28 Summicron SL characteristics?

[tpf1952]

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Ordered and received a used 28 mm Summicron SL via eBay and shot with it for an hour before returning it. Till now I’ve been shooting with Sigma lenses with no complaints. About the 28 SL, two issues made it a short timer: 1) Extremely stiff manual focusing. I don’t mind some resistance, but I don’t want to have a fight with the lens barrel. 2) Near constant chirping when in AFS or AFC mode. Even after I’ve established focus in AFS, and removed my finger from the shutter release, the lens motor will continue to chirp, even if focus remains static. The only thing that silences the chirping is a) when I keep the shutter release half-pressed, or b) I’m shooting in manual focus.

My questions to all you veteran SL lens users: are all SL lenses stiff in manual focus? And is the chirping behavior normal? 

If the consenus is “no,” I’ll man-up and buy a new 28 SL.

Thanks in advance for your feedback.

Tom

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[hoolyproductions]

I have a few APO lenses and they were all somewhat stiff (for my preferences) when I got them.

They do loosen up a little after extensive use - my very well used 50mm and 75mm are now just as I like it. My 28mm and 90mm are still a little stiff (I generally use autofocus with these lenses so the focus ring does not get as much work to do).

I guess there is pros and cons to this, but I prefer it this way than the barrel getting too loose over time.

I have not noticed any signficant noise or chirping when focussing, and definitely not after focussing in AF-S mode. Some seem to notice this more than others (could it be the IBIS?)

The non-APO summicrons (or at least my ones) arrived with already quite loose focus barrels - just perfect for me. I guess the APOs are built a little more robustly. 

[hoolyproductions]

One more point:

I bought my 90mm APO second hand for a really good price. It had spent a couple of years in a cabinet without use. When it arrived the focus ring was stiff and squeaky because it had seized up slightly. After a minor panic it sorted itself out just by using/working it for a while.

[tpf1952]

Thank you so much for your reply. Of the two issues I experienced, the chirping was more concerning. Think I’m going to find a new 28 SL instead. Again, I appreciate your feedback. This forum is so helpful because of people like you. 

[N8aufnahme]

I currently have the same "noise problem" with a new 21 APO. My 28, which I unfortunately no longer own, did not show this.

[tpf1952]

Regarding your “chirping 21,” did the seller make any effort to resolve the situation? As an aside, when I received the used 28 which I have returned, it came with the 21 SL lens hood, rather than the stock 28 hood. Wished I could have kept the hood — it’s more practically-sized than the 28’s hood.

Tom

[N8aufnahme]

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A solution is still being worked on.

The lens hood is really tiny. When I unpacked the box, I first thought that Leica had forgotten to include the hood. It was sitting upside down on the lens. 😅