wlaidlaw Posted July 15, 2007 Share #21 Posted July 15, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) Wilson, I'm surprised to hear that the blades are greased on a Leica M lens at all. It's not like an auto-diaphragm lens where a spring is used to actuate or reset it on every shot, on a Leica M lens, the blade positions are set by a cam on the aperture ring and there's no requirement for the instant action as there is with an SLR lens. Greased or not, there's no excuse for a lens to come back from repair with grease on the aperture blades. Mark, I too don't imagine the diaphragm blades on M lenses are greased but other parts of the lens assembly are and as we all know, grease will not stay on the bits it is supposed to but will get to and stick firmly onto the bits where it is not wanted (Murphy's 23rd law of photography). If you look at the diaphragm blades on a Leica lens, you will see that they almost have a textured appearance. Some other diaphragm blades have what looks like tiny holes. I would guess that this is so they are air lubricated relative to each other and don't vacuum bind together. Wilson Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted July 15, 2007 Posted July 15, 2007 Hi wlaidlaw, Take a look here My 35/1.4 two repairs - more broken every time.. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Joop van Heijgen Posted July 15, 2007 Share #22 Posted July 15, 2007 The 50 Lux LHSA asph batch seems all suffer the focusing issue ,i boutht a brand new two months ago wh back focuse badly make the lens unuseable sent it with 35lux asph(brand new too with same problem) to solm for repair. it may back next week.....will see what happen then.i also sent my M8 + Noct+ 90/2 aa apo asph + 135/3.4 apo to solm for adjustment(all with same behavior- back focus on mid range ) one month ago dont know when they will back....i'm so disappoint the QC or whatever reason that Leica perform . all my 8 lens out of 5 + body (all brand new except noctilux )went to solm this is no good for a legend brand like LEICA.....i am always thinking buy another m8 for back up but have no confidence at all ... Advice for digital use: buy only the top models of Nikon or Canon. For Leica cameras: buy only the mechanical M-Leicas. I do prefer all Wetzlar models because they leave you never alone! (M3,M4,M4 P,M5,M6), Leicaflex SL (2) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
eronald Posted July 15, 2007 Author Share #23 Posted July 15, 2007 The problem is I don't know what to say to Leica anymore concerning my 35/1.4 - It will have taken 6 months to fix. - I believe that after being taken apart so often it will never regain its original state. The screws show the damage already. What can I ask for ? Titanium 35/1.4 aren't made anymore. Leica replaced my dead M8 and the replacement is markedly worse than the original camera. Edmund Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joop van Heijgen Posted July 15, 2007 Share #24 Posted July 15, 2007 The problem is I don't know what to say to Leica anymore concerning my 35/1.4 - It will have taken 6 months to fix. - I believe that after being taken apart so often it will never regain its original state. The screws show the damage already. What can I ask for ? Titanium 35/1.4 aren't made anymore. Leica replaced my dead M8 and the replacement is markedly worse than the original camera. Edmund Say to your dealer: 'I want my money back'!! (N.B. I know a Leica repairer in Holland; this man is educated in Wetzlar and has worked in the past with the Leica Dealer in Holland). He can help you for your lenses. Send me an email, and I will give you his address and telephonenumber!) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
fotografr Posted July 16, 2007 Share #25 Posted July 16, 2007 The problem is I don't know what to say to Leica anymore concerning my 35/1.4 - It will have taken 6 months to fix. - I believe that after being taken apart so often it will never regain its original state. The screws show the damage already. What can I ask for ? Titanium 35/1.4 aren't made anymore. Leica replaced my dead M8 and the replacement is markedly worse than the original camera. Edmund I would go right to the top. Write, call or email Steven K. Lee. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
fotografr Posted July 16, 2007 Share #26 Posted July 16, 2007 I have this 35/1.4 Titanium asph. Beautiful lens, very sharp, a bit stiff. Sent it in to make it less stiff to move focus, came back stiff, with grease all over the diaphragm blades. Sent it back, it came back unsharp. Am sending it back again with a letter. Leica factory repair is going downhill fast. Of course my lens is now permanently damaged by the multiple repairs, and I have not been able to use it since March 13. My investment in this lens is a total loss. Edmund It might be time to speak to an attorney. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ho_co Posted July 17, 2007 Share #27 Posted July 17, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) ... Grease is a mixture of compounds, some more volatile some less. The very thin greases used for photographic applications have a high volatile component, not least so that lubricity is maintained at low temperatures and the grease does not become so viscous that you cannot turn the focusing or aperture rings. When a camera is left in sunlight and from time to time, they all will be, the more volatile components of the grease will evaporate from the diaphragm and then condense on the optical surfaces either side, with consequent deterioration in performance. Now I know that modern thermo-stable silicone/micronised Teflon based greases, which I hope Leica are using, have improved this phenomenon but not eliminated it. Wilson, thanks. You are correct. I had forgotten that aspect of the matter. The grease shouldn't be in the blades at all, and as you later responded to Mark, probably flowed there from the focusing mount. Wow! I wouldn't even know how to say "modern thermo-stable silicone/micronised Teflon based greases"! --HC Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wlaidlaw Posted July 17, 2007 Share #28 Posted July 17, 2007 Wow! I wouldn't even know how to say "modern thermo-stable silicone/micronised Teflon based greases"! --HC Howard, I cheated - I read it off the tube. I have a carefully hoarded, 1/3 of a tube left, as the people who made it (Micro-Lube) have gone out of business. It is wonderful stuff, incredibly good lubricant, never oxidizes or goes yellow and sticky like most greases. A tiny bit on the end of a cotton bud does all my lens bayonets and you can also use it on waterproof housings and all sorts of other things. It was the only grease which would make my model 1895 Mannlicher 8 x 56mm straight pull bolt rifle (probably the world's worst ever military rifle) work semi-reliably. Wilson Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted July 17, 2007 Share #29 Posted July 17, 2007 Wilson, I bought, in a dive shop, Silicone Grease and O-ring Lubricant, which is basically the same stuff. The maker is "Innovative Scuba Concepts, Colorado Springs, CO, 80915." I use it to stop my scuba mask from leaking at my moustache, lubricating connections that clog up with wet goo in my practice equipment and it is the only stuff that will keep my rear wiper on my car from getting so stiff that it burns out the motor. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wlaidlaw Posted July 17, 2007 Share #30 Posted July 17, 2007 Wilson, I bought, in a dive shop, Silicone Grease and O-ring Lubricant, which is basically the same stuff. The maker is "Innovative Scuba Concepts, Colorado Springs, CO, 80915." I use it to stop my scuba mask from leaking at my moustache, lubricating connections that clog up with wet goo in my practice equipment and it is the only stuff that will keep my rear wiper on my car from getting so stiff that it burns out the motor. Jaap, I have ordinary SCUBA diving silicone grease and the similar stuff Canon supply for the O-ring on their waterproof housings. It is nothing like as slippery as the stuff with micronised Teflon in it. It is so slippery that if you have some on your thumb and press your index finger against your thumb, they just slide past each other. However I am sure you are right and someone else will be making it. It is just too good for it to fall by the wayside. I know what you mean about the back wiper. The one on my Porsche does not even have a wash facility and in the South of France, turns to a useless piece of hard black plastic after three months in the sun. Wilson Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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