ERROR MESSAGE NIGHTMARE: Lens Communication Error on Summicron SL 75mm

[kstol23]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

ISSUE: Lens Communication Error on Summicron SL 75mm 

I was on a shoot today using my nearly new SL2 body and the Summicron SL 75mm (AF) lens, which I purchased second hand from MBP. I took off my off my 24-90mm and put on the 75mm and it worked fine. Then I put it back in the bag and the next time I switched it out, I got this error message and I cannot use the lens. Later, I tried it on my other SL2 body and same error message. I bought this lens used on MPB so it's not new but in great condition (I just asked them about it but they are closed for the day). I have a wedding this weekend and now I have no 75mm lens, I'm not happy as you know these lenses are expensive. I love the camera and the lenses but this is just...upsetting. Anything I can do in the meantime to try to get it working again, or is it likely a lost cause? It was SO embarrassing on this shoot to not be able to use the lens! 

[Advertisement]

The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[jaapv]

Just a small drop on a cotton tip... Clean the contacts.

 

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

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

[Simone_DF]

It could also be that the camera was trying to update the lens firmware and it failed to install the firmware, causing the error you're seeing on two different cameras

[beewee]

In the absence of contact cleaner, Iso-propyl alcohol works fine as well. Preferably 99.9% pure stuff but the 70% stuff is fine too, just give it more time to dry off before mounting the lens.

For cleaning the contacts, you can wet a Q-tip with alcohol and then gently brush against the contacts on the lens and body.

I definitely don’t recommend spraying anything directly onto the lens or camera!

Edited May 4, 2022 by beewee

[EddieCheddar]

Hello all,

Coincidentally, this exact same thing happen to me yesterday, with the exact same lens and camera (what are the odds?).

Leica SL2 with the APO-Summicron-SL 75mm ASPH.

I cleaned the contacts as suggested, and no luck.

The camera starts, and you can hear a little noise in the lens, like a tiny "click" noise, like is searching for something.
Then the screen goes black with the message "Lens Communication Error."

By the way, when I attach an M lens via the M adapter, all is well with the camera.

Any other suggestions?

I have never had to send a Leica in for repairs or cleaning, and don't really know who to even call.
If you could advise me on this, too, that would be great.

I'm in California.

 

 

[Alan Friedman]

A lens malfunction of some sort. I experienced the same error with a rented Apo-summicron-SL 35 from LensRentals. Cleaned contacts and remounted/restarted several times to no avail. The lens was also unusable on my Sigma Fp-L. Returned it for another which worked fine and then purchased a new copy of the lens and it has performed perfectly so far. 

[agfa100]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

I had problem like that with a sigma sd-1 i borrowed from a friend, and all I did was clean the contacts on both the body and the lens with just a dry lens paper and turned the camera off and on and I got lucky it worked fine for the rest of the day I had the body. It's always worth a try as these things are just small computers.

[Chuck Albertson]

17 hours ago, EddieCheddar said:

Hello all,

Coincidentally, this exact same thing happen to me yesterday, with the exact same lens and camera (what are the odds?).

Leica SL2 with the APO-Summicron-SL 75mm ASPH.

I cleaned the contacts as suggested, and no luck.

The camera starts, and you can hear a little noise in the lens, like a tiny "click" noise, like is searching for something.
Then the screen goes black with the message "Lens Communication Error."

By the way, when I attach an M lens via the M adapter, all is well with the camera.

Any other suggestions?

I have never had to send a Leica in for repairs or cleaning, and don't really know who to even call.
If you could advise me on this, too, that would be great.

I'm in California.

I had a similar problem with a nearly-new 35SL. I'd switch on the camera, the lens would appear to be hunting for focus several times, and then the "Lens Communication Error" message would pop on the screen and the camera was frozen. Sometimes, detaching/re-attaching the lens, switching the camera on and off, and/or a batt pull would clear it. It went to Wetzlar (via my local dealer and Leica NJ) for ten weeks for an (unspecified) repair, and hasn't recurred since.

[kstol23]

18 hours ago, EddieCheddar said:

Hello all,

Coincidentally, this exact same thing happen to me yesterday, with the exact same lens and camera (what are the odds?).

Leica SL2 with the APO-Summicron-SL 75mm ASPH.

I cleaned the contacts as suggested, and no luck.

The camera starts, and you can hear a little noise in the lens, like a tiny "click" noise, like is searching for something.
Then the screen goes black with the message "Lens Communication Error."

By the way, when I attach an M lens via the M adapter, all is well with the camera.

Any other suggestions?

I have never had to send a Leica in for repairs or cleaning, and don't really know who to even call.
If you could advise me on this, too, that would be great.

I'm in California.

