Leica 35mm Summilux pre-FLE 11874

[Kiwimac]

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I’m missing a more modern looking 35mm. 
 

I have the excellent LLL 8 Element version which offers great artistic draw but like the original it’s based on, coatings etc don’t suppress flare and sometimes I want that and sometimes I don’t. 
 

I found a very good 9/10 pre owned 11874, 6 bit coded. The price is reasonable. 
 

From what I gather, it’s generally a great lens but prone to focus shift. 
 

Anyone have first hand experience to share?

 

 There’s also a similarly good condition Konica UC-Hexanon LTM 35mm f2 which I think is supposed to be pretty good but I’ve no experience of that at all. 

[Vanillasludge]

Are you a person who will zoom into the image?  I am, and for that reason focus shifty lenses like the 35 Asph, Nokton 1.4 v1 and Sonnar cm are not for me.  

(I love Sonnars and have tried to make do with the CM twice..alas, I just can’t stand it)
 

If the issue was bad enough to warrant a redesign by Leica then I would only buy with a full acceptance that it will be a problem and you promise not to look😂
 

What camera do you use?   The higher the pixel count the more you will notice the issue when zooming in. 
 

As an aside, I have a perfectly clean Leica 8 element and have tried the LLL version.  The original has less flare and higher contrast if it is pristine, but thats hard to find.   Other than at 2-2.4, the Leica lens will look essentially modern.  It also has virtually no chromatic errors, amazingly.  
 

Good luck in your search!
 

 

 

[lct]

My pre-owned 11874 is from 1997 and shows no visible focus shift at any aperture. It was coded by Leica in 2023 so it may have been calibrated at that time. I have no evidence of such calibration though. Great lens BTW. I have used my FLE very little since i got the 11874.

[Kiwimac]

It would be going on an M11-P. 
 

I zoom in in terms of cropping, yes. Not so much in terms of pointless squinting to see how many whiskers I can count on the cat.🙃

 

I did find a video about the Konica. It’s pretty good by the sounds of it.