Buying a long lens for occasional use on my Leica M10

[Jeff S]

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12 hours ago, jaapv said:

Return it. Plenty of better copies of this lens for sale. 

This.

Jeff

[MikeMyers]

I've got nothing to lose by sending it back for repairs, along with printouts of some of the above responses.  If they can't repair it, I'll either take another one in exchange, or look for another copy of this lens.  I can't afford the newer version, and I no longer want the Hectar I originally started to look for.  I'll pack it up later tonight.

[Jeff S]

The same company that sent it to you the first time is now going to try to do, on their own, or what others would have avoided.  Leica Miami, for instance, would have tested it first and sent it either to Leica or DAG for repair and service, as they routinely do for used inventory prior to listing. Higher prices for a reason.  I use B&H for other types of purchases.
 

Jeff

Edited August 8, 2021 by Jeff S

[MikeMyers]

Yes, but maybe what you wrote is why I trust B&H and KEH, along with several others.  If I had bought it from ebay I'd probably be stuck.

If Leica Miami had one in stock, used, I'd probably have driven there and bought it. I checked their used lenses.  They don't have one, but if the did, I doubt I could/would afford it.

I do the best I can (afford).

[Jeff S]

Plenty of other trusted and affordable options… Camera west, Sherry Krauter (has a number of inexpensive 135 options, and she’s an expert Leica repairer), etc.  Inventory changes frequently at most good dealers , and they can often search out.  Leica SoHo is frequently another good source. And so forth.  Your B&H purchase should tell you something, even though they have a typical return policy.

Jeff

[MikeMyers]

Back on Topic, a fellow named David from Customer Support at Leica called me this morning, and transferred me to one of their tech people.  I explained everything I think I know, including the suggestions up above about the lens being damaged by someone not knowing what they were doing.  He told me that as long as the lens was the way it came from Leica, they would take care of it (not sure if he meant for no charge) but if some incompetent person had messed it up, there would be an expensive repair bill, and a long wait.

The more I think about it, the more sure I am that the rear element is backwards.  If I look at a reflection in my iPhone, the reflection is not distorted.  If I look at a reflection in the front (convex) element of a lens, the reflection is distorted, and presumably it would be quite different if I was looking at a reflection in any concave surface.  That, combined with what was posted up above, make me pretty certain that the rear element is backwards - not that I ever would have looked for it, much less found it, on my own.  Wow.  

So, it was shipped back to B&H using their return mailer, and they'll probably have it by Friday.  I copied the responses up above, and put them around the lens, with important things highlighted.  I'll call them on Monday or Tuesday next week.  In my make-believe world, someone with the abilities of Don at DAG will disassemble the lens, and reverse the rear element.  Or, they will give up on the lens as "not repairable" which I sort of expect.  In that case, I'll get my money back, and buy another lens.  

If that's how things work out, I'll ask them if I can keep the broken lens for $25 or so, in addition to buying another lens, and look for a. DIY Book of Leica Lens Repair.   🙂  Plan B or C or whatever it is by then, is to send it to Don at DAG Leica Repair.....    but I don't think it will come to that.

I suspect they'll put the rear element back where it belongs, test it, and send it back to me.  Not doing so would cost them my $650.

[MikeMyers]

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On 8/8/2021 at 4:15 PM, adan said:

Quick check: if you remove the lens unit like you did for the picture in post #42, the back of the glass should be slightly concave. If it is slightly convex (domed), then it is installed backwards!!

@adan - how did you to come by all that information?  That was brilliant!  It completely fits and explains what is going on.  Thank you SO MUCH for gathering all the information and posting it here.  Are you a Leica technician?  In 100 years, I'd never have come up with that possibility.  Brilliant!  I think a lot of people here learned something new from your posts.

[adan]

2 hours ago, MikeMyers said:

Are you a Leica technician?

No - although I had fantasies about that 45 years ago, when I was looking for my first job out of college.

Leitz USA in Rockleigh, New Jersey (pre-Allendale) used to offer appenticeships leading to technician jobs. Seemed like a good way to get training, earn an income and get employee discounts on Leica gear.

Never got around to applying.

