Anyone else have this problem w/ Elmarit 28/2.8 ASPH?

[Skippy Sanchez]

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I was fortunate enough to snag one of the few (& early) Elmarit 28/2.8 ASPH from Tony Rose around the first of the year and have been pleased with its performance.

 

However, in May I sent it to Robert Fisk @ Leica USA because the lens barrel that holds the front element, ahead of the apeture ring, was loose. The lens was repaired and returned very promptly (thank you, Robert!), but the problem has returned just three months later.

 

It's going back today, so I'm wondering if anyone else has experienced this issue. It does not appear to have affected the performance, but it gets looser as time goes by.

 

-Skippy

[barjohn]

Haven't noticed on mine.

[ArtZ]

I was fortunate enough to snag one of the few (& early) Elmarit 28/2.8 ASPH from Tony Rose around the first of the year and have been pleased with its performance.

 

However, in May I sent it to Robert Fisk @ Leica USA because the lens barrel that holds the front element, ahead of the apeture ring, was loose. The lens was repaired and returned very promptly (thank you, Robert!), but the problem has returned just three months later.

 

It's going back today, so I'm wondering if anyone else has experienced this issue. It does not appear to have affected the performance, but it gets looser as time goes by.

 

-Skippy

 

Skippy, I have a similar problem with the CRON 28/2. At the moment it's in Solms.

 

All the front part of the lens (up to the aperture ring) detached from the rear part (focus ring). I got the CRON in two separate pieces!. Well, it's not exactly the same thing because if I understood properly your message, the problem with your lens it's just the ring that holds the front element (where is written the focal lenght, aperture and type of lens).

 

This just makes me wonder about the legendary quality of Leica lenses...

.

[Guest tummydoc]

This has been a recurring problem since the 1980s. Most frequently it's seen on the Type IV 35mm Summicron. As an economising measure Leica went from using transverse holding screws to using thread-locking compound to secure the threaded portions of these lenses. Because the lenses must be disassembled in case of service, permanent thread-locking compound is obviously contraindicated.

 

One of the reasons the problem is seen more frequently with the Type IV 35 Summicron is because being so compact, users have a tendency to grasp it by the lens shade whilst fitting and removing it from the body, which stresses the threaded front component and leads to premature de-bonding of the adhesive. The 28 Elmarit ASPH is quite similar to the Type IV 35, therefore it may become epidemic on this lens as well. Best advice is to train oneself to grasp the rear-most milled circumference, uncomfortable as it might be, rather than the shade or front of the lens.

[Shootist]

I haven't notice this with the one I have. But I always have a UV/IR filter on it and the supplied shade.

Is it the part that has the groove for the shade or the part that has the lens lettering on it that comes loose on your unit.

I believe those are 2 separate parts, but I could be mistaken. I have had the part that retains the built in lens shade on a 75 Cron ASPH come loose when taking a filter off. But that part/ring is just to secure the shade from coming off and doesn't have anything to do with the glass in the lens.

[Skippy Sanchez]

...Is it the part that has the groove for the shade or the part that has the lens lettering on it that comes loose on your unit.

 

It's the very front section the lens hood attaches to. It's packed & off to NJ.

 

I'll have to watch how I mount and dismount the lens to see how I do it, but I really don't think I grab the shade.

 

In 26 years of Leica Ms, I've been extremely fortunate that none of my lenses have given me trouble.

[Piers]

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When I first got Elmarit 28/2.8 ASPH last winter, both on and off the camera the focus ring would bind briefly at around the 2 meter focus mark; thinking to work the lens repeatedly into a freer action--maybe distribute lubricant I actually had the lens focus bind absolutely solid. Thinking, what would I do if this happened on location (my only M lens at the time), I reluctantly applied brute force to free it. Since then I've experienced an occasional slight drag focussing through the 2 m index, but no obvious focus inaccuracy even wide open.

 

I regret digital rangefinders took so long to get to market: a few years ago I disposed of old non asph elmarit 28, asph 24, asph 35 and asph 50 + M6 to fund Nikon digital kit when I needed to change to digital for professional reasons...

[robsteve]

This has been a recurring problem since the 1980s. Most frequently it's seen on the Type IV 35mm Summicron. As an economising measure Leica went from using transverse holding screws to using thread-locking compound to secure the threaded portions of these lenses. Because the lenses must be disassembled in case of service, permanent thread-locking compound is obviously contraindicated.

 

.

 

The 19mm on the R loosens up too and this lens has the locking screws. I suspect the rectangular hoods just have too much leverage on the lens. I am now careful not to hold the hood while mounting any of my Leica lenses, M or R.

 

Robert