jrh68uk Posted July 23, 2009 Share #21 Posted July 23, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) I have my 35 Summicron ASPH in Solms right now. It was backfocusing a bit (but enough) out of the box. I'd sent it to Leica UK but they just returned it unaltered, saying it needed to go to Germany with my M8 if I wanted it altered. Rubbish. Prior to this I'd sent Leica UK my new 28 Elmarit ASPH which was also backfocusing slightly. This one they forwarded to Solms (no M8, just the lens) and it came back to me one month later absolutely spot-on. It also had a note which included optical adjustment M8 which did make me wonder at first as they never saw my M8 and I wouldn't have wanted it adjusted, anyway. Then I realized that they meant adjustment *to* their M8, rather than adjustment of my M8 This was confirmed in an email from a nice lady in Solms just prior to my sending them my 35. I'm happy for my lenses to be adjusted to their standard, with which my M8 is in agreement. Why so many seem to be out of adjustment when new, I don't know. My 50 cron - perfect. My 90 Summarit - perfect. 28 and 35 - backfocus. So far, aside from length of time to wait, I'm very happy with Solms service. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted July 23, 2009 Posted July 23, 2009 Hi jrh68uk, Take a look here I dislike lame excuses. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
mhoersch Posted July 23, 2009 Share #22 Posted July 23, 2009 Leica beware! Bleak times may lie ahead of you, indeed, when Jaap starts a thread like this... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacobh Posted July 23, 2009 Share #23 Posted July 23, 2009 Read again: five weeks for simple adjustement. And just hours after the head of CS told me that average turnaround was within 5 days for over 80% of the jobs. Note: If you want a turnaround of 5 days (Schnell-Service) it will cost you 110 Euro extra. If you want a turnaround of two days (Express Service) you are charged 200 Euro extra. If there are enough applicants for those services the "normals' may suffer a set-back. Jacobh Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest BigSplash Posted July 23, 2009 Share #24 Posted July 23, 2009 I have my 35 Summicron ASPH in Solms right now. It was backfocusing a bit (but enough) out of the box. I'd sent it to Leica UK but they just returned it unaltered, saying it needed to go to Germany with my M8 if I wanted it altered. Rubbish. Prior to this I'd sent Leica UK my new 28 Elmarit ASPH which was also backfocusing slightly. This one they forwarded to Solms (no M8, just the lens) and it came back to me one month later absolutely spot-on. It also had a note which included optical adjustment M8 which did make me wonder at first as they never saw my M8 and I wouldn't have wanted it adjusted, anyway. Then I realized that they meant adjustment *to* their M8, rather than adjustment of my M8 This was confirmed in an email from a nice lady in Solms just prior to my sending them my 35. I'm happy for my lenses to be adjusted to their standard, with which my M8 is in agreement. Why so many seem to be out of adjustment when new, I don't know. My 50 cron - perfect. My 90 Summarit - perfect. 28 and 35 - backfocus. So far, aside from length of time to wait, I'm very happy with Solms service. Reading the thread it seems to me that Leica have a real set of problems that repeat week after week and echo my own horrible unfortunate experiences with Leica service: > Leica UK seem incapable of providing a fast turnaround, and a quality service on even brand new kit ...worse they give misinformation as stated here. > Look also in a separate thread about excellent service from Jessops for an 18mm demo lens that had been checked by Leica UK service dept. and passed as in spec. but it was faulty. How can this be? Then UK sales (who really do try hard) come to the rescue and provide the client with a new 18mm lens to replace the faulty demo 18mm lens passed as perfect by the service dept. This is a very expensive way to achieve client satisfaction I would think. > Leica Solms seem to be in self denial that 80% of stuff gets fixed in 5 days...if true this is OK, not excellent ...but it is OK...However if this is the case why are there so many horror stories and why is it that Leica in USA seem to be performing better? > Why is it that I had to wait over 3 months to get my Digilux 2 repaired for a fault as minor as replacing the battery connector? over 6 months for a new M4 top cover? 4 months for a M5 service (the flash leads were not resoldered and it had to go back again) Leica production seems to have its own quality issues > Why is it that we see so often in the forum that brand new lenses need to go back for re-adjustment? My feeling is that this is simply not acceptable for what is certainly an expensive product and is commanding the price because of the quality that clients assume when it has a Leica badge. It is in my view outrageous that: > Clients receive a £6795 Noctilux after months of waiting and then find that it is faluty......This has been reported in other threads. > Aspheric new lenses are not set up properly at the factory to work with a M8...again a common occurrence I am told here in several postings, and my dealer confirms this. > Parts such as a flash cover for a M6 (or M4, M5) are not available for months at a time. > Filters (UV IR) are not available for all M lenses (new and old) when M8 needs them and the major appeal of the M8 is that old M lenses work with the camera....Excellence of customer service I guess should be part of the Leica culture and this is not being delivered I worked 14 years in the semiconductor industry and have seen at first hand how dominant players lost out to the Japanese and Taiwanese competition because of an attention to quality that came too late for many US manufacturers. Continuous improvement is the name of the game and if Leica management do read the forum hopefully they will wake up and take note rather than taking the route of self denial. What is truly frustrating is that these issues could be fixed rather quickly if management at Leica saw it as important. the frustr Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