But right about that same time, I had a super-cheapo ($39.95 new) Spiratone 28mm f/3.5 Expandar lens (Spiratone being an NYC discount mail-order photo store that preceded B&H and the like - http://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Spiratone). And its rear-element retaining-ring came off, so I had to reassemble that - it was cheap enough I was willing to risk trying it myself.

And by trial and error figured out how easy it was to put the glass in backwards (it was a lens for SLRs - so it was easy to see the corner defects right on the ground glass if I screwed up). And recognized similar symptoms once you posted your test pix as well as describing the original focus-at-infinity problem.

Then I looked at the Tele-Elmar-M 135 cross-section (see post #52) and your photo of its exposed mounting ring - and realized its single back element might be just as easy to remove and reverse.

)) instead of ((

In high school and college in the early 70s I was willing to mess around with (untrained) self-repairs on some inexpensive gear (Canon FX, Yashica-D 6x6), given that pro repairs would put a serious dent in my starving-student budget, and/or tie up gear I needed for classes.

(I should note that my Dad and his three brothers were all engineers of one kind or another, and my Mom was a farm girl who did a lot of the house repairs herself. So it was kinda bred-in-the-bone to look at things and figure out how they came apart or went back together ).

This was my teenage bedtime-reading material: https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/the-way-things-work-an-illustrated-encyclopedia-of-technology_bibliographisches-institut/490403/item/18803766/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI8P2bkcSl8gIViKjICh02-Q3qEAQYASABEgJZ0fD_BwE#idiq=18803766&edition=6709497

[fotografr]

On 8/3/2021 at 9:06 PM, Printmaker said:

135 Tele Elmar on a M10. Hard to hit perfect focus wide open when you are close enough to be breakfast.

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I sure hope you shot that from your Land Rover.

(I just read the subsequent post with a link to your safari images. They are spectacular.)

Edited August 10, 2021 by fotografr

[MikeMyers]

I remember looking at the gallery of this and the other related photos....    Beautiful photos.   When @jaapv wrote me about "Topaz Sharpen AI" I was immediately thinking what it might do for this Lion photo.  Worth a try - it's an amazing program.  It corrects for out of focus, or "soft", or "motion blur" images.

I'll never get to take photos like this in "the wild", but I sure plan to try my best after I sign up for ZooMiami.

[Harvard Kiwi]

@MikeMyers Sorry, I just skimmed through this thread and didn't see the 'Thumbie' mentioned. I apologise to all if it was.

I'm primarily a 50mm shooter but bought a 90mm (my only Leica branded glass). I can't always nail critical focus with it through my RF window as I'm new to the M system so I now rely on my Visoflex when using it.

I'm also a fan of thumb grips and purchased the Thumbie. I was skeptical at first as I didn't want a grip that was just stuck on with adhesive as it didn't sound too reliable and I thought it may look cheap and awful. The reviews I read were fantastic and I decided to give it a shot. Long story short, I have zero regrets. It's made of brass, the adhesive is strong, and it looks natural on the camera. Best of all, it keeps the hotshoe free for my Visoflex! Also, I read a couple of accounts of the hotshoe becoming a little warped from thumb grips mounted to it but I don't know how prevalent an issue that it.

[MikeMyers]

Thanks @Harvard Kiwi, I remember reading about the "Thumb", but I've long since forgotten where I can buy one.  Is there someone in the USA that has one that I can send a check to, and have them send me one?  The reasons you mention are why I would like one, as it would free up my hotshot for my Visoflex.  I am happy with my thumb rest, but as you note, I need to remove it to mount the Visoflex.

I would have probably already bought one if I knew how to get it.  I don't remember how much it cost.  Again, thanks!

[Harvard Kiwi]

@MikeMyers They are made by a guy called Steve and I believe he may be a member on here. You can buy them from him off eBay, just type in "Leica Thumbie". They are £36 which should be about US$50. He makes one which works on an M8/M9 and another that works on an M240/M10. 

Just follow the instructions when installing. The 3M adhesive is super strong but you'll want to make sure you align it properly. To do so, get a small amount of water and liquid dish soap and use that to allow you slide it around into the desired position, then hold it there until it sets.

