julianf73 Posted May 21, 2023 Share #1 Â Posted May 21, 2023 (edited) Advertisement (gone after registration) I used to have the 50mm Summicron, and sold it a few months ago. However, I now miss having a 50. So I'm thinking of getting the 50mm 1.4 old version (I don't need the close focus of the new one). However, I have read quite a few reviews saying that the 1.4 has a very stiff focus ring. From Ken Rockwell: "Focus doesn't feel as good as other Leica lenses because there are two helicoids operating at once to move the lens and the floating group. The worst part is a bit of stiction, which means that a little more force is required to get it moving than is required to keep it moving. This makes precise adjustment a bit of a pain, along with the fact that focus is geared for speed rather than precision." How many of you have experienced the same thing? I love the focus feel of the summicron, but I would like the 1.4 for better background separation wide open. Thanks! Edited May 21, 2023 by julianf73 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted May 21, 2023 Posted May 21, 2023 Hi julianf73, Take a look here 50mm f/1.4 ASPH - stiff focus?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Huss Posted May 21, 2023 Share #2 Â Posted May 21, 2023 I don't have issues with mine. Â It is heavier to turn than my Summicron 50 v5, which is so light and smooth it is a delight. Â But the Lux Asph is moving much more glass and FLE. You will get used to it in, oh, 30 seconds. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeicaR10 Posted May 21, 2023 Share #3 Â Posted May 21, 2023 (edited) Julianf73, Â I just recently swapped my 50 Summilux Asph v1 for the updated v2. Â My 50 Lux v1 was slightly stiff to focus, but wasn't really an issue once you get use to it. Huss said the same above. Â I now have the updated Lux v2. Â It is stellar. Â Very smooth for focus, slightly better resolution out to the edges at the wider end, 11 blades smooths out the bokeh better and was the same price as the v1. Â I like the updated lens much better for my genre of photography and worth the swap. Â Good news for you, these are two most excellent choices. Â r/ Mark Edited May 21, 2023 by LeicaR10 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustyrus Posted May 21, 2023 Share #4  Posted May 21, 2023 When you search the internet, you almost always find the answer you are looking for.  My guess if you stopped reading reviews and bought the lens, you would have never got the idea it had a stiff focus ring. Stiff is relative as well. Buy it, used they are going for great prices. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mediumformula Posted May 21, 2023 Share #5  Posted May 21, 2023 I dont find the focus to be an issue. its a great lens. I bought a used one and got it CLA'd and it has been great the past few years. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kinetic Posted May 21, 2023 Share #6 Â Posted May 21, 2023 I have a brand new lux 50 fle 2, and it's definitely stiffer than my old copy of the black chrome lux 50. I think it might just be how new it is, but I do hope it wears in a bit and loosens a tad. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LEGEND Posted May 21, 2023 Share #7  Posted May 21, 2023 Advertisement (gone after registration) 10 hours ago, julianf73 said: I used to have the 50mm Summicron, and sold it a few months ago. However, I now miss having a 50. So I'm thinking of getting the 50mm 1.4 old version (I don't need the close focus of the new one). However, I have read quite a few reviews saying that the 1.4 has a very stiff focus ring. From Ken Rockwell: "Focus doesn't feel as good as other Leica lenses because there are two helicoids operating at once to move the lens and the floating group. The worst part is a bit of stiction, which means that a little more force is required to get it moving than is required to keep it moving. This makes precise adjustment a bit of a pain, along with the fact that focus is geared for speed rather than precision." How many of you have experienced the same thing? I love the focus feel of the summicron, but I would like the 1.4 for better background separation wide open. Thanks! I also had the same “problem“ in my Leica Summilux M 50 Asph. (v1) ... But this is normal for the lens with FLE elements inside... First form 0,7m to around 2m  is little bit stiffer to focus then it get less after you pass further away... I also noticed that when you start to focus it is somehow “harder“ but in the moment you start to move the focus ring then it get “easier“.  But if you stop for a little bit then it is the same thing again. It is because of moment of the focus elements it think. If you focus strait up vertically the focusing is much easier. The same is if you focus strait down. I think this is because of gravity... Two years ago I had send my lux 50 Asph. to the Leica for a CLA service. It cost me 330 Euro and I get her back in 6 weeks.  