delander † Posted July 23, 2009 Share #25 Posted July 23, 2009 If lenses are being adjusted to focus correctly on an M8 does that mean they are oof on a film camera? If this adjustment is done simply because the M8 is more demanding why aren't all lenses put through this M8 adjustment setup before the leave the factory. If they are good enough for the M8 then naturally they will be OK for film cameras. This 'adjusted to an M8' seems to be a relatively new control instigated by Leica. Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest BigSplash Posted July 23, 2009 Share #26 Posted July 23, 2009 If lenses are being adjusted to focus correctly on an M8 does that mean they are oof on a film camera? If this adjustment is done simply because the M8 is more demanding why aren't all lenses put through this M8 adjustment setup before the leave the factory. If they are good enough for the M8 then naturally they will be OK for film cameras. This 'adjusted to an M8' seems to be a relatively new control instigated by Leica. Jeff My understanding is that the depth of the sensor coating is much smaller than that of a film emulsion and that is why the lens has to be critically adjusted for the M8. Once this is done it is well within spec. for film. Additionally some of the older lenses in particular (and apparently some of the new ones also) have a shift of focus between when the lens is at full and minimum aperture which also has to be taken into account during the tuning process. This is my understanding and I am told that I need to play with each of my lenses and see if they are focussing correctly on the M8 and then get those fixed that are not. What I would like to do is simply take the lot to Solms and have them give each a go / no go test on their optical workbench but this will need prior arrangement I think. I am surpised that Leica do not seem to offer this as a service. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
delander † Posted July 23, 2009 Share #27 Posted July 23, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) A year ago I had two lenses adjusted for back/front focus, the 50lux ASPH and the 75cron ASPH. Correct focus for these two lenses is critical if they are to be used at or near open aperture. I dont recall anything about 'adjusted to the M8' on the documentation that came back with them. Jaap has now experienced the delays that many of us have had when sending stuff to Solms, me included. Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted July 24, 2009 Author Share #28 Posted July 24, 2009 If lenses are being adjusted to focus correctly on an M8 does that mean they are oof on a film camera? If this adjustment is done simply because the M8 is more demanding why aren't all lenses put through this M8 adjustment setup before the leave the factory. If they are good enough for the M8 then naturally they will be OK for film cameras. This 'adjusted to an M8' seems to be a relatively new control instigated by Leica. Jeff Whatever it means, the lens is perfectly adjusted. As I said, I would not have minded the wait (well, not really, but not that much) What got to me was the improbable excuse offered. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrh68uk Posted July 24, 2009 Share #29 Posted July 24, 2009 Perhaps I should ask what's taking them so long with my 35 cron and see if I receive the same reason I guess it's one of two things: One, it sounds better than, "there's a delay due to a massive backlog as so many of our lenses need adjustment from new." (I'm not bitter!). Two, they needed shims (or something) of a certain type/thickness for this adjustment and genuinely happened to be out of those temporarily. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
russell c. greenberg Posted July 24, 2009 Share #30 Posted July 24, 2009 Jaap, It seems that warranty repairs are taking longer than chargeable ones (at least here at Leica NJ). I recently sent a 75 mm Summarit lens in for adjustment (too much wobble in lens mount), it took 6 weeks for simple repair. I now have one of my M8 bodies for warranty work, supposed to be back today according to the repair manifest, didn't receive it. I sent it 4 weeks ago. Please send me some photos of the back end of this lens, when I sent my 50 1.4 ASPH for 6 bit coding (had to be sent to Solms) it took 4 months to get it backThey also did some "weird" cutting on the part that contacts the rangfinder cam and added 2 "pins". This does not look like the type of craftsmanship that we have come to expect from Leica. Hope everything else is OK with your lens. Russell Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted July 24, 2009 Share #31 Posted July 24, 2009 It seems that warranty repairs are taking longer than chargeable ones (at least here at Leica NJ). Not my experience...see my post above. Don't know it you did, but I think it greatly helps to establish contact with someone in NJ before sending in so that repair can be monitored and expedited. Maybe this shouldn't be necessary, but I wanted to maximize my chance for success. Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest PhotoWebb.co.uk Posted July 27, 2009 Share #32 Posted July 27, 2009 Slightly off topic but I found the brand new 50 lux I got a few months ago terrible for focussing on my M8. I ended up selling it on and buying a second hand cron. Thankfully I made a profit on the lux as I bought it when the cashback offer was on and sold it after the price increases. Still though, an £1800 lens that doesn't focus accurately.