Quirky Leica/90 Macro Elmar Version 1

[tappan]

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We LOVE Leica, or we would not be here. There are quirky, though. I picked up a (semi) rare silver mint 90mm Elmar Macro version 1.. Like all my Leica gear, I love it, but... That lens "creep" when the lens is retracted and turned upside down!!!!!
It's like baking a really GREAT cake and leaving the it with half frosting 🙂
That is all.

[Guest]

5 hours ago, tappan said:

We LOVE Leica, or we would not be here. There are quirky, though. I picked up a (semi) rare silver mint 90mm Elmar Macro version 1.. Like all my Leica gear, I love it, but... That lens "creep" when the lens is retracted and turned upside down!!!!!

I had the same problem with my (2nd hand) silver chrome Macro-Elmar-M 90mm. The local Leica service fixed it.

[tappan]

10 minutes ago, Studienkamera said:

I had the same problem with my (2nd hand) silver chrome Macro-Elmar-M 90mm. The local Leica service fixed it.

Thank you. I did not know that it could be fixed.
I thought that's how the version one was.

[DadDadDaddyo]

My black 1st version Macro Elmar also exhibits this tendency a little, if I coax it, but I don't care. I'm simply crazy about the lens, one of my favorites. 

I sometimes would rather I had held out for the later version with the larger-diameter aperture ring, but that's small potatoes compared to the virtues of this lens. 

[tappan]

8 hours ago, DadDadDaddyo said:

My black 1st version Macro Elmar also exhibits this tendency a little, if I coax it, but I don't care. I'm simply crazy about the lens, one of my favorites. 

I sometimes would rather I had held out for the later version with the larger-diameter aperture ring, but that's small potatoes compared to the virtues of this lens. 

I am excited about mine. Mint silver produced in 2002. Just curious to see if a CLA , which except for the creep it does not need) will slightly or greatly improve that creep. 

[M9reno]

I have this lens, but I honestly don't understand the meaning of "creep" in this context.  Could you please expand?

[lct]

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What's a "creep"? Just curious.

[mdg1371]

5 hours ago, lct said:

What's a "creep"? Just curious.

When collapsed, if the lens is tilted downward, it extends on its own— it does not remain collapsed.  My chrome copy does this was well. Does not bother me as I usually just leave it extended and locked when mounted.

Edited August 19, 2023 by mdg1371

[tappan]

5 hours ago, lct said:

What's a "creep"? Just curious.

Sorry. Creep is when you hold the lens upside down and it extends on its own. The real weirdness (though I can live with it) is not being able to easily click-change the aperture when the lens is retracted because it turns when I do.  Anybody know if this is normal? Thanks

[tappan]

On 8/18/2023 at 4:14 AM, M9reno said:

I have this lens, but I honestly don't understand the meaning of "creep" in this context.  Could you please expand?

Sorry. Creep is when you hold the lens upside down and it extends on its own. The real weirdness (though I can live with it) is not being able to easily click-change the aperture when the lens is retracted because it turns when I do.  Anybody know if this is normal? Thanks 

[mdg1371]

2 minutes ago, tappan said:

Sorry. Creep is when you hold the lens upside down and it extends on its own. The real weirdness (though I can live with it) is not being able to easily click-change the aperture when the lens is retracted because it turns when I do.  Anybody know if this is normal? Thanks 

Yes, this is normal— it only locks into a fixed position when it is extended.

[lct]

6 minutes ago, tappan said:

The real weirdness (though I can live with it) is not being able to easily click-change the aperture when the lens is retracted because it turns when I do.

As suggested here, you may wish to  extend the lens to begin with, lock the tube in extended position, set the aperture, unlock the tube and retract it afterwards. The lens won't turn when you change the aperture this way.

 

[lct]

11 minutes ago, tappan said:

Creep is when you hold the lens upside down and it extends on its own.

Got it thanks. Usual issue with collapsing lenses. Can be easily fixed by Leica or a good repair shop.

[pgk]

3 minutes ago, lct said:

Got it thanks. Usual issue with collapsing lenses. Can be easily fixed by Leica or a good repair shop.

I had a Zeis Contax (NX) zoom lens that proved unusable due to zoom creep when pionted downwards beyond a certain angle. As it was inherent inthe lens (all were the same) it had to go unfortunately.

[lct]

Been fortunate enough that none of my collapsing lenses happened to creep in half a century but my Elmar 50/2.8 from the sixties had a wobbling tube because i was stupid enough to put some alcohol on it. I was young and handsome then though