Steel Rim re-issue date of manufacture differences.

[costa43]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Hi all,

I am in need of sending off my 35mm Summilux v2 pre-ASPH for repair so I am in the market for a 35mm Leica lens for the interim period. it’s going to Wetzlar so the wait is long. My question is about the Steel Rim re-issue as it’s one of the lenses I am considering.
Has anyone experienced build quality differences based on the date of manufacture?. I’m familiar with the new hood design which eliminates the hard vignette but I’ve read brief snippets here and there that the build quality has improved over time also, primarily the tightness of the aperture ring and consistency of the focus throw. From experience, I know that there is sample variation on all lenses and an element of luck is involved but I just wanted to rule out any specific manufacturing dates when it comes to my search, should I even go down this road.

Thanks a lot! 

Edited September 14 by costa43

[S/W]

Would you like to buy a new lens or a used one? If you want a new one, I would make sure to always get one from the latest batch. The packaging has changed in the meantime. In my opinion, this allows you to see whether it is brand new. However, I don't know whether all older lenses are already being delivered with this packaging. With the older packaging (especially for used lenses), the production date is stuck on the bottom. I only know that there were mechanical problems with the aperture ring in the first year of delivery. I bought mine two years later, so I didn't have this problem. Unfortunately, that's all I can say on the matter.

[costa43]

14 minutes ago, S/W said:

Would you like to buy a new lens or a used one? If you want a new one, I would make sure to always get one from the latest batch. The packaging has changed in the meantime. In my opinion, this allows you to see whether it is brand new. However, I don't know whether all older lenses are already being delivered with this packaging. With the older packaging (especially for used lenses), the production date is stuck on the bottom. I only know that there were mechanical problems with the aperture ring in the first year of delivery. I bought mine two years later, so I didn't have this problem. Unfortunately, that's all I can say on the matter.

Thank you, that’s helpful to know on the packaging. I was initially thinking used when I wrote this up, if the saving is significant enough it works out better for me as it’s a lens I may end up selling in a year. If the new ones are better though, I’ll buy it new.  

Edited September 14 by costa43

[FrozenInTime]

SRR 11301 #49438XX with a date on the box of 2024/12/18 : flawless including focus and aperture ring haptics; which is good going for something manufactured during the pre-Christmas week.

Filter friendly hood in the box. OLLUX sits on the rim well; consistently falls off with only 15° rotation, which I believe is the historically accurate experience.