"No love for the 75 APO-Summicron-M?"

[rwbowman]

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M246, APO Summicron M f/2 75

Edited August 4 by rwbowman

[stephan54]

Am 15.2.2019 um 09:54 schrieb stephan54:

I tried three, but all of them had focus issues. (yes the rangefinder was calibrated and working fine with other lenses). Enough threads on the internet about focus issues.

When you get a good one, it must be a stellar lens.

I found a Summicron 75 that is spot on and it is a pleasure shooting with.

Took some effort as the one I found was also off (brand new), but Leica solved the problem.

Edited August 5 by stephan54

[IkarusJohn]

I must have had a problem copy of this lens.  I couldn’t reliably focus it at all, whereas I had no problem with its sister lens, the 50 Summilux ASPH or the 50 Noctilux 0.95, at any distances.  I came to the conclusion that it was the short focus throw.

As I already had the 50 Summilux ASPH, I decided that the 75 Summilux would be a better complement - longer focus throw and classic Mandler rendition with a spherical lens.  It is big and heavy, though, if size and weight bother you.  

[adan]

See this interesting "progression" of how Leica has engineered the support structure for their longer (50/75) FLE M lenses over the years.

Increasingly robust (thickness, length, continuity, interlocking with other parts for stability)

Maybe the 75 APO-Summicron ASPH was a "learning moment" for Leica.

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[didier]

My copy, a rather recent one (silver limited edition), is just perfect. Is it possible some adjustments were made since the Lens initially got out ?

[UliWer]

Yes. When I bought the 75mm Apo-Summicron in 2008 I had problems to focus properly on short distances. I thought it was mostly my fault combined with the very short focus throw. After the lens went to Customer Care for a repair of the hood I had bumped, my initial problems were gone, only the short throw was still an issue. Even if they didn‘t change the construction they certainly tightened the tolerances. 

[lct]

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If floating elements are the culprit, it is strange that a lens like the Ultron 75/1.9 has none and performs well at even closer distance (0.5m).

Edited August 8 by lct

[adan]

vor einer Stunde schrieb didier:

Is it possible some adjustments were made since the Lens initially got out ?

As Uliwer says, Leica can make adjustments.

Another factor (semi-pun) is that Leica built a whole new factory in Wetzlar in 2014 - partly to improve assembly tolerances in the first place, because digital sensors were "touchier" about focusing precision than film coatings (less leeway for error).

Leaving behind the nearly 25-year-old "single-floor sheet-metal barn" factory in Solms, outside of Wetzlar. Where the first 7-8 years of 75 Summicrons and 50 Summilux ASPHs were assembled.

https://gmpphoto.blogspot.com/2014/09/what-is-happening-with-leica-solms.html

https://www.fotointern.ch/archiv/2014/05/25/leica-ist-zurueck-in-wetzlar/

[Steve Ash]

vor 41 Minuten schrieb UliWer:

Yes. When I bought the 75mm Apo-Summicron in 2008 I had problems to focus properly on short distances. I thought it was mostly my fault combined with the very short focus throw. After the lens went to Customer Care for a repair of the hood I had bumped, my initial problems were gone, only the short throw was still an issue. Even if they didn‘t change the construction they certainly tightened the tolerances. 

Some story here. At a certain point I felt the need to send it to Leica Customer Care. It very much improved my "hit rate".