New 50 Lux - Front Focuses from Infinity but Not MFD? Send for Repair?

[Siriusone59]

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I had a similar problem with a voigtlander 75mm f1.5.  Was frustrated with results just as you are...finally after LV tests and using a Visoflex I found that my problem was much closer than the lens or rangefinder.  My eyes were the problem along with my progressive bifocals.  If I tilt my head back slightly using a bit more of the lower part of my eyeglasses, I would get a much more distinct image of the viewfinder patch.  Not saying that you're having the same issue but it brought something to my attention that I totally disregarded in the beginning.

[eyeheartny]

19 minutes ago, Siriusone59 said:

I had a similar problem with a voigtlander 75mm f1.5.  Was frustrated with results just as you are...finally after LV tests and using a Visoflex I found that my problem was much closer than the lens or rangefinder.  My eyes were the problem along with my progressive bifocals.  If I tilt my head back slightly using a bit more of the lower part of my eyeglasses, I would get a much more distinct image of the viewfinder patch.  Not saying that you're having the same issue but it brought something to my attention that I totally disregarded in the beginning.

I wear single vision glasses and they were cut to my exact optical center at the optician, so I'm not expecting that is as much of an issue but it's good to know. It's not about not seeing the viewfinder patch, it's that the same focusing behavior on my part yields different results from MFD or infinity. It's repeatable across multiple tests so I don't think it's an eyesight issue since I am able to get acceptable focus coming from MFD. Otherwise why would it be repeatable even if I move my eye away from the viewfinder for each shot? 

Edited October 24, 2022 by eyeheartny

[stephan54]

I had this with my brand new Summilux 50asph too and it turned out that the front part of the lens had some play and in the end almost fell off. 

Leica repaired the lens and from that moment it has been functioning perfectly.

[eyeheartny]

14 minutes ago, stephan54 said:

I had this with my brand new Summilux 50asph too and it turned out that the front part of the lens had some play and in the end almost fell off. 

Leica repaired the lens and from that moment it has been functioning perfectly.

Absolutely wild that they let stuff like that out of QC. Disturbing, to be honest. Anyway, I'm glad you got a working lens back! 

I guess I'm going to send my M11 and lens back since we don't know which one is the issue. Bummed as I have a vinyl skin applied to the outside of my M11 and will have to remove it before sending back as they're going to have to take the camera apart. 

[stephan54]

vor 12 Minuten schrieb eyeheartny:

Absolutely wild that they let stuff like that out of QC. Disturbing, to be honest. Anyway, I'm glad you got a working lens back! 

I guess I'm going to send my M11 and lens back since we don't know which one is the issue. Bummed as I have a vinyl skin applied to the outside of my M11 and will have to remove it before sending back as they're going to have to take the camera apart. 

Wild it sounds, but does happen once in a while. My brand new Summicron 75 was not focussing at any distance and had to be calibrated. Now it works fine (sent in my camera and my other lenses too.

Edited October 24, 2022 by stephan54

[Alberti]

I now encounter the same issue on M10-R with my recently acquired 50mm FLE (I).

- a 70cm 'mint/new in box' FLE Black Chrome, it has slight front-focus at f/1.4, more normal at f/2.0 - embarrassing... Checked with EVF - in hand that is, and the difference can mount to 2 mm about.

I counter checked with my other 50mm Summicron V, that I have recently sent to Wetzlar for CLA, it is perfect hand focussed. That is, the whole picture is sharp.

Even compared at f/2 too, the Summilux still it does not have that same cutting edge sharpness of the Summicron wide-open. It has  a vagueness.

It's hard to nail in actual use because well you naturally  think it is user error. And then, like some say, it might depend how the focus is turned it seems, as sometimes it appears to look good. . And using the tripod, the difference in turning to get right or wrong focus  is just a degree or two, not user friendly. As well, it has more centre sharpness than at mid-field ( I expected the lens - which is the flagship product - to have a flatter field)

• The shop asked me to come back . . . to send it to their repair man.
• Accept that or return it, that is the question. An FLE can't be aligned by a casual bystander, i.e. general repair man. Isn't it?

