Leica NJ? Thx Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NB23 Posted March 14, 2017 Share #10 Posted March 14, 2017 So what is the normal procedure is such a situation? If you have just dropped 6 or 7k on a lens, will they bump you to the front of the line to recalibrate, or provide a replacement? Thx. Also, assuming that they recalibrate, did you find that they were able to get it dead right on their first attempt to fix? Did you use Leica NJ? Thx No Idea. My story is weird: I use film so it took me 5 years to realize that the lens might be wrong. When I properly tested I was 6 months out of warranty. I sent it to Don Goldberg. The lens is now performing so well! I still love my prints and the old work. What can I do... I have to incorporate that side of me into my "art". I believe Leica should express things but I don't know how they'll handle it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdlaing Posted March 14, 2017 Share #11 Posted March 14, 2017 Perhaps but regardless the date of manufacture is reflected on the sticker on the box and in this case it was manufactured before the lens was even announced. If it works perfectly I don't care but in this case it doesn't. Sort of makes one wonder why Germany would send out a lens (shipped on February 22, 2017 as per sticker on the outside box) manufactured so long ago when LeicaUSA informed me this afternoon that all of their examples of this lens have been coming in with more recent manufacturing dates for quite some time (well over a year). I'm not worried, I know Leica will make it right, it just strikes me as very odd... Sure they'll make it right. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gpwhite Posted March 14, 2017 Share #12 Posted March 14, 2017 Leicauser7, congratulations on bringing a true Meisterstueck into your lens family The 28mm Summilux renders most beautifully of all of Herr Karbe's teams' efforts, IMHO. I hope you can enjoy it wide open, as they designed it. My lens was ticketed on 3/20/2015, and it arrived in the first wave brought to the USA. It bears 42058xx, plus 68 more for good measure. I would agree with your assessment that the lens casing on your 28mm Summilux was made at the same time as my 28mm Summilux, which I received just about April 1, 2015. What to make of ticket dates, inspection signatures and serial numbers on Leica equipment? There are many anecdotes about this entertaining topic on the forum, but I like mine lot, . I purchased one from the last lot of 50/1 lenses, six-bit coded after it had been deserted in Midland, from the owner of what must be the most reputable Leica store outside of Wetzlar. I then wrote to Wetzlar CS and enquired about its production date, as I was curious how Leica tracked the Midland pieces through their eventual liquidation and transport to Europe. Wetzlar CS wrote back to say I was surely mistaken because my serial number belonged to an APO Telyt 135mm, rather than a 50/1. So, I sent Leica a picture of my lens showing its serial number prominently.... the final reply was that they had no explanation for why two lenses of such different specification and provenance would have identical serial numbers. I suggest just enjoying your 28mm Summilux (and hold onto the 28mm Summicron you might have too, as they are as different as siblings can be). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leicauser7 Posted March 14, 2017 Author Share #13 Posted March 14, 2017 Thanks Peter for your thoughts on the lens generally and my situation. I am certain that Leica will make everything right, may just take a bit of time. The lens delivered to me yesterday is about 20 behind yours in serial numbers! So odd that you purchased yours 2 years ago and I mine just two weeks ago. If you wouldn't mind, two questions. First, does your lens focus "dead on" at 1.4? Or is there perhaps some front focus? And second, have you noticed any focus shift on your lens? I'm just wondering if Leica might intentionally calibrate these lenses with a bit of front focus intentionally to compensate for focus shift? Even if so, my example -- which is boxed up and going back tomorrow -- surely has too much front focus. But perhaps they are trying to strike a "compromise" over the aperture range? Thanks again! Tony Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gpwhite Posted March 15, 2017 Share #14 Posted March 15, 2017 Thanks Peter for your thoughts on the lens generally and my situation. I am certain that Leica will make everything right, may just take a bit of time. The lens delivered to me yesterday is about 20 behind yours in serial numbers! So odd that you purchased yours 2 years ago and I mine just two weeks ago. If you wouldn't mind, two questions. First, does your lens focus "dead on" at 1.4? Or is there perhaps some front focus? And second, have you noticed any focus shift on your lens? I'm just wondering if Leica might intentionally calibrate these lenses with a bit of front focus intentionally to compensate for focus shift? Even if so, my example -- which is boxed up and going back tomorrow -- surely has too much front focus. But perhaps they are trying to strike a "compromise" over the aperture range? Thanks again! Tony Tony, the best answer regarding focus @f/1.4 from my experience is that some bodies nail it "dead on," whereas others back-focus a little. I think this is nature of RF, wherein bodies and lenses are not well mated to each other. I will propose, however, that my M262 seems better calibrated than an M240 I purchased at release of that body. High-speed lenses, such as a 28mm Summilux, all have a degree of focus shift. I believe this issue became very noticeable for Leica M shooters with the 35mm Summilux ASPH and 50mm Summilux ASPH, which are very crisp *and* plagued by substantial field curvature. My own view is that the latter characteristic makes the former a bigger concern because the image just does not deliver as expected. All of this said, I shoot my 28mm Summilux at f/1.7 or f/2.8 and am completely happy with both renderings. If the highest contrast is at a slightly different plane @f/2.8 than @/1.7, I just have not found it objectionable. Why f/1.7? I find giving most lenses 1/2-stop will jump the on-axis IQ significantly over wide open. Micro-contrast at f/1.7 distant focus, btw, is remarkable with this lens! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cliff S Posted March 15, 2017 Share #15 Posted March 15, 2017 I had my 35 summilux recalibrated and it is now sharp using OVF at all ranges. Before it was not in focus at close range of 5 meters or less. A properly calibrated 35 slux can be tack at all ranges. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leicauser7 Posted March 15, 2017 Author Share #16 Posted March 15, 2017 Cool -- and Cliff you have the FLE? Thx t Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cliff S Posted March 15, 2017 Share #17 Posted March 15, 2017 It's pretty new.: LEICA SUMMILUX-M 35MM/1.4-ASPH II SILVER This model has a floating lens. I've also sent in the 90mm cron f2, Noctilux 0.95 and all came back brilliantly in focus across all ranges. I use OVF exclusively now. Surprised they don't necessarily come properly calibrated. I use the M10 and everything I have is perfectly calibrated. For now Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leicauser7 Posted March 15, 2017 Author Share #18 Posted March 15, 2017 Thanks Cliff -- and are you in the US or U.K? Who did you use for calibration? Thx t Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
IkarusJohn Posted March 15, 2017 Share #19 Posted March 15, 2017 Tony, if you look at Cliff's smiling face on the left, underneath it says he's from Montreal. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cliff S Posted March 15, 2017 Share #20 Posted March 15, 2017 I'm smiling now that everything is calibrated and working great and letting me shoot photos of people and places instead of charts. I don't know if my dealer sent it to New Jersey or Wetzlar They took 3-4 weeks to get back. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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