Can a lens be damaged from the plane's temperature?

[reddot925]

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Hello all.

 

I was recently in Germany and had the stiff and not so smooth focusing mount of the beautiful black paint LHSA Summilux 50mm ASPH repaired by Leica, to which they did an outstanding job.

 

Next day after a 10 hour plane ride home, to my horror, the focusing ring of the lens won't move and only after some force it would start to move but back to being stiff and not so smooth, almost exactly where we started, perhaps slightly worse.

 

Although the lens is checked in with the luggage, it's very well protected and there's no sign of physical damage to either the lens or the luggage.

 

That leaves me thinking, can it be that the plane's temperature had any effect on the recently applied lubricant which I presume Leica had to reapply while repairing the lens?     I was in Germany only a few days and Leica was nice enough to speed up the repair waiting time, may this have affected the repair?

 

Thanks for your input for future reference.

 

PS.   After this 'repair' when used with the M10 the camera's LCD would flash red crazily warning of completely blown highlights (and it's indeed mostly completely blown out) every time even the slightest sky is in the frame.  Am I now just over thinking things now or is it possible for a lens to be affected this way?

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[Leicaiste]

Checked with the luggage ? [emoji15]

[fotoism]

If it's due to temperature it should slowly get back to normal when you leave it in room temperature for a couple of days to let it warm up. However, the physical abuse airline luggage gets is no secret. You may think you have good protection for your camera (clothing...etc) but you never know what kind of impact force had been applied during luggage loading and unloading, or during transit in the air. If something was knocked out of whack you may have a new problem.

[Simon]

I’ve always assumed baggage handlers go out of their way to be as rough and damaging as possible. I’ve seen way too many shocking stories - like musical instruments completely crushed - to ever take any chances. Perhaps if they see it’s something especially unusual or valuable they go in for the extra hit so to speak. They’re probably bored and it’s a game to them. You can even see them in their natural habitat throwing the bags onto the plane’s chute and I’m sure bags fall off those buggies at high speed sometimes.

 

Perhaps it’s not just temperature but pressure changes that have caused the problem. Could having air sucked out of it cause this? I’d assume it would recover when back at normal pressure but you never know.

[Jeff S]

Seems you don't live in US, but if so, send it to DAG. Leica NJ couldn't fix the sticky focus on my standard 50 Summilux ASPH, despite new grease, but DAG fixed it by using his supply of the superior old Leitz grease. It's been perfect ever since.

 

And always hand carry gear on a plane, if at all possible.

 

Jeff

[reddot925]

Thanks Jeff,

 

You are right I don't live in the US, so unfortunately DAG is not an option.

 

 

Seems you don't live in US, but if so, send it to DAG. Leica NJ couldn't fix the sticky focus on my standard 50 Summilux ASPH, despite new grease, but DAG fixed it by using his supply of the superior old Leitz grease. It's been perfect ever since.

And always hand carry gear on a plane, if at all possible.

Jeff

[reddot925]

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I’m back around 3-4 days now but first day when focus won’t even move properly I sent it immediately to local Leica dealer who is also puzzled and preparing to send it back to Germany. After reading your post I asked for the lens back today to see if I may have some luck like you said that it could get back to normal after left it in room temperature for a few days.

 

It’s indeed a bit better, the complete lock up whre focus ring would not move is gone, it’s still somewhat stiff but I don’t feel it’s as erratic anymore, just seems like a lens that need CLA. It’s more stiff towards each end of the focusing, middle is completely fine.

 

I do hope it’s just a temperature issue or the lubricant didn’t dry properly rather than something got knocked out of whack.

 

 

 

 

If it's due to temperature it should slowly get back to normal when you leave it in room temperature for a couple of days to let it warm up. However, the physical abuse airline luggage gets is no secret. You may think you have good protection for your camera (clothing...etc) but you never know what kind of impact force had been applied during luggage loading and unloading, or during transit in the air. If something was knocked out of whack you may have a new problem.

[mmradman]

Hello all.

 

I was recently in Germany and had the stiff and not so smooth focusing mount of the beautiful black paint LHSA Summilux 50mm ASPH repaired by Leica, to which they did an outstanding job.

 

Next day after a 10 hour plane ride home, to my horror, the focusing ring of the lens won't move and only after some force it would start to move but back to being stiff and not so smooth, almost exactly where we started, perhaps slightly worse.

