danieldouloslee Posted June 16, 2019 Share #1 Posted June 16, 2019 (edited) Advertisement (gone after registration) Happy Father's day everyone. I just acquired a second hand 50 Lux ASPH (non 6 bit) and I seem to be having focusing issues. Seller graciously offered a refund claiming he never had issues with his M9/10 but I would like to make this work for me too with my MD262 and M3. Problem: Shooting at 1.4, it seems to focus just slightly behind my subject (mostly eyes) and even inanimate objects. My Zeiss Planar 50 focused perfectly. Has anyone else experience this as well? Would 6 bit coding (flange replacement) resolve this issue or is there something else going on that I'm not aware of? Edited June 16, 2019 by Danieldouloslee Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted June 16, 2019 Posted June 16, 2019 Hi danieldouloslee, Take a look here Leica 50 Summilux ASPH Focusing Issues?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
jdlaing Posted June 16, 2019 Share #2 Posted June 16, 2019 6 bit code has nothing to do with focusing. Take it over to Leica USA and let them have a look. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
danieldouloslee Posted June 16, 2019 Author Share #3 Posted June 16, 2019 Got it! Also, want to know this is a common issue with the 50 lux. Google didn't bring up many hits but was curious. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ecar Posted June 16, 2019 Share #4 Posted June 16, 2019 Not a common issue. But if you are planning to have it 6-bit coded anyway, Leica would make sure that it focuses properly before returning it to you. It's part of the coding service. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted June 16, 2019 Share #5 Posted June 16, 2019 40 minutes ago, Danieldouloslee said: Would 6 bit coding (flange replacement) resolve this issue Yes if Leica calibrates the lens at the same time as usual. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted June 16, 2019 Share #6 Posted June 16, 2019 Sticky focus action is a more common issue with this lens. My experience is that DAG fixes that, not Leica NJ. Jeff 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
danieldouloslee Posted June 16, 2019 Author Share #7 Posted June 16, 2019 Advertisement (gone after registration) @Jeff S can you elaborate on the sticky focus action? Meaning, the focus throw isn't as buttery smooth as other lenses, or over time? 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted June 16, 2019 Share #8 Posted June 16, 2019 20 minutes ago, Danieldouloslee said: @Jeff S can you elaborate on the sticky focus action? Meaning, the focus throw isn't as buttery smooth as other lenses, or over time? Just not smooth throughout rotation, particularly when attempting fine focus tuning. Various reports here, including my sample. Leica NJ couldn’t fix, but DAG made it buttery smooth with his supply of the apparently no longer used Leitz grease. Back to me within a week, for 90 bucks, including shipping. I wouldn’t hesitate to send him a lens with back/front focus, as yours. Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted June 16, 2019 Share #9 Posted June 16, 2019 1 hour ago, Danieldouloslee said: @Jeff S can you elaborate on the sticky focus action? Meaning, the focus throw isn't as buttery smooth as other lenses, or over time? My pre-digital copy (2005) is quite smooth but it did two trips to Leica for that. I don't say buttery because some of my pre-asph Leica and ZM lenses are still smoother. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomB_tx Posted June 16, 2019 Share #10 Posted June 16, 2019 Remember, the 50 Summilux Asph has a floating group that moves on its own helical; thus more complex mechanism and likely to add friction compared to simpler designs. I prefer “simple” and avoid lenses with floating groups. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
danieldouloslee Posted June 17, 2019 Author Share #11 Posted June 17, 2019 Following up on this thread. Went to a camera clinic nearby. he said that the lens does not seem to be "off". The technician mentioned that 6bit coding would help focus the lens properly as it would read the 6 bit coding better and adjust the rangefinder; that's the first i've heard such a thing. Have you heard the same as well? at this point, id be inclined to send it to Leica NJ (though its a 10 week wait time)....I'm not sure if DAG does factor that in either. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mdemeyer Posted June 17, 2019 Share #12 Posted June 17, 2019 6 minutes ago, danieldouloslee said: Following up on this thread. Went to a camera clinic nearby. he said that the lens does not seem to be "off". The technician mentioned that 6bit coding would help focus the lens properly as it would read the 6 bit coding better and adjust the rangefinder; that's the first i've heard such a thing. Have you heard the same as well? at this point, id be inclined to send it to Leica NJ (though its a 10 week wait time)....I'm not sure if DAG does factor that in either. That’s nonsense. The coding does nothing to rangefinder calibration. Tech had no idea what he is talking about. Send it to Leica or DAG. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
