Noctilux.95 - sticky focus ring on new lens.

[Richard8233]

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Utterly surprised after a a few months in the dry box I found my new Noctilux .95. focus ring is stiff - most at close focus distance. It’s only a year old. I have Leica lens 15 years older in the dry box with no such issue. Very upset as you would expect .  Help please -any thoughts or suggestions. Am in lock down in Thailand. 

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[jaapv]

Not that dramatic. Just "work" the focus ring for a while and it will be smooth again. Take the lens whilst you are sitting watching TV and keep turning it multiple times. The grease needs to unstick. The ring on the older lens probably has a slightly wider tolerance.

[250swb]

Yes just work it back and forth. But it's also worth remembering that different lenses have a different weight to the focus ring, some are stiffer than others.

[Gobert]

My Noct. Is smooth.

[a5m]

7 hours ago, Gobert said:

My Noct. Is smooth.

How is this helpful?

Anyway, as others have suggested, work the focus ring from end to end. Over and over again. The lubricant may have migrated, or just needs to be equally spread out throughout the focus helicoid. Had a Noctilux with this issue and the above fixed it. Took a lot of turns though, so as @jaapv said do it while watching TV.