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Henry Posted July 27, 2009 Share #33 Posted July 27, 2009 No,it gets matched against a standard body. And the availability of shims? This is a current production lens. They could not build if it they had not got little boxes of shims standing around. Hi Jaap, I gave to my agent Leica my optics Cron M 28mm and 90 mm for the coding 6 bits and Solms made in more "Adjustment" to go up on M8 Lasted = 5 weeks Price=160 Euros Regards Henry PS:How much paid you for this "regulating"? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted July 28, 2009 Author Share #34 Posted July 28, 2009 Umm-nothing. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted July 28, 2009 Author Share #35 Posted July 28, 2009 Jaap, It seems that warranty repairs are taking longer than chargeable ones (at least here at Leica NJ). I recently sent a 75 mm Summarit lens in for adjustment (too much wobble in lens mount), it took 6 weeks for simple repair. I now have one of my M8 bodies for warranty work, supposed to be back today according to the repair manifest, didn't receive it. I sent it 4 weeks ago.Please send me some photos of the back end of this lens, when I sent my 50 1.4 ASPH for 6 bit coding (had to be sent to Solms) it took 4 months to get it backThey also did some "weird" cutting on the part that contacts the rangfinder cam and added 2 "pins". This does not look like the type of craftsmanship that we have come to expect from Leica. Hope everything else is OK with your lens. Russell Yep- no problem Russel. As for the lens, it focusses like a dream. I have been testing it - within the mm. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/91487-i-dislike-lame-excuses/?do=findComment&comment=975348'>More sharing options...
jrh68uk Posted July 29, 2009 Share #36 Posted July 29, 2009 Received my 35 cron ASPH today and initial testing shows that it is now spot-on I sent it directly to Solms, as I said, bypassing Leica UK. I don't really know why Leica UK accepted that my 28 Elmarit ASPH needed adjustment whereas the 35 was good enough to return unaltered since, if anything, it was more noticeable on the 35. Anyway, all is now well and I'd rather it take a month and come back perfectly adjusted than face the prospect of further repairs or dissatisfaction. It's a good trade. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
russell c. greenberg Posted August 13, 2009 Share #37 Posted August 13, 2009 Yep- no problem Russel. As for the lens, it focusses like a dream. I have been testing it - within the mm. Jaap, Thanks for the photo. My lens looks exactly the same as yours, also functions the same way. BTW, I received my M8 the next day, the date quoted my my repair manifest is the shipping date. Very happy with the results. Jeff, I have many personal contacts with the staff at Leica NJ, I live 45 minutes from Allendale, NJ, and have been up there many times, Sarah Mayville and Dave Elwell are absolutely phenomenal. Russell:) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wda Posted August 13, 2009 Share #38 Posted August 13, 2009 My new Summilux 50 did not focus quite correctly, so I left it in Solms on June 12th. When it did not reappear within two weeks, the "repair was being held up due to lack of spare parts". I distrusted that as I did not see how an adjustment on a new lens needed spare parts, but benefit of the doubt, something might have been out of spec.I got the lens back today: What spare parts? :mad: Jaap, this is strange. I was talking to a Leica dealer in the UK today about the possible purchase of a new black Summilux 50 when he told me that Leica UK could not give him any delivery date. When pressed, he thought that it was possible that one of the lens part suppliers may have gone out of business because of the recession. I countered by saying that I thought all Leica Solms lenses were built in-house in Germany and didn't rely on outside suppliers. Of course, I may be wrong on this point. I wonder whether the fog surrounding delivery of quite normal long-established lenses has something to do with members of the Leica work force having been temporarily redeployed to the S2 line to meet its target. Just a thought and no facts to support it. Otherwise, I would have thought that delivery of current well-selling lenses would be easy to schedule and manufacture. I am sure Leica need the sales. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted August 13, 2009 Share #39 Posted August 13, 2009 All lenses are made in Solms, but Leica don't necessarily make all the component parts that go into the lenses. They no longer make their own glass, for example. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lars_bergquist Posted August 14, 2009 Share #40 Posted August 14, 2009 Andy, Leica never made their own glass. After the war, they established a Glasforschungslaboratorium, meaning a glass research laboratory. This lab researched the formulas for the famous lanthanum glasses that went into the new lenses of the 1950's. Glasses with anomalous dispesion followed. Several current advanced lenses do still contain glasses made to Leica recipes. The lab was never a production facility however. The volumes used would never had justified that expansion. The actual production of the new glasses was contracted out to glassworks that Leitz had commercial relationships with. During the 1990's the opportunities and the demand for new exotic glass diminished, and strict environmental regulations would have made it necessary to invest heavily in new 'high risk facilities', which was deemed economically unjustified. So Leitz sold the lab, to Corning as I seem to remember. They do presumably still retain the right to use those of the patents that may still be standing. The old man from the Age of Crown Glass Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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