Not only my eyes heart, also my heart.

FLE: (and it can be better focussed with the back-screen but that is not my sport)

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[hmzimelka]

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16 hours ago, Alberti said:

I now encounter the same issue on M10-R with my recently acquired 50mm FLE (I).

- a 70cm 'mint/new in box' FLE Black Chrome, it has slight front-focus at f/1.4, more normal at f/2.0 - embarrassing... Checked with EVF - in hand that is, and the difference can mount to 2 mm about.

I counter checked with my other 50mm Summicron V, that I have recently sent to Wetzlar for CLA, it is perfect hand focussed. That is, the whole picture is sharp.

Even compared at f/2 too, the Summilux still it does not have that same cutting edge sharpness of the Summicron wide-open. It has  a vagueness.

It's hard to nail in actual use because well you naturally  think it is user error. And then, like some say, it might depend how the focus is turned it seems, as sometimes it appears to look good. . And using the tripod, the difference in turning to get right or wrong focus  is just a degree or two, not user friendly. As well, it has more centre sharpness than at mid-field ( I expected the lens - which is the flagship product - to have a flatter field)

• The shop asked me to come back . . . to send it to their repair man.
• Accept that or return it, that is the question. An FLE can't be aligned by a casual bystander, i.e. general repair man. Isn't it?

Not only my eyes heart, also my heart.

FLE: (and it can be better focussed with the back-screen but that is not my sport)

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The new Summilux 50 ASPH II I tried last month front-focused when shooting horizontally or downwards... pointed up, it back focused. The ring in the back of the lens that drives the camera's rangefinder cam was completely loose on one end.

So far, all 50 Summilux lenses I've tried show tiny bit of focus shift. The FLE group reduces focus shift but it can't ever be completely gone and it can vary from lens to lens slightly. Although, of the 5 (new and used) Summilux 50mm copies I've tried, I've not seen it to be severe or even moderate compared to the Summilux 35mm ASPH lenses I've tried. However, rangefinder calibration was all over the place with every single copy. Not one was perfect except a fairly used chrome brass version made in 2006 but had oil on the aperture blades. I passed on that. 

I think there's no escaping the quality control of Leica. Buy and return until one gets a decent copy. Leica clearly doesn't take it seriously enough to encourage its clients to be patient and understanding. At least not in my experience. 

[Alberti]

It really makes me 'sick'. I took some shots this morning wide open and they look good . .  of my library wall. yes the print of the back covers is sharp. And of the alarm clock -OK.

But the issue was, that if this is the focal plane and the 'space of some sharpness' is in front, then e.g. portraits are all spoilt. From my standard working.

• Do I want to buy back my Summilux 50mm Guassian Wonder, that I traded in>?? You guess.

[lct]

Never got the least hint of focus shift on my Summilux 50/1.4 asph v1 from 2004. I would not keep that faulty lens.

[Alberti]

I did return it this afternoon. I got my traded in back. I'm afraid: no more 'modern design gimmicks'. 

[Maarten]

You’re lucky Albert you could reverse your trade in! I traded two lenses for a Summilux-M 50mm Asph I, an open box model with a 482 number. It performs very well, focus is spot on, smooth focus ring. The wavy focus plane is part of the design. I agree that the choice between the asph and pre-asph version is difficult.

[Alberti]

The 50Lux Black Chrome is a beauty to behold. 
I think one could get over the very tight focus, but it is so sensitive and different from other lenses. That is why I lost trust. 

• I also bought a Summicron 28mmA that was way off - 10m on distance was infinity on Lumix S5 - , I was really bad off I’m afraid last week. I am still nervous about this lens that de shop would “send off to Leica” (they mean Hazerswoude probably 🤔). That agravated everything.