50mm Summicron v4 vs v5

[pippy]

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3 hours ago, Big Jim said:

...You mean such a wobble is normal ? Or that it can be easily fixed ? 

I'm not sure about the level of ease / difficulty but as Hansvons says;

1 hour ago, hansvons said:

...The v4 Summicron can be maintained and adjusted as any other much more expensive Leica lens...

As it happens my own v4 required the attentions of a repairer last year to re-install the focus tab which had somehow become detached. This work requires an amount of barrel dis-assembly. There had been some slight play in the focus-ring before it went away (which wasn't a surprise as the lens is over 40 years old) but when it came back the focussing action was as smooth as could be wished.

Any repair person worthy of the title will be able to adjust these lenses.

Philip.

Edited February 3 by pippy

[Big Jim]

Thanks to the help and advice I received here I am now the proud owner of a Summicron V4 50mm F2 ! 
I assumed that with this lens mounted on my single stroke M3 I would only be able to focus down to 1M. However the lens moves to 70CM and the rangefinder patch also continues to show correct focus. Does this mean I can use it below 1M ? 
Were later model M3’s able to focus to 70CM ? Or does this mean mine's been adjusted to allow this ? 
 

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Edited February 28 by Big Jim
Yes

[Alberti]

On 6/3/2024 at 5:31 PM, crons said:

The Leica Summicron 50mm f/2 lenses, specifically the v4 and v5 versions, have different focus throw lengths. The v5 version of the Summicron 50mm f/2 has a shorter focus throw compared to the v4 version. Summicron 50mm f/2 v4 - v5 This version was designed with a shorter focus throw. The shorter throw allows for quicker focus adjustments, which can be beneficial in faster-paced shooting environments.

The v5's shorter focus throw makes it easier and faster to achieve focus, while the v4's longer focus throw allows for more precise adjustments. The choice between them can depend on the photographer's preference for speed versus precision.

My joy with the v5 was in the combination of short throw and very slick (easy) movement, so I could quickly go back and forth/to and fro/, and see the RF patch move. It allowed me very good focussed shots. 
Then (because the aperture ring disengaged) I sent it off, and got it back with a full CLA - and very stiff (relative to before) focus action. I can’t now do that quick search of the focus with the up/down movement, I just can’t rock the boat anymore, to my distress. I now lose shots I otherwise would never have missed.

The Leitz service dept as I see it did not understand the system wide impact of their standard treat,ent. Great if they make a summilux stiff. That is what it was designed for. But keep your hands of the quick focus cams, like v5 and the macro-Elmar, if you do not see the bigger picture.

Edited February 28 by Alberti

[lct]

M3 bodies could be modified to get the RF patch to focus to 0.7m (rather 0.75m) instead of 1m, so it could be that yours has been modified this way.

[Big Jim]

3 hours ago, lct said:

M3 bodies could be modified to get the RF patch to focus to 0.7m (rather 0.75m) instead of 1m, so it could be that yours has been modified this way.

Thanks. So it’s not the case that later M3’s allowed focusing to 0.7m out of the box ?  This was definitely something that needed to be modified ? 

[lct]

4 minutes ago, Big Jim said:

Thanks. So it’s not the case that later M3’s allowed focusing to 0.7m out of the box ?  This was definitely something that needed to be modified ? 

I don't remember sorry. If you don't find answers here you might wish to ask on the collectors forum.

[bocaburger]

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I owned a V5 for many years, the only quibble I had was the built-in hood only extended about a cm past the front threads without a filter, and half that with a filter attached, and I got significantly more flare than with the V4 and its vented hood that I owned prior.  Eventually a late-production V4 came my way at an attractive price and I switched back.  Never noticed a difference in focus throw tbh.  OTOH I updated my "thin" 90 T-E from early to late production as the focus throw was halved.