R 80 Lux Rubber Focus Grip Slipping

[Daniel81]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

I recently got an R 80 Lux in exceptional condition - no dust, no mold, no haze - optically practically new, body practically new - really quite remarkable!  EXCEPT the focus ring is very very stiff (tough in those moments you are trying to micro focus to the level you require at f1.4 DOF conditions!! ) I have been planning to send it off to have the focus lubricated and loosened up but in the mean time, I have been using it a bit ( on a Leica SL by the way - which with the focus peaking , works exceptionally well)  and with the high level of focus ring resistance, the rubber grip ring around the focus has come loose and now slips.  Does anyone know - when I send it off to have the focus mechanism lubricated and freed up, will that rubber grip slippage be something that can easily be fixed at the same time?  is it just a matter of some kind of adhesive being injected between the rubber and metal?   Thanks.  Daniel.

Edited October 27, 2020 by Daniel81

[Advertisement]

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

[ericsanpablo]

Hi, I think it may just be the design of that lens. My 80 lux's focus ring was very stiff too.

[Daniel81]

I can understand some stiffness but this is so stiff, it is very hard to 'toggle' back and forth.  For an f1.4 lens, I can't imagine this would be the design.  I have the R 50 Lux as well and it is nowhere near this stiff.

[tritentrue]

Compared to the R 180 Elmarit which has the most drag of any R lens I've used, and the R 180 APO-Elmarit, which has the least, my 80 lux is right in the middle, easily fine-focused with thumb and index finger.

I have the same problem with the rubber ring.  Mr. H at Wetzlar, who's always fast with a reply, informs me that Leica has no more rubber rings for the 80.  There's a thread somewhere on this site about the issue, and IIRC, someone managed to source a rubber ring from DAG.

[FDS]

https://www.dagcamera.com/store/p274/Rubber_Grip_for_Summilux-R_80mm_Focus_Ring-_NEW.html

 

 

[AZN]

I have the ROM version of the 80-LUX.  The focus on my lens isn't anywhere near as stiff as you describe.

Don't even think about it - send it off for a CLA.  The repairer should also be able to re-glue the rubber grip with the appropriate adhesive.

[Daniel81]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Sending it to DAG later this week!

[wlaidlaw]

Where rubber rings are no longer available for an R lens, this https://www.lenstab.com/product/taab-standard/ might work. I use these on my 50 Summilux III-SE and 50 Summicron V-SE, as they don't have focus tabs. For the 80, you would need to buy the largest size, cut the tab off with a craft knife or scalpel and then turn it inside out before gluing it onto the lens. 

Wilson

PS Cinegears also make rubber focus rings which can be cut to size and then have an internal fixing system to rejoin the cut length into a ring. W. https://followfocusgears.com   They also do a custom ring for the 80 Summilux https://followfocusgears.com/collections/leica/products/seamless-follow-focus-gear-for-leica-r-80mm-f1-4-summilux-non-apo-lens 

Edited October 28, 2020 by wlaidlaw