35mm Summilux-M F1.4 Aperture Ring Gets "Stuck"

[KenTanaka]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Strange:  After a period of disuse (a few days?) the aperture ring on my 35mm Summilux-M F1.4 lens (latest model 11726) becomes stuck.  That is, it feels as though it's been glued to the setting it was last used.  And I mean it's -stuck-.  Yes, I have been able to free it with absolutely no apparent ill effects.  And the ring then moves just as smoothly as ever, and the blades operate perfectly.  But this is the first I've encountered this phenomenon.

Has anyone else observed this in their lens?

[Advertisement]

The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[delta100]

Any known problems with the last M50m f1.4 Summilux then?

[Yarosuav]

4 hours ago, KenTanaka said:

Strange:  After a period of disuse (a few days?) the aperture ring on my 35mm Summilux-M F1.4 lens (latest model 11726) becomes stuck.  That is, it feels as though it's been glued to the setting it was last used.  And I mean it's -stuck-.  Yes, I have been able to free it with absolutely no apparent ill effects.  And the ring then moves just as smoothly as ever, and the blades operate perfectly.  But this is the first I've encountered this phenomenon.

Has anyone else observed this in their lens?

You mean the current version (close focus, FLE v2)? Yes - mine does that too occasionally, needs some force to move. Although if you read my signature, it doesn’t really bother me!

[RMF]

 

11 hours ago, KenTanaka said:

Strange:  After a period of disuse (a few days?) the aperture ring on my 35mm Summilux-M F1.4 lens (latest model 11726) becomes stuck.  That is, it feels as though it's been glued to the setting it was last used.  And I mean it's -stuck-.  Yes, I have been able to free it with absolutely no apparent ill effects.  And the ring then moves just as smoothly as ever, and the blades operate perfectly.  But this is the first I've encountered this phenomenon.

Has anyone else observed this in their lens?

Same with mine when new; the focus ring would sort of stick in one certain place/area. Took a couple hundred back and forth movements over that one particularly ‘sticker’ part’ in the focus rotation to eventually smooth it out. 
 

[justaguywithaleica]

Mine had the same issue. It would smooth out for a while then get stuck again after a period of disuse. I sent it to Customer Care in NJ under warranty, and now it works without issue.

[Jeff S]

The ‘Mathphotographer’ on YT praised this lens for its improved aperture ring tension, with notably more precise and solid clicks.  So much for that, as this seemed the only improvement that would remotely interest me over the former version.  

I think Leica should return to essentials, focus on QC, and avoid needless complexity in these close-focus designs that can’t even work with RF.  YMMV and all that.

Jeff

 

[KenTanaka]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

2 hours ago, justaguywithaleica said:

Mine had the same issue. It would smooth out for a while then get stuck again after a period of disuse. I sent it to Customer Care in NJ under warranty, and now it works without issue.

Your experience sounds similar to mine. It seems like there may be some type of lubricant used in the aperture ring mechanism that might somehow be solidifying over time. The phenomenon begins after only an hour or two.  My lens is just a few months out of warranty so I have to consider if this is really worth the service down-time and cost.

Thanks everyone for taking time to comment.  I will update you if I send the lens to NJ.

 

[Pix.View]

On 05/05/2024 at 18:12, KenTanaka said:

Étrange : après une période d'inutilisation (quelques jours ?) la bague d'ouverture de mon objectif 35 mm Summilux-M F1.4 (dernier modèle 11726) se coince. Autrement dit, on a l'impression qu'il a été collé au réglage dans lequel il a été utilisé pour la dernière fois. Et je veux dire, c'est -coincé-. Oui, j'ai pu le libérer sans aucun effet néfaste apparent. Et l’anneau se déplace alors toujours aussi facilement et les lames fonctionnent parfaitement. Mais c'est la première fois que je rencontre ce phénomène.

Quelqu'un d'autre a-t-il observé cela dans son objectif ?

Je rencontres exactement le même problème alors que cet objectif est revenu de chez Leica pour qu'il règle le décalage de mise au point sur mon M11.

[weevi]

@KenTanaka I have similar issue with my copy which is about a year old.
Have you decided to send the lens to service?
Does it happen less over time?

[KenTanaka]

2 hours ago, weevi said:

@KenTanaka I have similar issue with my copy which is about a year old.
Have you decided to send the lens to service?
Does it happen less over time?

I’ve not taken any corrective action yet. 
The effect seems unpredictable. 

[lct]

Those issues are not acceptable from a brand like Leica. No wonder why i didn't update my FLE v1 whilst my modest Nokton 35/1.5 asph is faultless and focus at 0.5m.

[SudaliuS]

Want to ask in this topic not to create another one: is it normal to have chromatic aberrations on this lens with 1.4 open?

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!

Edited September 26, 2024 by SudaliuS

[lct]

3 hours ago, SudaliuS said:

is it normal to have chromatic aberrations on this lens with 1.4 open?

Yes but i haven't got any at f/5.6 and on.

[SudaliuS]

My copy of this lens also has stucking aperture ring. But for me it's okay as long as it doesn't lead to any serious consequences.

[farnz]

On 9/26/2024 at 12:06 PM, SudaliuS said:

Want to ask in this topic not to create another one: is it normal to have chromatic aberrations on this lens with 1.4 open?

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!

It *might* be but that's not what's showing in your picture.  You're showing "bloom" that is caused by very bright reflections from shiny surfaces (spectral highlights) overloading the pixels in your sensor.  Since the pixels ("sensels") are linked together in strings, if one sensel is overloaded the excess charge will spill over into the neighbouring sensel and then the next etc.  If you look at the brightest part with post-processing software you'll find that its highlights are completely 'blown'.  Perhaps reach for your Neutral Density filter that will work like the lens's sunglasses, and then fix any underexposure in the rest of the picture in post-processing. 

If what your picture is showing was chromatic aberration then the top and bottom would be different colours because CA causes the wavelengths (colours) to focus in different planes and show up as different colours above and below the image because, say, blue has focussed slightly in front of the image plane and red has focussed slightly behind the image plane.  This diagram explains it better than I can using words.  (Longitudinal, and Lateral Chromatic Aberrations work slightly differently.)

Pete.

[SudaliuS]

@farnz
Thank you for your answer, Sir.
 

[SudaliuS]

1 hour ago, Al Brown said:

It is not supposed to be like that in any case and when you are going to get your aperture ring mended (it surely is not going to get better by itself and might lead to consequences, as you say) you should have this checked as well.

Unfortunately, in my country there is no way to repair the lens, as well as send it somewhere for repair. Frankly, I'm tired of worrying about all sorts of shortcomings of this or that lens. Its optical properties are ideal, the lens is maximally suitable for my M11. At F1.4 everything is maximally sharp. Well, how long it will work with a stuck ring, only time will tell. If it breaks, then it breaks

[jakontil]

I had my copy but sold it due to its unpredictable focus ring nature.. is it solved now or still exists?

[Advertisement]

Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[Pix.View]

Sent 3 times to LEICA after-sales service and the ring still jams. The problem is still not solved...

[moghul]

22 hours ago, Pix.View said:

Sent 3 times to LEICA after-sales service and the ring still jams. The problem is still not solved...

I got a 50mm Summilux CF brand new and had a similar issue. The aperture, when left for a period of time, gets stuck and requires a mild force to move it and once moved the aperture ring moves smoothly. I’m not sure if it’s because the lens is at infinity. So there’s no resolve overall? Leica Miami told me they’ve seen a similar issue with copies in their store and it’s no concern.