 

Although the lens is checked in with the luggage, it's very well protected and there's no sign of physical damage to either the lens or the luggage.

 

That leaves me thinking, can it be that the plane's temperature had any effect on the recently applied lubricant which I presume Leica had to reapply while repairing the lens?     I was in Germany only a few days and Leica was nice enough to speed up the repair waiting time, may this have affected the repair?

 

Thanks for your input for future reference.

 

PS.   After this 'repair' when used with the M10 the camera's LCD would flash red crazily warning of completely blown highlights (and it's indeed mostly completely blown out) every time even the slightest sky is in the frame.  Am I now just over thinking things now or is it possible for a lens to be affected this way?

Considering lens was in checked luggage it is most probably self inflicted issue, previous posts are clear on that.

I have been flying for years with cameras and lenses, both manual and auto focus and always as hand luggage, never had any problems.

 

Cost of Leica gear alone warrants more respect in transit, unless of course your hand luggage was laden with Montblanck pens and Patek Phillipe watches.

[pgk]

I've had tough gear damaged inside well padded Pelicases when checked in. If you ever watch the treatment baggage can be subjected to (like falling off the trucks) you would only ever check in unbreakable items and certainly not Leica lenses. Impacts may not be evident (my Pelicases were undamaged although an underwater housing inside suffered a bent 6mm stainless steel through shaft - which takes a good bit of force) but can still have been subjected to rough treatment. I would not check Leica lenses in and always carry them (well insured) in hand baggage.

[Exodies]

Bags should be fitted with accelerometers and an automatic compensation paid if they report >5g. This is simple tech, available today. It just needs a law to implement. Isn’t that why we have government?

[earleygallery]

I would send the lens back to Leica. If it's something related to their work then they should rectify it. If it's suffered some kind of impact damage in transit they'll see that and also be able to fix it, but at a cost of course. 

[Exodies]

They tend to fix adjustment slippage for no cost.

[LocalHero1953]

For the record, I have put Leica stuff in long haul hold baggage without any harm other than, on one occasion, theft of the whole lot. I have done this because my camera kit is insurable and replaceable, whereas the papers I have taken in my cabin baggage were not. I have never noticed the sort of effects reported by the OP. Now I'm retired, pay for my own insurance and don't carry irreplaceable papers, I take my camera stuff in the cabin.

[CJJon]

Bags should be fitted with accelerometers and an automatic compensation paid if they report >5g. This is simple tech, available today. It just needs a law to implement. Isn’t that why we have government?

 

 5G? Try 75 to 100G. A 5G hit is nothing for a light camera lens. The tech exists and can even use cell or satellite communication to place data in the cloud. 

[mikemgb]

The luggage holds of commercial aircraft are kept at the same temperature as the main cabin, but as others have said I would never check anything valuable. I ecenly saw a case fall from the top of a conveyor while it was being loaded into the hold.

[CJJon]

I was on a flight to Palm Springs and I was sitting on the plane watching the baggage handlers load up the luggage. Every single bag was tossed from the cart onto the conveyor belt at a height of at least 5 feet. Every single bag, box, case, stroller, baby car seats, golf club sets...everything. It din't matter which way was up or down. Several boxes had giant "This Way Up" stickers with arrows and they were all tossed any which way. It was actually amazing to watch the ease at which they were able to toss around everything no matter how heavy or awkward all at the consistent 5+ feet height.

 

My cameras and guitars always travel with me in the cabin. 

[Jeff S]

Send the lens back to Leica .... now.... while follow- up service might apply. If it's temp related, which I strongly doubt, do you expect to only shoot at room temp from now on?

 

Jeff

[Exodies]

Is baggage handled with less care than parcels?

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[dugby]

Not sure if this is helpful, or representative of the LHSA lens of the OP’s issue....

 

I have a Silver (bronze) LHSA ASPH Summilux-M 50mm.

 

I also have the 50APO and 35FLE and they are both very easy to turn for focus, whereas the LHSA lens is relatively quite stiff to focus.

Without any torque measuring tools, my gut feel is that the LHSA is more than twice as stiff to turn the focussing ring.

[steamboat]

Vibration. Ten hours of vibrations. That's my guess. Yeah, I know, it's same vibration in cabin but maybe different in the cargo area.