I'm sure you will be happy with it as it provides decent one handed grip, is made from brass, and sticks to the body well enough to provide enough confidence to hold it one-handed.

[Boojay]

@MikeMyers - maybe this one is worth a look for you.  Available cheaply enough to possibly pick up while waiting to see what happens with your TE repair or replacement.  Not sure I've seen anyone mention it on this thread, it's the only 135 I have, having previously had the 135Apo but realising how little I used it.  

  A review - https://phillipreeve.net/blog/review-jupiter-11-135mm-4-0/   

Looking through the photo pool is a bit of a treat I think 

https://www.flickr.com/groups/1404446@N23/pool/

Mine was a gift from an old friend, I use it on the M10R occasionally with a cheap LTM to M adaptor, popped it on this morning for a few quick shots, RF for focus, my adaptor is not good on this lens and camera tells me "no lens attached", (therefore no-live view available) but shoots ok.

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Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

 

 

Last one was wide open checking infinity, top two were at minimum focus distance (2.5M) filling the frame, no edit other than dng to jpg.

Only reason I've added this to the thread is your title says for occasional use,  these are around for very little cost and it's a fun lens to use.

As others have said 135 is never going to be a wildlife lens, but better camera's and lenses for that around.  

 

Edited August 11, 2021 by Boojay

[MikeMyers]

Well, you're right about the low cost:   https://www.ebay.com/itm/184858844059?_trkparms=aid%3D1110002%26algo%3DSPLICE.SOI%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D233198%26meid%3D57f440fbba934fb29af759bc40cd2107%26pid%3D101196%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D12%26sd%3D184916909571%26itm%3D184858844059%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D0%26pg%3D2047675%26algv%3DPromotedSellersOtherItemsV2WithMLRv3%26brand%3DZenit&_trksid=p2047675.c101196.m2219&amdata=cksum%3A18485884405957f440fbba934fb29af759bc40cd2107|enc%3AAQAGAAABACtrZQ7uyU6NyRWMuc0OogoSa%2FUIDys%2F02w7jR10vOAtvIbhELBwNyeEfme5grNbYnhoDOMqYMaFo%2BBRhQXXfsfUue0XIc8au38%2Bs8%2B60hU4gswWNQH0ZrbLSiT1AJZyelnot2Fvh%2BYMfdNoJIQuZ3NJWAv5sC1bfZZ42s9K5Bmgm9ikCavOi%2Bl2k%2BtxFCaiYKOFoR9HhK5c%2FCYI2Y3Ku5GY4U4fG0dvY3veWHaURHTljtQKZD33Yiu560F4pjLynA%2F8wNHr4KLNXTx4cdeY8vrAqYNY6S%2FnHMKtbFlUhPMDcZXCSrz%2B4a1vOuD2%2F%2Fnx88LowSvtJoV1cBhJx3sH5kw%3D|ampid%3APL_CLK|clp%3A2047675

 

There are also different body styles.  I'll do some more checking.  Thanks....

[Jeff S]

5 hours ago, MikeMyers said:

Thanks @Harvard Kiwi, I remember reading about the "Thumb", but I've long since forgotten where I can buy one.  Is there someone in the USA that has one that I can send a check to, and have them send me one?  The reasons you mention are why I would like one, as it would free up my hotshot for my Visoflex.  I am happy with my thumb rest, but as you note, I need to remove it to mount the Visoflex.

I would have probably already bought one if I knew how to get it.  I don't remember how much it cost.  Again, thanks!

Steve Barnett… you can PM him @250swb

Jeff

[MikeMyers]

Message sent, thank you again!

[MikeMyers]

I was hoping to buy one from someone in the USA, using my credit card or a check.  Apparently that's not how they are sold.  Thanks for the help anyway.

[Jeff S]

Steve’s in UK.  I would have thought this was easy from US, but maybe not…

https://www.ebay.com/itm/294096543655?hash=item4479851fa7:g:7~4AAOxy3yNTfGz0
 

Jeff

Edited August 11, 2021 by Jeff S

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[MikeMyers]

I don't have PayPal anymore, which I thought would be a problem.  Apparently it isn't.  I expect to be ordering one tonight, if all goes according to plan.