danieldouloslee Posted June 17, 2019 Author Share #13 Posted June 17, 2019 @mdemeyer, I suspected as much, but it was interesting when Leica NJ technician said a similar thing–a complete curveball! I'm inclined to send it to Leica NJ, despite the wait time, because I can ultimately say that it's on time if it's not adjusted/calibrated to my camera body. But then again, at that wait time, I suppose I can send my camera body and lens to DAG to double check everything. Stumped a little bit at the moment.. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mdemeyer Posted June 17, 2019 Share #14 Posted June 17, 2019 Perhaps the Leica tech was saying that, if you send it in for coding, they will also adjust the focus. That would be true. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted June 17, 2019 Share #15 Posted June 17, 2019 (edited) 55 minutes ago, danieldouloslee said: Following up on this thread. Went to a camera clinic nearby. he said that the lens does not seem to be "off". The technician mentioned that 6bit coding would help focus the lens properly as it would read the 6 bit coding better and adjust the rangefinder; that's the first i've heard such a thing. Have you heard the same as well? at this point, id be inclined to send it to Leica NJ (though its a 10 week wait time)....I'm not sure if DAG does factor that in either. I always call DAG first to understand his workload. Never waited more than a week. Leica NJ not only took 3 weeks, but told me my Summilux couldn’t be improved. DAG fixed it in under a week, 90 bucks with shipping, and better than new. Simple. The coding/focus issue is nonsense. But DAG can do both. Jeff Edited June 17, 2019 by Jeff S 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
farnz Posted June 18, 2019 Share #16 Posted June 18, 2019 23 hours ago, danieldouloslee said: The technician mentioned that 6bit coding would help focus the lens properly as it would read the 6 bit coding better and adjust the rangefinder; No, Daniel, the camera clinic technician is just making stuff up and clearly doesn't understand how the rangefinder mechanism in a Leica M camera works. The rangefinder mechanism can only be adjusted mechanically by hand and certainly not by the camera. It would worry me that such a technician could do more harm than good. Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted June 18, 2019 Share #17 Posted June 18, 2019 On 6/16/2019 at 5:58 PM, danieldouloslee said: Happy Father's day everyone. I just acquired a second hand 50 Lux ASPH (non 6 bit) and I seem to be having focusing issues. Seller graciously offered a refund claiming he never had issues with his M9/10 but I would like to make this work for me too with my MD262 and M3. Problem: Shooting at 1.4, it seems to focus just slightly behind my subject (mostly eyes) and even inanimate objects. My Zeiss Planar 50 focused perfectly. Has anyone else experience this as well? Would 6 bit coding (flange replacement) resolve this issue or is there something else going on that I'm not aware of? The camera could be at fault just as easily. The older Zeiss lenses were prone to this problem on digital bodies. You wouldn't notice if your 262 was just the same amount off, until you purchase another lens. Take the body and Summilux to Leica to check out. If needed, have your Zeiss lens adjusted to digital standard by Zeiss. Alternately have your whole system adjusted properly by DAG. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
danieldouloslee Posted June 18, 2019 Author Share #18 Posted June 18, 2019 Hi all, just came back from Leica NJ. The lens is in need of some CLA. Apparent back focus issues and the focus isn't as smooth as it should be. Quoted approximately $400 + 6 weeks turnaround. Im having second thoughts. If I keep, I will send to DAG. If not, I'm getting the APO. Thanks for your input everyone! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted June 18, 2019 Share #19 Posted June 18, 2019 38 minutes ago, danieldouloslee said: Hi all, just came back from Leica NJ. The lens is in need of some CLA. Apparent back focus issues and the focus isn't as smooth as it should be. Quoted approximately $400 + 6 weeks turnaround. Im having second thoughts. If I keep, I will send to DAG. If not, I'm getting the APO. Thanks for your input everyone! Ridiculous price and turnaround. And that’s assuming they can even fix the focus action; they failed on mine. The technician even spoke with me by phone and said it couldn’t be further tweaked without risking damage. DAG proved that was nonsense. Jeff 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abram Posted June 18, 2019 Share #20 Posted June 18, 2019 I had mine serviced by Leica NJ recently as there was a wobble in the internal barrel and it was also back focusing as you described. It did take 4 weeks turn around but it didn't cost me anything other than shipping the lens to them. I prefer to work with Don Goldberg for my service needs, but I also was needing to have adjustments done on my M10 and he suggested I start with them this time around. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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