Summicron 75apo

[stephan54]

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I have a M10 with Summilux 50asph, Elmarit 28aph and Summarit 90 2.5. The 50 and 28 focus are spot on, the 90 has a slight backfocus at certain distances but that can be remedied at f5,6.

 

Tried two copies of the 75apo and both were not sharp at 2.0 at infinity and also displayed moderate to heavy backfocus. 

 

Now my question: if I buy a 75apo that is a bit off and I send in the camera with that lens to have it adjusted, do I run the risk that afterwards I have a working 75, but the other lenses are off?

 

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[chris_livsey]

Why not send the 75mm and body in with the other three lenses so Leica can find the best compromise for that set and that body?

The, unlikely I, know danger is that the 50 and 28mm are out and the 90 and 75 are "correct" but more likely if both the 75 copies were out at infinity to me that would point to the body.

Edited April 2, 2018 by chris_livsey

[SiggiGun]

Hello 

 

Here my experience:

 

The Apo-Summicron 75 is a great lens but difficult to focus. I had never sharp photos wide open with M8, M9 our M. But using the M10 my results are better.  It seams for me that the  difference on the focus ring between 5m and 50m but the difference in sharpness is big,...  If I am using this lens on the M10 now, I add a 1,4x magnifier on the camera. So, the chance dot have better images is bigger :-) https://www.flickr.com/photos/siggigun/albums/72157691727972472 

[LocalHero1953]

Topical question for me!

 

The reply you will usually get here, which makes sense to me, is that Leica calibrates lenses and camera to an external standard, not to each other. That makes sense because the last thing you want is to get all your lenses recalibrated simply because one of them, or the body, is off. And then going through the same process when you buy a new lens.

 

But my new Thambar appeared to be way off focus; my M240 works fine with my other mid-long lenses (50mm, 75mm, 7.3cm - too difficult to be sure about the wides). The dealer agreed with me but advised I send the body as well for checking. Leica sent a message to say that the body was off-calibration, and did I want to send all my other lenses in for checking. I demurred, as you might expect, as it seems to be just the Thambar (under warranty) that is problematic, not everything else. I referred to my understanding about calibration standards in my second para, and asked them to calibrate what they had: the Thambar, and the M240 if they think it is wrong. Lets hope that sorts it. It seems unlikely to me that all my lenses and body are out of calibration but the Thambar is correct.

 

I'm waiting to find out!

[Lufizer]

Hello 

 

Here my experience:

 

The Apo-Summicron 75 is a great lens but difficult to focus. I had never sharp photos wide open with M8, M9 our M. But using the M10 my results are better.  It seams for me that the  difference on the focus ring between 5m and 50m but the difference in sharpness is big,...  If I am using this lens on the M10 now, I add a 1,4x magnifier on the camera. So, the chance dot have better images is bigger :-) https://www.flickr.com/photos/siggigun/albums/72157691727972472 

Your flickr-link doesn‘t work.

[stephan54]

Thanks for the early and helpful replies.

 

In case Chris is correct, I think I will abstain from buying the 75. It was meant an extra, and not as an necessity. I assumed that a sharp 50 and 28 meant that the body is correctly adjusted, but if the both lenses and the body are out of specs, I am reluctant to get the whole bunch adjusted. The 90 is also sharp at infinity and only has a slight back focus at certain in between distances. 

 

I will consider the magnifier although spending money to use an expensive lens is not my favourite option.

Interesting to hear the Thambar focus outcome.

[wattsy]

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I've owned the 75 APO three times (for various reasons) and only the first was unproblematic (the lesson ought to be that when you have a "good 'un" think carefully before selling it). The third required two trips to Wetzlar to be be cured of focussing miscalibration. Whenever I have a lens or body with questionable focussing (which is more often than I like) I take it to Leica Mayfair and have Jimmy check it out using his "reference" camera or lens (the latter is or used to be a 75/F2.5 that Jimmy trusted to be bang-on).

Edited April 2, 2018 by wattsy

[LocalHero1953]

I should add that the Apo-Summicron 75 is one of my other lenses that focuses accurately on my M240. It is the lens I would hang on to even when the rest are gone, partly because 75 is a good FL for me (it frames the part of the scene I am looking at with my naked eyes, especially where people are involved), partly because it is compact and has a good close focus, partly because of its superb IQ, and partly because, despite the comments of others and a short focus throw, I don't have difficulty focusing it!

