Stiff Summicron 90mm pre-ASPH

[Ecar]

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I just got myself a Cron 90mm, in the latest pre-ASPH version (E55 - made in Canada I believe) at a bargain price.

While the lens is in mint condition, the focus ring is quite stiff and the aperture ring is somewhat clunky. I guess this is due to the lens having seen very little use in the past 10 years, and the grease having become stiffer.

Does anyone have similar experience? Do things improve as the lens gets more use,or should I just send it to Solms for an overhaul?

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[Eoin]

The aperture ring is in it's nature quite clunky, sort of ding, ding as you change aperture. The focus ring is also stiff but this is subjective, stiff compared to what?. My 28 Summicron focus tab feels like it's sliding on soft butter, the 50 Summilux was that much stiffer that I couldn't really use the focus tab for slight adjustment with 1 finger because it jerked ( I can now though), and my 90 Summicron is tighter than them all but it glides with little effort and is smooth throughout it's focus range.

 

Some evening while watching TV take the lens and work it though it's focus range back and forth, it may take a couple of hours or a couple of days, but they do free out. Again how free is subjective but I'd suggest the 90 Summicron will never be as free as the smaller lenses.

 

Enjoy your 90, a hidden treasure for the price, almost 2 lenses in 1 when shot wide open or stopped down, great for portraits.

[Ecar]

Thanks for your reply - quite reassuring. I will try to work the focus ring back and forth as you suggest to see if I can get it to loosen a bit.

I took a couple of shots so far and it does indeed look like this is a great lens, with a somewhat softer character than the new AA.