Leica 90mm Summicron-M (pre-ASPH) - issue with the aperture ring - is this normal?

[patashnik]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

I have owned a few 90mm Summicron-M pre-ASPH's (1980-98 version), but sold them along the road. Recently I wanted to try another one, and found two. Both had the same issue: The aperture ring sounded like The Gate of Gondor. To be specific, the noise was like a grinding sound, almost like the wheels of a large, cheap, rusty clock. I have been through my share of lenses in need of a bit of tender loving care, but never anything like this. The focus rings were perfectly fine and smooth. 

I didn't buy any of the lenses, but now I'm wondering if this is a known issue?

[lct]

If you mean the Summicron 90/2 v3 (11136) i got mine second hand 12 years ago with no focus ring problem at all and it remained as is since then. I suspect the copies you tried need a CLA.

[pippy]

I have a pair of them and both are as smooth as silk with regards their aperture and focus rings. Something, clearly, is awry with the pair you have tried. As these lenses might be 40+ years old perhaps a CLA - as suggested by lct above - would restore either lens to 'normal'?

Philip.

[jdlaing]

Aperture ring is good on mine.

[jdlaing]

1 hour ago, lct said:

If you mean the Summicron 90/2 v3 (11136) i got mine second hand 12 years ago with no focus ring problem at all and it remained as is since then. I suspect the copies you tried need a CLA.

But what about the aperture ring as the OP asked?

[lct]

2 hours ago, lct said:

If you mean the Summicron 90/2 v3 (11136) i got mine second hand 12 years ago with no focus ring problem at all and it remained as is since then. I suspect the copies you tried need a CLA.

I meant to say aperture ring sorry for the typo but the focus ring is OK too.

[patashnik]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Thanks! From back when I owned one, that is how I remember it too. These copies were from 1982 and 1993, and the 1982 were by far the worst of them. 

[Ecar]

Mine is from 1993. CLA'd and coded by Leica several years ago. Aperture is very smooth, although a bit on the clunky side. Zero grinding sound.

[spydrxx]

The one I had the aperture ring was smooth, almost loose...definitely no grinding. I've had other lenses exhibit "grinding" and after a CLA they were fine.