Guest Posted August 31, 2017 Share #1 Posted August 31, 2017 Advertisement (gone after registration) I've recently been lucky enough to buy four new Leica lenses - the Summilux 50mm, Summicron 28mm, and the Summarit 35mm and 90mm. The Summarits (cheapest of the lenses by far of course) have nice firm clicky aperture rings, with no play either rotationally or front to back. The Summicron by comparison is much looser, and very easy to turn accidentally. The Summilux is the worst of all, very loose, always getting turned by accident, with play both rotationally and front to back (it almost rattles basically). I've read quite a bit about this and it's certainly not an uncommon problem, and as such I thought I could live with it. It's continuing to bother me though - it seems crazy that the near top of the line lens is built so much more poorly in this respect than the "budget" equivalent. Thoughts please? Should I expect near perfection? Is it "just the way they are"? I've spoken to the dealer who I bought them from (some distance from me unfortunately) and he's happy to take a look, but I don't want to waste his and my time if there's nothing really to be done. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted August 31, 2017 Posted August 31, 2017 Hi Guest, Take a look here Loose Aperture Rings. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
klwe Posted August 31, 2017 Share #2 Posted August 31, 2017 I had this with a Summilux 35 FLE. The Aperture ring could be moved without clicks at all. After two or three weeks at the Customer Service and a payment of around 120 € it's clicking fine again. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rafikiphoto Posted August 31, 2017 Share #3 Posted August 31, 2017 A while ago now but my Summicron 50mm aperture ring was very loose. I had it with me at Photokina 2014 and one of the Leica chaps took it 'round the back' and tightened it a bit. When he brought it back and I tried it I still wished it was tighter and he happily had another go and it's been perfect ever since. So yes, the rings can be adjusted. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 31, 2017 Share #4 Posted August 31, 2017 Ok thanks guys, I'll see what the dealer has to say. I hope I don't have to lose my brand new lenses for a few weeks though! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShivaYash Posted September 2, 2017 Share #5 Posted September 2, 2017 I had this issue and sent it to Germany for adjustment. Turnaround was quick. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted September 3, 2017 Share #6 Posted September 3, 2017 I rented the 50 APO and the ring was ridiculously loose. Price immune. If it were my own it would have either been returned or sent to DAG. Jeff Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pjay Posted September 3, 2017 Share #7 Posted September 3, 2017 Advertisement (gone after registration) Yep, my 50 APO is crazy loose, too easy to bump to a different setting. Dealer seemed to indicate it was normal... Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rent Posted September 3, 2017 Share #8 Posted September 3, 2017 (edited) My 50 APO appears to be ok. The clicks are crisp and distinct. If I have my say, I'd prefer it a hair tighter, but it's acceptable as-is. My Lux 35 FLE though... It is much looser. While the clicks are there, it's much easier to turn accidentally. It also turns left 1/3 click past 1.4, which apparently is common. Guess I shouldn't complain about getting a 1.2 Nocti, eh? Edited September 3, 2017 by rent Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Summicron35 Posted November 13, 2020 Share #9 Posted November 13, 2020 My 90mm Summarit-M is de-clicked completely. The adhesive holding the aperture ring flaked off and now I have to push forword lightly on the ring to engage the click stops. I guess there is some truth about this cheaper lens range has lower quality. Unacceptable for Leica! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
astrostl Posted November 13, 2020 Share #10 Posted November 13, 2020 My 50 Lux won't stay 100% open (slightly closes itself after being set to f/1.4). My 21 SEM practically moves when you breathe on it. I sent both to Leica for service, and both were returned in more or less the same shape. About to do it again. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
evikne Posted November 13, 2020 Share #11 Posted November 13, 2020 (edited) 1 hour ago, astrostl said: My 50 Lux won't stay 100% open (slightly closes itself after being set to f/1.4). My 21 SEM practically moves when you breathe on it. I sent both to Leica for service, and both were returned in more or less the same shape. About to do it again. Probably the same "issue" as in this thread about the 35 FLE. Someone who asked Leica was told that the aperture clicks exactly at f/1.4, even though it isn't perfectly round. Beyond that click, the aperture is slightly wider than f/1.4: Edited November 13, 2020 by evikne Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted November 13, 2020 Share #12 Posted November 13, 2020 7 hours ago, Summicron35 said: My 90mm Summarit-M is de-clicked completely. The adhesive holding the aperture ring flaked off and now I have to push forword lightly on the ring to engage the click stops. I guess there is some truth about this cheaper lens range has lower quality. Unacceptable for Leica! The ultra expensive 50 APO M Summicron (and other recent high end Leica lenses) are notorious for loose aperture rings. Nothing to do with Summarit quality, which is generally fine. Jeff Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ammar577 Posted November 14, 2020 Share #13 Posted November 14, 2020 I had an issue with my 50 Noctilux, where the it was extremely loose, I sent it to Germany and they fixed it for free Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
insomnia Posted November 14, 2020 Share #14 Posted November 14, 2020 You can ask Leica to stiffen it, using stronger springs. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Geschlecht Posted November 15, 2020 Share #15 Posted November 15, 2020 Hello Everybody, Does anyone know for sure whether they use stiffer springs or simply tension the existent springs differently? Best Regards, Michael Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
105012 Posted November 15, 2020 Share #16 Posted November 15, 2020 I call this the "Leica Random Aperture Feature" — every time you pick up the camera you get a different aperture! It's an issue with my Summicron 50 type 4's and my APO-Telyt 135. Better aperture ring tension is on the Summicron 50 Type 1 (Collapsible) and really good on the Tele-Elmarit 90 'thin'. Voigtlander is consistently good, maybe Leica could have a look at what they do? 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Geschlecht Posted November 15, 2020 Share #17 Posted November 15, 2020 19 minutes ago, 105012 said: I call this the "Leica Random Aperture Feature" — every time you pick up the camera you get a different aperture! It's an issue with my Summicron 50 type 4's and my APO-Telyt 135. Better aperture ring tension is on the Summicron 50 Type 1 (Collapsible) and really good on the Tele-Elmarit 90 'thin'. Voigtlander is consistently good, maybe Leica could have a look at what they do? Hello 105012, They don't have to look as far as other makers. They only have to look at their own lenses from the 1950's & the 1960's. Best Regards, Michael 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
colint544 Posted November 15, 2020 Share #18 Posted November 15, 2020 Same for me. My 35 Summilux ASPH FLE had a loose aperture ring and a pronounced rattle, brand new out of the box. After a few years, the focus ring began to develop play. This gradually became worse, and eventually it started hitting some sort of hard stop way before it could reach infinity. This made it unusable, so I was forced to send it back to Leica and pay for repairs. They fixed the focus problem, tightened the aperture ring so it's firm and clicks, and they banished the rattle. That was two years ago, and it's been fine since. Don't know why this is a thing with some modern, and very expensive, Leica lenses. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pyrogallol Posted November 15, 2020 Share #19 Posted November 15, 2020 Have they made all the quality control staff redundant? if it was a car they would all be recalled back to the dealers for a free repair. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Summicron35 Posted November 15, 2020 Share #20 Posted November 15, 2020 On 11/13/2020 at 1:43 PM, Jeff S said: The ultra expensive 50 APO M Summicron (and other recent high end Leica lenses) are notorious for loose aperture rings. Nothing to do with Summarit quality, which is generally fine. Jeff Hmmm, food for thought. Implies that Leica shouldn't charge for service and repair of this notorious flaw. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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