I had asked that they make focusing more easier or at least even, with no drag until 2m. Also I asked that they made aperture ring little bit stiffer, it was very easy do accidentally move the aperture with your finger during focusing. It happened to me few times... When I received my lux 50 back from Leica I noticed that the focus ring does not show this strange “drag“ during the focusing. It wast also not easier to turn the focus ring as I expected but somehow little bit more stiffer. Like before was serviced but in the focusing zone of 0,7m - 2m.  Any way it is more even during whole focus range. Possible it will get easier with practice.  I got used to it in the mean time and I like that new focus “feeling“... The aperture ring was also serviced as I asked. Now you can feel every aperture click. It is not hard to move but also not very easy. Any way I never accidentally moved the aperture ring again... The CLA service was very good and fast.  Leica made excellent job to adjust the lens as I wanted...  Nikola Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted May 21, 2023 Share #8  Posted May 21, 2023 Sticky focus easily fixed by DAG, as mine was 10 years ago after Leica NJ service said it couldn’t be improved. Still focusing very smoothly.  Lesson learned.   Jeff 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
250swb Posted May 21, 2023 Share #9 Â Posted May 21, 2023 My 50mm Summilux is stiffer than my Summicron and feels like it will stay where it's been set, but not so stiff that it's notchy or unpleasant. I don't like very loose focus rings anyway and the Summilux is perfectly balanced. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Photoworks Posted May 21, 2023 Share #10 Â Posted May 21, 2023 DAG sets it to where you want, send it, and pay $125. ALL good 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
spydrxx Posted May 21, 2023 Share #11 Â Posted May 21, 2023 Unless you have a physical injury to your hand you shouldn't be distracted by reports of "stiff focusing". If something is REALLY stiff, then it needs a CLA. That happened to me when a Summicron on mine crashed onto an asphalt roadway...I couldn't move the focus ring. Sent it to DAG explaining what happened and it came back as smooth and easy to focus as it originally had been, Over the years I've found various lenses have different ease of focus, but unless they are damaged, all were usable and easy to adapt to. SO, cease worrying about what really is a non-issue. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted May 21, 2023 Share #12  Posted May 21, 2023 40 minutes ago, LEGEND said: I also had the same “problem“ in my Leica Summilux M 50 Asph. (v1) ... But this is normal for the lens with FLE elements inside... I did experience this issue when i bought the lens in 2005 but contrary to what some Leica reps used to say then, such behavior is not normal at all. The lens had to be sent in twice for Leica to fix the issue but focusing is butter smooth since then. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LEGEND Posted May 21, 2023 Share #13  Posted May 21, 2023 2 minutes ago, lct said: I did experience this issue when i bought the lens in 2005 but contrary to what some Leica reps used to say then, such behavior is not normal at all. The lens had to be sent in twice for Leica to fix the issue but focusing is butter smooth since then. I don't know... Now I am now used how it works... Also I had one other real problem with my lux 50. It started to move or wiggle and this is not normal. I don't know how this happened. Perhaps I hit my lens on something. I have epilepsy and few time I got seizure with my camera and lens inside a bag. I hit the floor and my bag in my hand with my Leica camera and lens also. The bag is very good padded. (Ona Bowens) I made sure to protect my Leica as best es it get. But still it is possible that the impact shock can make some damage on the lens. The camera was SL2-S and had't got any damage but since than I mounted  her permanently inside a camera cage for more protection. Now the camera look very strange and unrecognisable to others and I oft get asked what this thing is.  Much heavier is not become but it is much easier to hold. But the cage will not protect the lens so I must be careful... Nikola  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! Leica Summilux M 50mm f1,4 Asph - Helicoid test 1 (1).mp4 1 Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Leica Summilux M 50mm f1,4 Asph - Helicoid test 1 (1).mp4 ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/377258-50mm-f14-asph-stiff-focus/?do=findComment&comment=4776539'>More sharing options...
