Summilux 35mm FLE, what to watch out for

[Jacobjuul]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Hi guys.

My plan was to buy a Summicron 35mm asph, but I came across a seller locally, who is selling his 35mm Summilux FLE from 2011 ($3100). 

being about the same price as the Summicron I am strongly considering it.

So I am looking for some advice on what to watch out for (considering that it's 9 years old). 

 

Thanks in advance. 

Edited January 9, 2020 by Jacobjuul

[Advertisement]

The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[mmx_2]

Is it from a dealer? Warranty? Boxed?

If it's private, just try to check the overall condition, scratch free glas, look for impact damage (it does not like to be tossed to the floor). Even better is to bring your M and take a few test shots. If you have a digital M with Liveview, its really easy to check if the rangefinder lines up, if it doesn't (and your other lenses are fine) the lens needs to go to Germany for calibration. Do the checks wide open. Otherwise, as far as I know, there are no knows issues with this lens, it's simply amazing (I've had two copies, both bought used and both has worked perfect, the first one got stolen however :(). Price seems ok, but ask for original paperwork.

Also make sure that all the accesories are there, the should be:

*Leather pouch

*Hood

*Slide on cap for hood

*Rear cap

*E46 ring that screws on the lens when not using hood (it's a black ring)

*E46 plastic cap to be used with above

*Warranty card

*instruction booklet

 

The E46 ring and cap was missing on the last one I bought, but since I bought it through a dealer they supplied these parts FOC to me.

[wattsy]

Check it doesn't rattle 😀 (I'm just joking). 

[Jacobjuul]

1 minute ago, mmx_2 said:

Is it from a dealer? Warranty? Boxed?

If it's private, just try to check the overall condition, scratch free glas, look for impact damage (it does not like to be tossed to the floor). Even better is to bring your M and take a few test shots. If you have a digital M with Liveview, its really easy to check if the rangefinder lines up, if it doesn't (and your other lenses are fine) the lens needs to go to Germany for calibration. Do the checks wide open. Otherwise, as far as I know, there are no knows issues with this lens, it's simply amazing (I've had two copies, both bought used and both has worked perfect, the first one got stolen however :(). Price seems ok, but ask for original paperwork.

...

Thanks for all the great advice. I didn't know about the screw on ring.

It is from a private seller, I am still not sure if this is a good buy considering I can get a new Summicron for the same price, and I am always suspicious of people selling their gear haha

[mmx_2]

7 minutes ago, Jacobjuul said:

Thanks for all the great advice. I didn't know about the screw on ring.

It is from a private seller, I am still not sure if this is a good buy considering I can get a new Summicron for the same price, and I am always suspicious of people selling their gear haha

I've tried the Summicron also but I much prefer the FLE for it's rendering and the added f-stop. Zeiss ZM 35 f1.4 is technically "better" and also cheaper, however I have not found any other lens from any manufacturer that matches what I get from the FLE in that incredible compact size. For me I've also tried to rationalize for one filter thread (E46), maybe not a big deal, but if you use filters (polarizers, ND, etc) it's nicer just to have one type that fits all your lenses. I also believe that the FLE will hold it's value better, a summicron 35 for 3100$ sounds quite a lot, here they tend to sell used for less than 2000$. Flare resistance is for some reason  better with FLE (according to my own test). In general used Leica lenses are very good deals simply because most people are very careful with their precious gems and they are also incedible well-built.

 

This time of the year, some people tend to sell gear because of cash shortage , so usually a good time to make deals.

Edited January 9, 2020 by mmx_2

[darkinners]

1 hour ago, mmx_2 said:

Is it from a dealer? Warranty? Boxed?

If it's private, just try to check the overall condition, scratch free glas, look for impact damage (it does not like to be tossed to the floor). Even better is to bring your M and take a few test shots. If you have a digital M with Liveview, its really easy to check if the rangefinder lines up, if it doesn't (and your other lenses are fine) the lens needs to go to Germany for calibration. Do the checks wide open. Otherwise, as far as I know, there are no knows issues with this lens, it's simply amazing (I've had two copies, both bought used and both has worked perfect, the first one got stolen however :(). Price seems ok, but ask for original paperwork.

Also make sure that all the accesories are there, the should be:

*Leather pouch

*Hood

*Slide on cap for hood

*Rear cap

*E46 ring that screws on the lens when not using hood (it's a black ring)

*E46 plastic cap to be used with above

*Warranty card

*instruction booklet

 

The E46 ring and cap was missing on the last one I bought, but since I bought it through a dealer they supplied these parts FOC to me.

Where is the screw on ring? I have 2 35 Summilux FLE (1 black 1 silver) both bought brand new in Leica dealer.

I know the E46 cap is hidden under a foam pad at the bottom of the leather lens pouch but I never seen a "screw in ring"

Where is it hidden? Thanks 

[Jacobjuul]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

1 hour ago, mmx_2 said:

I've tried the Summicron also but I much prefer the FLE for it's rendering and the added f-stop. Zeiss ZM 35 f1.4 is technically "better" and also cheaper, however I have not found any other lens from any manufacturer that matches what I get from the FLE in that incredible compact size. For me I've also tried to rationalize for one filter thread (E46), maybe not a big deal, but if you use filters (polarizers, ND, etc) it's nicer just to have one type that fits all your lenses. I also believe that the FLE will hold it's value better, a summicron 35 for 3100$ sounds quite a lot, here they tend to sell used for less than 2000$. Flare resistance is for some reason  better with FLE (according to my own test). In general used Leica lenses are very good deals simply because most people are very careful with their precious gems and they are also incedible well-built.

