Dare I send my 35/2 Ver IV Cron to Leica?

[pklein]

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A while back, someone posted here that someone at Leica had acknowledged that their focus testing procedures for lenses sent to them for coding was not accurate enough for the M8. This explained some of the reported focus problems with lenses that had been coded for the M8. Supposedly new procedures were being developed to correct that.

 

Assuming this is indeed true, does anyone know if this has happened, or have any time line on it? Specifically for Leica USA in New Jersey? How is their track record for getting the non-aspheric lenses right the first time?

 

I have a 35/2 Summicron (Ver. IV) that is slightly off in focus on the M8. Since it needs to be coded eventually anyway, I'd like to send it to Leica and have both the coding and the adjustment done as part of the "package." But if there's a good chance that it will come back focusing the same or worse, maybe I'll wait, or forget the coding for now and send it to an independent person like DAG.

 

Can the 35/2 classic 'Crons be coded and adjusted in New Jersey, rather than having to go back to Germany?

 

--Peter

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[glenerrolrd]

Peter These are excellent questions. Unfortunately without confirmation from Leica service we can only speculate. There are some variables that make "focus confirmation" difficult to achieve with the M8. Probably most important is that you can really see even small focus shifts in a 100% view..thus small focus errors or shifts become visable and bothersome. So the acceptable standards are much higher. 6 BIT CODING........... 6 Bit coding is normally done in NJ ....I am speculating but there are too many reported problems to have any confidence in focus confirmation testing performed as a part of 6 bit coding. I think it will come back most of the time with 6 bit coding but no change in the lenses focus point. I have sent in 6 lenses and one came back way off . It wasn t that way when it went in and its now in Solms for focus adjustments. My conclusions on 6 Bit.....in most cases you would be fine sending it to NJ...I bought the additional 6 month warranty for $50 ..this eliminates any discussion of whether any new repairs are covered. CAMERA OR LENS....while in my case I have had one lens out of maybe a dozen where it was the lens..both my M8 had viewfinder problems. Obviously if you have several other lens that are all fine and the 35 back focuses it would likely be the lens. The point being that in most cases its the camera . A few other facts that may help you....Leica would prefer to have the camera you are using along with the lens...this of course would provide all you need to get one camera lens pair calibrated . But if they adjust the camera ..what about you other lenses? COST and TIME......When I sent my 21mm back for focus adjustments ...the service group ignored my letter and the copy of my warranty..they sent a authorization indicating that I had to pay $195 to get a" focus adjustment film" . So if this is on your $ ..its $195 charge and its only done in Solms. Not sure which is better going to NJ first then Solms or sending it direct. If you send it direct ..you may need a customs form signed and stamped ..before you send it . If you go thru any international airport you can have this done in customs ...if you don t want to mess with the forms then you should go thru NJ . Sorry if this is way more than you wanted to know. I am interested if anyone can add or correct my understanding as I am sitting on 3 lenses that need 6 Bit coding .