Guest V64 Posted October 25, 2008 Share #1 Posted October 25, 2008 Advertisement (gone after registration) Searches on this forum suggest there are focusing (at infinity) problems using a pre-asph 35mm lux on an M8, and that there is no way of telling in advance what will fit Is there really no way of predicting whether or not a given lens will fit my M8? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted October 25, 2008 Posted October 25, 2008 Hi Guest V64, Take a look here 35mm 'lux pre-asph. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Vieri Posted October 25, 2008 Share #2 Posted October 25, 2008 Most of the reported problem are with the 35 Lux ASPH, which present some focus shift as a part of its design, not with the pre-ASPH version. In any case, I would not buy a 35 Lux unseen, unless you might be ready to send it in for calibration in case it turns out to be off. Good luck! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest V64 Posted October 25, 2008 Share #3 Posted October 25, 2008 Thank-you for your comment about 'back/front focus' - but my post was intended to ask about the inability to focus some 35mm lux lenses at infinity because the rear lens shroud hits the interior of some (but not all ) M8s. David Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stunsworth Posted October 25, 2008 Share #4 Posted October 25, 2008 I don't believe that there's a way of telling. Leica can however adjust a lens with a problem so that it will work. I've no idea of the cost though. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
archi4 Posted October 25, 2008 Share #5 Posted October 25, 2008 David, Not all preasph 35mm summilux lenses do this. I had one which focused perfectly all the way to infinity.Focus was spot on with no problems. It is the lens and NOT the camera. These lenses have a shroud to protect the rear element from reflections, but not all the shrouds are exactly the same design and some hit a part of the body when rotated. The only way I know of to be sure is to try it (gently). I sold my lens and cannot remember the serie nr. and I don't know if there is any correlation between serie numbers and the form of the shroud. Maurice Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted October 25, 2008 Share #6 Posted October 25, 2008 First time i hear of focussing problems at infinity with the pre-asph 35/1.4. Mine is a late copy (3501***) and i have no problem at all with my Epsons. FWIW. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stunsworth Posted October 25, 2008 Share #7 Posted October 25, 2008 Advertisement (gone after registration) LCT, the problem is when it is used on an M8. Some examples of the lens don't allow it to be focussed to infinity. The back of the lens has a shroud, and that fouls something inside the M8. Doesn't happen with all examples of the lens. Leica acknowledge the issue and can correct it - presumably by changing the baffle at the back of the lens. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted October 25, 2008 Share #8 Posted October 25, 2008 LCT, the problem is when it is used on an M8... Ah yes i did not know. Thanks Steve. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
fotografr Posted October 25, 2008 Share #9 Posted October 25, 2008 I believe there were four or five versions of the 35 lux pre-ASPH. Only one of them is not usable on the M8. I'm fortunate enough to own one from that series. It focuses on the M8 from the nearest distance to about 8 feet, then is stopped by contact. The serial number of my lens is 3051520, which was made in 1980 and was about the middle of the run in that series. I believe it's referred to as a Type 2. Since it doesn't work on the M8, it has a permanent home on one of my M6s. I love the fingerprint of the lens. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gravastar Posted October 25, 2008 Share #10 Posted October 25, 2008 I believe there were four or five versions of the 35 lux pre-ASPH. Only one of them is not usable on the M8. I'm fortunate enough to own one from that series. It focuses on the M8 from the nearest distance to about 8 feet, then is stopped by contact. The serial number of my lens is 3051520, which was made in 1980 and was about the middle of the run in that series. I believe it's referred to as a Type 2. Since it doesn't work on the M8, it has a permanent home on one of my M6s. I love the fingerprint of the lens. I also have one which wouldn't work on the M8. Tried several others in a friendly dealers to compare and they'd all focus to infinity OK. As stated he problem is the rear shroud. If you don't mind working "bare" you can easily remove it - at least you could on mine. The complete lens cell (including the diaphragm and shroud) will unscrew from the front of the mount - anticlockwise. Watch out for any circular shims which may have been used to adjust focus, my lens had none. You can now see the 3 grub screws which hold the shroud in place. With a very small jewelers screwdriver remove the screws and take off the shroud. Do this over or in a box so you don't lose the screws, they're very small. Before doing this you may want to mark the shroud and lens cell barrel with a marker pen so you can replace the shroud in it's original position if need be at a later date. With the shroud removed screw the lens back into the focus mount. Bob. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest V64 Posted October 25, 2008 Share #11 Posted October 25, 2008 Thank-you all for your comments - since posting I found the thread: http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m8-forum/26916-how-file-down-pre-asph-35mm.html Which seems to confirm that (a) it is not a function of serial number ( not a function of any variations in the M8 and © it is readily solved, especially with the measurements suggested by Rich, for which much thanks, and a trip to Malcolm Taylor. pre #2166700 look to be OK, and use an E41 filter rather than a Series 7 - but more expensive! I look forward to getting one! David Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gravastar Posted October 25, 2008 Share #12 Posted October 25, 2008 Rich, thanks for the information. Rats! that means I need to find a new shroud or replace the material I took off. After I'd removed the shroud I uniformly machined some of the back surface off to see if I could prevent it from fouling the inside of the camera. Unfortunately the amount I had to remove left the rear surface of the lens vulnerable. If only I'd known it was the bottom of the shroud which was causing the problem. What misled me was that with a 35mm 1.2 Nokton (early version) it was the sides of the shroud which caused a problem on my particular camera. Bob. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vieri Posted October 25, 2008 Share #13 Posted October 25, 2008 Thank-you for your comment about 'back/front focus' - but my post was intended to ask about the inability to focus some 35mm lux lenses at infinity because the rear lens shroud hits the interior of some (but not all ) M8s. David Whoops David, sorry about that - my bad, answering after reading too quick does make one look silly, doesn't it? others have already replied more to the point, so I can only add to what has been already said Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Essemmlee Posted October 26, 2008 Share #14 Posted October 26, 2008 I have had a 35mm lux pre-ASPH since purchase of my M8 and it it is effectively my lens cap. There are no back/front focus issues and infinity focus isn't a problem. It is an absolute delight to use and the quality of the images are superb. The bokeh can't be beaten by any other lens in my bag. The blonde lad with the facial furniture on my website (first photo) was taken with this lens It is a great choice for a 35mm lens, assuming you get the right one. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
russell Posted October 27, 2008 Share #15 Posted October 27, 2008 You may have read my posts on this issue. FWIW, I was able to file it down. But in the end I set it back to Leica and they made a new shroud that fits to the M8. This is my favorite lens. Only downsides are a) flares wide open only focuses to .9m c) no coding. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest V64 Posted October 27, 2008 Share #16 Posted October 27, 2008 IF (as Gravastar and Rich suggest) it is straightforward to remove the lens optics from the Mount - then I would have expected that it should be just as straightforward to 'mill the pits' on the lump of white metal (brass?) that is the mount without the glass or any other parts of the lens - any pro machine shop can do it - there is a engineering drawing, showing the measurements and angles required, somewhere on this site. But then nothing is ever as simple as it appears! I also have to say that the combination of dealing with the shroud, coding and filter (series 7) ultimately persuaded me to get a 28mm Cron ASPH. I also decided that low light interiors always contain open light sources (candles, lamps) so Flare has to considered - and 35mm (50mm equivalent) is a 'bit too long' for me. Anyway my thanks to all who have contributed to this topic - and have helped me to make a decision! David Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stunsworth Posted October 27, 2008 Share #17 Posted October 27, 2008 I use my copy uncoded and haven't noticed a problem. As for the filter, a 49mm will fit inside the lens hood and probably easier to obtain than a series VII filter. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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