 

This time of the year, some people tend to sell gear because of cash shortage , so usually a good time to make deals.

 

 

Thanks for the advice. 

Sounds like you don't think the price for the lux is that great ($3100). Considering we live in the same area (I live in Copenhagen), I might reconsider.

[mmx_2]

1 minute ago, Jacobjuul said:

 

 

Thanks for the advice. 

Sounds like you don't think the price for the lux is that great ($3100). Considering we live in the same area (I live in Copenhagen), I might reconsider.

The price for the Lux is totally fine :). I thought it was 3100€ for a summicron.

[mmx_2]

3 minutes ago, darkinners said:

Where is the screw on ring? I have 2 35 Summilux FLE (1 black 1 silver) both bought brand new in Leica dealer.

I know the E46 cap is hidden under a foam pad at the bottom of the leather lens pouch but I never seen a "screw in ring"

Where is it hidden? Thanks 

It was under the foam pad, when I get home I can take a picture of it :).

[wattsy]

8 minutes ago, darkinners said:

I know the E46 cap is hidden under a foam pad at the bottom of the leather lens pouch but I never seen a "screw in ring"

Where is it hidden? Thanks 

The screw on ring is usually supplied attached to the E46 cap that you have already found under the foam pad. (At least that's where I remember it being stored.)

[lct]

As usual i would check that click stops are firm and positive and that focussing is free from stiffness and looseness with no play in the ring’s motion. Some people will tell you that stiffness is normal with FLE lenses. Do not believe them. 

[Jacobjuul]

3 hours ago, lct said:

As usual i would check that click stops are firm and positive and that focussing is free from stiffness and looseness with no play in the ring’s motion. Some people will tell you that stiffness is normal with FLE lenses. Do not believe them. 

Awesome. I actually tried an FLE in the leicastore here and it was stiff. The sales person told me it would loosen with time. 
 

I’m fairly new to leica. Do lenses need CLA? And if they do, how often would you send them out for CLA? My biggest concern is that this is an almost 10 year old lens. 

[jdlaing]

18 minutes ago, Jacobjuul said:

Awesome. I actually tried an FLE in the leicastore here and it was stiff. The sales person told me it would loosen with time. 
 

I’m fairly new to leica. Do lenses need CLA? And if they do, how often would you send them out for CLA? My biggest concern is that this is an almost 10 year old lens. 

They only need a cla when something goes bad. I have a couple of really old Leica lenses that have never had a cla and function perfectly.

[Per P.]

Hej Jacob,

Just my 2 cents:

- The price for the Lux is quite good and you will not lose much on it

- But consider the difference in size and weight

- ... and if the Cron actually suits your needs better it is not so difficult to find a second hand version where, again, a future loss is low. 

Both are fantastic lenses so the choice is between great and great with f1.4. 

[mmx_2]

4 hours ago, Jacobjuul said:

Awesome. I actually tried an FLE in the leicastore here and it was stiff. The sales person told me it would loosen with time. 
 

I’m fairly new to leica. Do lenses need CLA? And if they do, how often would you send them out for CLA? My biggest concern is that this is an almost 10 year old lens. 

Mattsons Foto (also official Leica Boutique) in Lund (where I live), they have an used Summicron 35 ASPH in stock for 20000SEK (about 14200dkr). I have used them quite a lot they have always been very good. They also give 3 months of warranty on all used goods.

[Jacobjuul]

6 minutes ago, mmx_2 said:

Mattsons Foto (also official Leica Boutique) in Lund (where I live), they have an used Summicron 35 ASPH in stock for 20000SEK (about 14200dkr). I have used them quite a lot they have always been very good. They also give 3 months of warranty on all used goods.

Thanks for the tip. Is that the new or old asph?

[Jacobjuul]

1 hour ago, Per P. said:

Hej Jacob,

Just my 2 cents:

- The price for the Lux is quite good and you will not lose much on it

- But consider the difference in size and weight

- ... and if the Cron actually suits your needs better it is not so difficult to find a second hand version where, again, a future loss is low. 

Both are fantastic lenses so the choice is between great and great with f1.4. 

Thanks Per, I only primarily shoot film so 1.4 does come in handy (especially in the darker parts of Europe). That said, I vastly prefer a compact lens over extra speed. But looking at the two lenses with their hoods on, they seem pretty much the same.

[lct]

4 hours ago, Jacobjuul said:

Awesome. I actually tried an FLE in the leicastore here and it was stiff. The sales person told me it would loosen with time.

That's what they all say more or less . Been there. Last time it happened to me the lens (a Summilux 50/1.4 asph) had to be sent in twice to Wetzlar until it was normally smooth. Took several month for that though. Never again. 

[Advertisement]

Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[mmx_2]

1 hour ago, Jacobjuul said:

Thanks for the tip. Is that the new or old asph?

The old one with plastic hood

[Mark T]

5 hours ago, mmx_2 said:

The old one with plastic hood

2011 is about the time the FLE was introduced. It's possible the is the 35mm Summilux ASPH (non-FLE)? If it has a plastic hood, that is definitely the case.