 

 

Yes, this is really weird! Mine was not purchased new, but appeared to be in great condition. I contacted the reseller and was prepared to send it to Leica in Germany, but the reseller said to send it back to them and they will send it to Leica. They refuse to give me a credit or return even though their policy says 6 months for returns if there are defects. Plus, it's peak wedding season and I can't be without lenses for 6-8 weeks (their turnaround time). I did all the fixes as described, but nothing worked. It's a 3000€+ doorstop at this point. I'm really pleased with the camera overall and the colors are out of this world, its cut down on editing time substantially. However, I can't lie and say I'm not worried, plus, if they repair the lens I can never have confidence in it again, and would always have to lug a bunch of spares with me to an important event. I realize failures happen, but this is not ideal, and being in the Leica "ecosystem" just a short time now, it makes me worried. 

[beewee]

4 hours ago, kstol23 said:

They refuse to give me a credit or return even though their policy says 6 months for returns if there are defects. Plus, it's peak wedding season and I can't be without lenses for 6-8 weeks (their turnaround time).

If you paid by credit card or paypal, you can file a complaint and dispute/cancel the charge.

[EddieCheddar]

Just an update on my issue with the Lens Communication Error. 
 

I was able to update the SL2 with the latest firmware (4.0) update, as well as the lens.
(I didn’t think it would “see’ the lens and be able to update it, but it did update the camera, and then it updated then lens and gave a confirmation.)

However, the Lens Communication Error still occurs on the SL 75 Summicron, so I sent it into Leica for repair.  😞
 

Now I’ll just use my M lenses on the SL and await the SL 75’s return.

[Jean-Michel]

This is unfortunate but can happen to any electronical lens. Happened to me with a Canon 24-105, during a out of country trip, so it was weeks before the lens could be repaired.   Backups are necessary for either paid or personal work, even with mechanical equipment.

[myuen888]

I don't know if SL lenses are designed for hot-swappable, but I always switch off my camera when changing lens to minimize any electrical issues. 

[michali]

On 5/7/2022 at 12:30 PM, myuen888 said:

I don't know if SL lenses are designed for hot-swappable, but I always switch off my camera when changing lens to minimize any electrical issues. 

Not sure if this contributed to the OP's lens problem; I always turn the camera off when changing lenses.  I learnt that lesson several years ago, I fried the mother board of my Sony alpha 850 & bricked the lens when changing lenses with the camera on....Sony SA replaced both free of charge.

[Pelu2010]

Hey ,

did you do the Firmware Update ? 
there is an issue with the lenses and the sl2 and Sl2s .

 

[Pelu2010]

Hey ,

and if you can get an rental lens > and send in the receipt. 
the other thing is, all new cameras are computers. They can fail. 
I always have manual lenses as a backup. 
and I inly use the autofocus lenses if the pace of shooting very high. 
with the 75 mm I would do portraits and it requires mor talking and getting people to be comfortable.

so I start with the manual lens and I finish with the af lens.
 

so this is just how I deal with computer cameras.
 

i Hope you get out of trouble.
i am sure if there is a Leica shop around they will help you out. 
 

cheers 

[jaapv]

On 5/5/2022 at 5:38 PM, kstol23 said:

Yes, this is really weird! Mine was not purchased new, but appeared to be in great condition. I contacted the reseller and was prepared to send it to Leica in Germany, but the reseller said to send it back to them and they will send it to Leica. They refuse to give me a credit or return even though their policy says 6 months for returns if there are defects. Plus, it's peak wedding season and I can't be without lenses for 6-8 weeks (their turnaround time). I did all the fixes as described, but nothing worked. It's a 3000€+ doorstop at this point. I'm really pleased with the camera overall and the colors are out of this world, its cut down on editing time substantially. However, I can't lie and say I'm not worried, plus, if they repair the lens I can never have confidence in it again, and would always have to lug a bunch of spares with me to an important event. I realize failures happen, but this is not ideal, and being in the Leica "ecosystem" just a short time now, it makes me worried. 

In general, I prefer gear that has been through Leica CS - they are quite good in repairing better than new, albeit slow. You could ask for their professional service, although I'm not sure whether they still offer it.

[Rob L]

Similar to Chuck above. My 35 APO Summicron did this and I tried everything mentioned in this thread including a firmware update to the camera. Leica NJ sent it to Wetzlar for a very long 3+ month repair, during which communication was nearly nil. Seems fine now, but I've used it very little,

[Advertisement]

Hallo,

Look here: Leica L-Mount

[JTLeica]

Just to re-ignite a thread here, what is the cost of a repair like this? 

[LocalHero1953]

I've just seen this old thread for the first time. Around the time the faults above were posted my Apo-Summicron-SL 75 failed during a lens firmware update - totally unresponsive. It was nothing to do with removing the lens without switching off. I had successfully updated all my other SL lenses at the same time.

Leica repaired it, but it took the best part of 9 months. I was not happy - it has coloured my opinion of their service capability ever since.

It has given no problems since then.

IIRC it was under warranty, so I can't report a price.