Summilux-35 FLE Stiffness

[nikrasov]

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Hi!

Just bought silver Summilux-35 FLE first version and focusing ring feels like very stiff. Compared to my silver Summilux-50 FLE which is crazy smooth.

Question to users is it normal and how its focusing ring smoothness?

Thanks

[Overgaard]

1 hour ago, nikrasov said:

Hi!

Just bought silver Summilux-35 FLE first version and focusing ring feels like very stiff. Compared to my silver Summilux-50 FLE which is crazy smooth.

Question to users is it normal and how its focusing ring smoothness?

Thanks

Leica in Wetzlar can adjust focusing and aperture to your liking. The focus should be soft so that it doesn't stick when moving the focus (because then you use force, and it moves too far), and aperture should be stiff and stay on the chosen aperture. 

Easy thing to get done if you can ship to Wetzlar (they take care of return freight). Mail to cs@leica-camera.com which is the customer service email and let them know the tracking number when you send off, then it goes into the cue. 

Alternatively, don't know if Tokyo, London, New Jersey or other Leica repair does it (they usually say all lens matters goes to Germany), and then there is third party repairs, but I prefer to have Wetzlar do my repairs and adjustments. 

[Jeff S]

My experience was the reverse: the 35 Summilux ASPH (FLE) was focusing smoothly; the 50 Summilux ASPH had sticky focus (both black versions). I sent the latter lens to Leica NJ and they tried to fix, but said that it couldn’t be improved. I sent it to DAG and he quickly and inexpensively had it operating smoothly using his supply of old-formula Leitz grease.  He can also adjust loose aperture rings and provide excellent overall service. Busier now, but still highly recommended for those in the US. 

Shame that Leica can’t provide better and more consistent operation from the start. One reviewer indicated that the recent v.2 35 Summilux ASPH did have tighter aperture ring clicks, seemingly by design, perhaps addressing the recent trend of too loose operation.  If so, that would be a welcome improvement.  
 

Jeff

Edited February 15, 2023 by Jeff S

[labyrinth]

13 hours ago, nikrasov said:

Hi!

Just bought silver Summilux-35 FLE first version and focusing ring feels like very stiff. Compared to my silver Summilux-50 FLE which is crazy smooth.

Question to users is it normal and how its focusing ring smoothness?

Thanks

It depends on the lens batch -the older the lens the stiffer the helicoid due to grease dehydration with time. If your serial number starts with 41-42 chances are big your focus will be stiff. I had to re-grease mine to make it nice and smooth again.

I've heard people complain about oil marks on aperture blades of their brand new lens. I think Leica started to use some silicone based grease which had a tendency to migrate and really hard to get rid of once you applied it.

[mikeamosau]

Mine is extremely smooth. No stiffness.

[Ba Erv]

Mine was stiff and sticky on the infinity end. Leica said 3-6 months turnaround time and unknown cost. So, disassembled it and the problem was the rangefinder helicoid.  Polished the helicoid with a Dremel buffing wheel and some jewelers rouge. I had some high tack lubricant used for German made break-barrel air rifles and used that to replace the lube.  Now it's slicker than a bucket of greased owl poop.

[Infantasy]

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Polishing the helicoid is not a good idea as it should be perfect fit made by Leica factory. The main stiffness is the dried grease. I will soak the helicoid by isopropyl alcohol and re-lubricate by a thin layer of Helimax PTFE grease which you can easily buy from eBay. The damping is adequate for thin to medium thread helicoid.

[Ba Erv]

4 hours ago, Infantasy said:

Polishing the helicoid is not a good idea as it should be perfect fit made by Leica factory. The main stiffness is the dried grease. I will soak the helicoid by isopropyl alcohol and re-lubricate by a thin layer of Helimax PTFE grease which you can easily buy from eBay. The damping is adequate for thin to medium thread helicoid.

The helicoid on mine looked like it was machined by an 8 year old Chinese girl on a Harbor Freight lathe...assuming Leica always turns out perfection is a fallacy.  

[250swb]

Of course polishing metal isn't always a good idea if the surface finish has been designed to hold grease, and especially on relatively low stress loose fitting components like the helicoid. I don't know, I've never taken that particular lens apart, but smooth surfaces can just mean grease gets pumped out because it has no texture to hold onto. I suppose you could always fit a grease nipple. 

[TomB_tx]

2 hours ago, 250swb said:

Of course polishing metal isn't always a good idea if the surface finish has been designed to hold grease, and especially on relatively low stress loose fitting components like the helicoid. I don't know, I've never taken that particular lens apart, but smooth surfaces can just mean grease gets pumped out because it has no texture to hold onto. I suppose you could always fit a grease nipple. 

Hmm... Zerk fittings on lenses - perfect for taking tractor pictures.

[farnz]

On 2/17/2023 at 3:01 AM, Ba Erv said:

Now it's slicker than a bucket of greased owl poop.

Just curious what you use greased owl poop for to be familiar with its slickness?  

(And you buy it by the bucket?? Jeez. 😳)

Pete. 😇

[250swb]

On 2/17/2023 at 3:01 AM, Ba Erv said:

Now it's slicker than a bucket of greased owl poop.

I’d be worried about the amount of rodent bones you find in owl poop but I’m sure this wouldn’t be the worst thing Leica have encountered in the service department.

[Adam Bonn]

My 2016 50 lux asph was ok to focus, but was de-centred (I bought a lemon on the used market), so it went off to Wetzlar and came back fixed and CLA’d

The focusing was never bad, but now it’s lovely, anyone who’s ever used it has commented on how nice it is..

I haven’t owned that many M lenses (7 iirc) and the quality of the aperture click has been incredibly variable with no consistency to things like age… my newest M lens (28rit) has the loosest aperture ring. Once the warranty expires I’ll probably adjust it myself (assuming it’s as easy to do as it is on say a 35/50 cron)

Those of you stripping down FLE glass to grease the helicoids are braver than me! 

[Ba Erv]

4 hours ago, farnz said:

Just curious what you use greased owl poop for to be familiar with its slickness?  

(And you buy it by the bucket?? Jeez. 😳)

Pete. 😇

50 gallon drum at Costco...may have been near the sundry section; it's a very fine hair treatment.

[Ba Erv]

The irony to some of the comments here is I was in a European Leica store last summer and the manager was looking over my FLE and commented on the wonderful focusing smoothness.  He went on the say how well Leica engineered and assembled these lenses to impeccable standards. Little did he know of my Dremel and owl poop repair; I left with a satisfying grin.