Using Leica APO-Summicron-M 35mm on Film cameras

[JimmyCheng]

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I've had an early apo behave precisely as you have described, the patch stops moving way before 0.7 meters. You need to take it to a technician to fix it, it's a simple job. For anybody saying it's normal, it's not. As my later copy does not have this issue.

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[JimmyCheng]

4 hours ago, sumolux said:

I 'bit the bullet' and purchased the APO 35mm with great expectations; fully aware that the close up function would not likely be available.

However the rangefinder simply does not focus AT ALL at any distance, on any of my (3) film M's....

Have tried out the comments made by a few posters here with no luck.

What a bummer....!

see my post above, it's an known issue, and I have experienced it.

[sumolux]

Indeed, you are right. However, I had not thought of checking out this topic thread before my purchase for 2 very simple reasons:

1. I would have expected my official Leica dealer to have warned me about such issues in advance; one of the very basic reasons to buy new from a dealership;

2. A different Leica lens from last year,'s production with 6 bit flange as delivered worked perfectly on all 3 cameras;

_____

This is not like digital M issues when various complicated/possible card reading/software/glitch problems pop up; we are talking about a simple rangefinder coupling, and I have used lenses from 1936 to 2024 without problems on all my Leica film M's. To be expected to research 'known issues' about a lens rangefinder connection, for a lens in this price class, is neither acceptable nor worthy of the brand we all love so much.

P.S. The discussion on this issue as inititated here was started I believe in 2022; the APO I have is a 2024 production. More than enough time to have had this 'known issue' addressed.

Edited January 8 by sumolux

[lexffm]

I had my M6 from 1985 (a really early one) at Leica in Wetzlar today. It's not a problem with the lens that needs to be fixed, but with the camera. After about an hour I had both back and everything now works as it should. It's free too. I think it's a shame that Leica doesn't proactively mention things like this. Mistakes are there to be made and perhaps they haven't taken certain versions of cameras into account enough. But they should be open about it. Unfortunately, I think that's a bad thing about Leica in general.