Edited April 2, 2018 by LocalHero1953

[SiggiGun]

Your flickr-link doesn‘t work.

Oh!, Sorry

 

https://www.flickr.com/gp/siggigun/5dLEn0

 

? Better now

[stephan54]

I've owned the 75 APO three times (for various reasons) and only the first was unproblematic (the lesson ought to be that when you have a "good 'un" think carefully before selling it). The third required two trips to Wetzlar to be be cured of focussing miscalibration. Whenever I have a lens or body with questionable focussing (which is more often than I like) I take it to Leica Mayfair and have Jimmy check it out using his "reference" camera or lens (the latter is or used to be a 75/F2.5 that Jimmy trusted to be bang-on).

 

Thanks, that is the advantage of buying in a shop over buying on the internet. I do prefer a real shop.

[stephan54]

I should add that the Apo-Summicron 75 is one of my other lenses that focuses accurately on my M240. It is the lens I would hang on to even when the rest are gone, partly because 75 is a good FL for me (it frames the part of the scene I am looking at with my naked eyes, especially where people are involved), partly because it is compact and has a good close focus, partly because of its superb IQ, and partly because, despite the comments of others and a short focus throw, I don't have difficulty focusing it!

 

I found the focussing not too problematic and think the 75 is a useful addition, but not if is means a few roundtrips to Wetzlar.

[Paul J]

The best solution with lens and rangefinder calibration is send the whole kit, lenses and bodies off and pay for "expedited service".

 

It's not even that expensive and your kit comes back working like a dream.

[Gobert]

I like the 75 apo summicron very much. It’s briljant sharp.

[stephan54]

I like the 75 apo summicron very much. It’s briljant sharp.

 

Out of the box?

[LocalHero1953]

I found the focussing not too problematic and think the 75 is a useful addition, but not if is means a few roundtrips to Wetzlar.

The only time mine went to Wetzlar was after I threw it onto the cobbles outside Parma Cathedral. The focus jammed solid, and it had to be rebuilt. It came back like new.

[Gobert]

@stephan54,

 

Yes, I bought it brand new at the end of last year.

But, with none of my lenses I have any issues. Safe for the last one I bought all brand new: Super Elmar 21/3.4, Summilux 35/1.4, Summilux 50/1.4, Summicron 75/2.0, Summicron 90/2.0 pre-asph.

Edited April 2, 2018 by Gobert

[pgk]

I've had two. The first was off but the second is spot on - no problems at all. According to many threads on the forum it is tricky to set up for both infinity and close focus due to its complex design.

 

Leica obviously calibrate lenses to a known 'standard' - if they request a camera body it is because it too should be checked to be within tolerance, not because they will match lens to body - that would be empirical engineering and quite unacceptable in today's world. If you have a body which is incorrectly focusing it needs to be adjusted even if this means other lenses have to be adjusted too. I see little point in having such high quality equipment if its used 'out of calibration'.

[stephan54]

I've had two. The first was off but the second is spot on - no problems at all. According to many threads on the forum it is tricky to set up for both infinity and close focus due to its complex design.

 

Leica obviously calibrate lenses to a known 'standard' - if they request a camera body it is because it too should be checked to be within tolerance, not because they will match lens to body - that would be empirical engineering and quite unacceptable in today's world. If you have a body which is incorrectly focusing it needs to be adjusted even if this means other lenses have to be adjusted too. I see little point in having such high quality equipment if its used 'out of calibration'.

 

Thanks. What I find confusing is that the 28 and 50 are spot on, but the fault can still be in the calibration of the camera.

I probably try a third one and see where it goes from there.

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[pgk]

Thanks. What I find confusing is that the 28 and 50 are spot on, but the fault can still be in the calibration of the camera.

I probably try a third one and see where it goes from there.

 

I think that you do need to try a third lens because two lenses being off focus in the same way is a big coincidence. That said the fact that you tried two 75 Summicrons which were not sharp at infinity does suggest a potential body problem to me. The 75 is usually problematic at closer distances as it has a mechanical floating rear doublet (elements 6/7 in Leica's diagram on the specsheet) and any maladjustment of this will most likely show up at closer distances. Both my first and current lenses were ok at infinity but the first was well off close up.

[johnp1975]

I have the 75mm Summicron APO and it is the sharpest lens I have seen. I adore this lens but in the territory to explore other possible 75mm.

 

John

Edited April 2, 2018 by johnp1975