lct Posted May 21, 2023 Share #14  Posted May 21, 2023 40 minutes ago, LEGEND said: Also I had one other real problem with my lux 50. It started to move or wiggle and this is not normal. I don't know how this happened. Perhaps I hit my lens on something [...] Do you mean the focus ring has some play? This may come from the fact that you had to excerpt too much force on the focus ring due to its stiffness. Happened to me with another lens so i learned the hard way to never consider a stiff focus ring normal. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LEGEND Posted May 21, 2023 Share #15  Posted May 21, 2023 6 minutes ago, lct said: Do you mean the focus ring has some play? This may come from the fact that you had to excerpt too much force on the focus ring due to its stiffness. Happened to me with another lens so i learned the hard way to never consider a stiff focus ring normal. No, not that... The whole lens moved as shown in the video...  It was not like the helicoid was stuck like some old soviet lens from the 60 years ago. I could move the focus tab with one finger left and right, no problem. But when I compare this to my Summicron M 35 Asph. or Elmar 24 f3,8 Asph the difference is huge. To me the Summilux M 50 Asph. is a portrait lens and perhaps is better not to have buttery smooth focus movement with almost no resistance, like my cron or Elmar. I think this way you can focus more precise because the lux 50 Asph. has short focus throw. Now is almost perfect after it came back from the service... If I try to rotate the lens like when I unscrew the lens hood or filter every part of the lens until the one where is mount and DoF scale wiggled. It made also a sound as if it hit something. You can really feel it when you move the lens like this. If you focus this problem is not noticeable. To me all this did't looked right so I send her to service. I can recall that at the beginning this was not an issue. After a year or so I started to notice something feels strange on the lens so I started to look deeper and made some test. All my other M lenses did't show this behaviour. The focus was always spot on and it corresponded to the markings on the lens. No issue there... I think whole lens element block with helicoids somehow got loose and started to show some play. As I tested this I noticed that the play was more pronounced on the infinity as on the 0,7m mark. You can se this in the video. The Leica costumer service showed this to the technician and he confirmed what I suspected. The whole block with glass und helicoid got loose and this was the reason for the play. I had shipped the lens to the Leica for the service. They inspected her, made some tests and said to me that the lens is still in border of tolerance so this play will not affect the focusing or similar. It was only play in rotation and the lens element distance to the sensor did't change. I could then choose to get them to fix this problem and also get CLA with this included or to get lens returned on their cost. The inspection normally cost 40 Euro but at that time it was still free of charge. I decided to proceed with the service of the lens and get this fixed, get CLA. I also asked for adjustment of the focusing and aperture. They serviced this also free of charge... The whole adventure cost me 350 Euro... 330 Euro for the service and 20 Euro for the shipping... It was finished in 6 weeks and now I have serviced lens with CLA and certificate... I could also let them send me my lens back because this did't make any focusing problems but I had all the time strange feeling that the whole lens would fall of the camera split in the middle... That is too much stress for me to be able to handle it... I need my peace of mind and not piece of my lens... Nikola  Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted May 21, 2023 Share #16 Â Posted May 21, 2023 The stiffness is gone then hopefully, unless you like it of course. I don't personally, at least on lenses with focus tabs, but it is a matter of tastes obviously. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LEGEND Posted May 21, 2023 Share #17  Posted May 21, 2023 16 minutes ago, lct said: The stiffness is gone then hopefully, unless you like it of course. I don't personally, at least on lenses with focus tabs, but it is a matter of tastes obviously. Yes... it is much less... Not like warm knife through the butter but more like cold knife trough the Nuttela... Not too much , not too little... I also use my lenses some times with focus tab, some times with focus ring and some times with both... I purchased me one soviet Helios 44-2 that was very hard to focus. Put it apart, cleaned and than lubricate the helicoid with few drops of Ballistol oil. Now it is so smooth and easy to focus that if you blow on the focus ring it will move. Sometimes I do this as a party trick... Nikola  Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted May 21, 2023 Share #18 Â Posted May 21, 2023 I wish i could do the same with my stuck Jupiter 85/2. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lelmer Posted May 21, 2023 Share #19  Posted May 21, 2023 17 hours ago, julianf73 said: I used to have the 50mm Summicron, and sold it a few months ago. However, I now miss having a 50. So I'm thinking of getting the 50mm 1.4 old version (I don't need the close focus of the new one). However, I have read quite a few reviews saying that the 1.4 has a very stiff focus ring. From Ken Rockwell: "Focus doesn't feel as good as other Leica lenses because there are two helicoids operating at once to move the lens and the floating group. The worst part is a bit of stiction, which means that a little more force is required to get it moving than is required to keep it moving. This makes precise adjustment a bit of a pain, along with the fact that focus is geared for speed rather than precision." How many of you have experienced the same thing? I love the focus feel of the summicron, but I would like the 1.4 for better background separation wide open. Thanks! No focusing difficulties with my Summilux 50mm Asph...😊 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LEGEND Posted May 21, 2023 Share #20  Posted May 21, 2023 1 hour ago, lct said: I wish i could do the same with my stuck Jupiter 85/2. I also had one Jupiter 85/2 that was very hard to focus... He also got the same treatment as my Helios 44-2... After I finished him focusing got much easier but not super buttery smooth like my Helios 44-2 is... I have sold him later and got 3x the amount that I had paid for...  Nikola Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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