Vario Elmarit 28-70 ROM and DOF preview lever

[solareslarrave]

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Very recently I got this lens from a seller in Japan. I immediately put it on my R8 and it worked (zoomed and focused as it should). Also, I tested the different metering modes (manual, A, T, P) and they worked as expected. However, when I set it to A, closed it down to f8 and pushed the DOF lever... it didn't close. My other lens (a Vario Elmar 35-70 f3.5) closes when I use the same settings (A mode, f8).

Anyone experienced the same problem with the DOF lever and a lens? Is this something I should worry a lot about? If I send it for repair will it cost me a small fortune? 

I'm going to contact Leica in the meantime. And no, I don't want to return the lens. It was very nicely priced being an ROM one (I doubt the seller knew about this detail) and I don't want to go through the hassle of looking for another and purchasing it. Regardless of what's said about it (that it's a Sigma and has pincushion distortion at the long end), I like the ergonomics and reach.

Thanks in advance!!

[masjah]

1 hour ago, solareslarrave said:

Very recently I got this lens from a seller in Japan. I immediately put it on my R8 and it worked (zoomed and focused as it should). Also, I tested the different metering modes (manual, A, T, P) and they worked as expected. However, when I set it to A, closed it down to f8 and pushed the DOF lever... it didn't close. My other lens (a Vario Elmar 35-70 f3.5) closes when I use the same settings (A mode, f8).

Anyone experienced the same problem with the DOF lever and a lens? Is this something I should worry a lot about? If I send it for repair will it cost me a small fortune? 

I'm going to contact Leica in the meantime. And no, I don't want to return the lens. It was very nicely priced being an ROM one (I doubt the seller knew about this detail) and I don't want to go through the hassle of looking for another and purchasing it. Regardless of what's said about it (that it's a Sigma and has pincushion distortion at the long end), I like the ergonomics and reach.

Thanks in advance!!

First thing is to check the lens aperture mechanism. With the lens off the camera, open and close the aperture ring whilst looking through the lens - you should see the aperture opening and closing. Now (still of the lens) stop down to minimum aperture, and locate the stop down lever on the lens. (This is usually what looks like a little rectangular block at a similar diameter to the ROM chip - not to be confused with the stepped R-cam.) Operate this with your finger. It should open up the aperture, freely, but against a spring pressure until the aperture is wide open, and then spring shut again on release. Now try the camera stop down lever on the camera without a lens. Press it down fully and release it - it should come back up again of its own accord. If this works OK then I suppose that there must be a misalignment of the registration between the camera and lens. I woud try mounting the lens on the camera (a) with the lens aperture stopped first right down, and (b) with the aperture first wide open, to see if that makes any difference.

Edit: With regard to possible misalignment, when the lens is mounted on the camera, check that the aperture ring can actually be rotated all the way to the minimum and maximum apertures.

Edited March 4, 2021 by masjah
Afterthought

[solareslarrave]

The lens ring opens and closes perfectly. I followed your instructions and found a small, movable piece that's close to the ROM contacts when the lens is closed down. I slid it with my finger but it didn't return to position (haven't checked how it looks with my other lens). I suspect that the spring broke or came loose...

Thanks a lot for your quick and detailed reply! The seller in Japan offered to reimburse me at least part of the repair. I guess it's going to Leica here in the US...

[masjah]

Pleased you have found the problem. Don't know if Leica US will look at R lenses these days. You might need to go to an independent repairer. Good luck!

[solareslarrave]

At least I know the lens will close down when I shoot in A and P mode. I had to move the aperture to f22 and set a very slow shutterspeed (all in M mode) and the camera acted accordingly. This leads me to believe that it works closing down the lens in P when needed.

Looks like I'm contacting Dave Elwell in the US Leica customer service office...

[jaapv]

I'm not sure if it can be repaired. If a part needs replacing, there are nor spare parts to be had unless they are generic.

[masjah]

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53 minutes ago, jaapv said:

I'm not sure if it can be repaired. If a part needs replacing, there are nor spare parts to be had unless they are generic.

Jaap, that's partly why I mentioned the possibility of an independent repairer. If it is indeed a broken return spring, it's quite possible that it is a part common between different R lenses, and that an independent repairer might have a collection of scrap lenses and bits and pieces.

[wlaidlaw]

Oddly I have the similar problem with a Rolleiflex Rolleinar 28-105mm QBM mount lens, where the aperture is not shutting at all, so the stop down button on my Rollei 3003 does nothing. I have taken mine to my local (about 10 miles away) repairer, Kelvin Stonebrook at Protech camera repairs. He said if it is just a sticky/stuck diaphragm, he should be able to repair it but like the R lenses, if it needs spares, probably out of luck. The only two operations with spares are Photo-Arsenal for the R8 and 9 (but he does not seem to want to sell any of them and does not respond to queries) and Paepke (https://paepke-fototechnik.de/en) who do have some lens spares and an excellent reputation but from other's experiences, are very pricy. The other suggestion would be Don Goldberg in the USA, who in my experience is always very helpful. I suspect a spring has probably just popped off its mounting, in which case any competent lens repairer should be able to sort it. 

Edited March 5, 2021 by wlaidlaw

[solareslarrave]

Checked with Leica and Don Goldberg. They are both willing to give it a shot. However, I accidentally (I swear, it wasn't on purpose!!) purchased another lens but in better shape from Sam Shoshan in Classic Connections LLC in CT, so I contacted the Japanese seller (who initially was willing to reimburse money towards the repair) about a return. I hate doing this because I should have simply returned the lens... but I don't want to have two lenses of the same kind. In the end, I'm sure either Leica or Don will fix it, but it's a matter of who takes the longest. Leica technician Robin told me to ship the lens, and 10 days after receipt they'd send me an estimate for approval. If I did, then I had to wait around 10 weeks (average). With Don... we know Don Goldberg, so, I don't really regret my second purchase. It's going to a second R8 body (this time a silver chrome).

Yes, I know, some folks never learn..