Voigtlander 35 mm F2 ultron v2 Uneven focus resistance

[Tor-B]

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Hello

Just got my Voigtlander 35 F2 ultron V2 and noticed a clear increase in resistance between 1,2 meters and 0,8.  From 0,8 towards 0,5 its smooth, and from 1,2 to infinity is smooth. 
Normal, not normal ? 

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[jdlaing]

Depends on how long the lens sat. Excercise it for a while and it should even out.

[otto.f]

The Summilux 50 asph had it in when it was new, either I got used to or it vanished

[oldwino]

Shouldn't be that way. There are no moving elements in there, like on the Summilux Asph. 

I could be that it will sort itself out after some use...but if it is a new lens, I would return it and ask for a replacement. 

[Ko.Fe.]

Not sure I get where it is smooth and not smooth.

Which camera? M or another mirrorless? Here is no Ms with RF arm engaged on 0.5 meters and not all film Ms are have it engaged until one meter.

But in general I have rarely experienced CV lenses to be smooth to focus. Only once, it was well used Nokton 35 1.4. Very well well used... 

 

[JimK]

Definitely not normal. I purchased one from Cameraquest and returned it the same day. My copy would get stuck in the range from 0.58 to 0.7. From that point on to infinity, focus was smooth without any resistance. Later, I came across Samuel Streetlife's Youtube video One Year Later - Voigtländer Ultron 35mm F2 ASPH (Type I & II) He indicated the same problem, but not with the earlier version Type 1. I subsequently bought the Type1 and have not encountered any focus resistance or hesitancy whatsoever.

[otto.f]

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3 hours ago, Ko.Fe. said:

Not sure I get where it is smooth and not smooth.

Which camera? M or another mirrorless? Here is no Ms with RF arm engaged on 0.5 meters and not all film Ms are have it engaged until one meter.

But in general I have rarely experienced CV lenses to be smooth to focus. Only once, it was well used Nokton 35 1.4. Very well well used... 

 

Well, the 75/2.4 or 2.5 was smooth, a little bit too even

[KFo]

11 hours ago, Tor-B said:

Hello

Just got my Voigtlander 35 F2 ultron V2 and noticed a clear increase in resistance between 1,2 meters and 0,8.  From 0,8 towards 0,5 its smooth, and from 1,2 to infinity is smooth. 
Normal, not normal ? 

So with my CV 21 f/4 which focuses to .5m when mounted on the camera...

between .5 and .8m the lens is  not in contact with the range finder arm. I can feel the lens come into contact with the arm at .8m and it is ever so slightly more resistant to the focus motion then. 

[CosmoM3]

my Ultron 35mm MC II also exhibited the same issue with inconsistent focus feel - I later returned it.

[burchyk]

Old thread but still relevant. There are a few potential reasons for this from my own experience.

1. People have been reporting that Voigtlander puts too much grease on the helicoid of these, and the grease is quite thick. That was also the case with mine. After using the lens for a few days and leaving it overnight in upright position with focus set to MFD so that the lens is extended all the way, some of that grease seeped down. I was able to carefully remove the excess grease drops with cotton ear buds and napkins. Result was less overall "drag".

2. This one is a bit of a guess, but the helicoid threads may not be polished perfectly out of the factory. I detached the lens and moved the tab between MFD and infinity for some time while watching a movie. Feel like this smoothed it a bit more.

3. Pressure on the front of the lens or the tab in any direction can really affect how stiff the focusing is. My other lenses behave similarly, although I've found that the Ultron is somehow more sensitive to it. After steps 1 and 2 it became less severe.

4. My M2 had a problematic focus tracking arm which I was not aware of at the time. It was rubbing on the part above and this could be felt while focusing. I thought it was the lens but it wasn't. M2 is in repair now. M-A does not have this problem and feels much smoother to focus.

Overall it is much better now. I don't notice it anymore with normal usage. It is clearly better than some other old lenses, but nowhere near the smooth perfection of the select few.