jaapv Posted September 25, 2009 Share #1 Posted September 25, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) For the last three years I have been using a ZM Biogon 28/2.8 A superb lens, many say as good as the Leica equivalent. Well, not mechanically. Normally the only problem would be that the optical cell would unscrew itself from the mount periodically. No big deal, just tighten it up again. Older Biogons had a little locking screw. It suddenly started misfocussing dramatically. I sent it to Will van Manen and he called me this morning: "Has it ever been focussing at all?" It turns out that the lens elements have worked themselves loose inside the lens without any reason. He has to take the whole optics to pieces and align and fasten all elements. I guess that is where the price difference comes from. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted September 25, 2009 Posted September 25, 2009 Hi jaapv, Take a look here Biogon desintegrates. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
marknorton Posted September 25, 2009 Share #2 Posted September 25, 2009 It's all those bone-jarring Land Rover rides across the African savannah which have done it... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted September 25, 2009 Author Share #3 Posted September 25, 2009 Still, it is the only one of my lenses that did this. The only other example I can recall is a Canon 560 (not mine!) that simply broke in two, and a Canon 300/4.0 that lost the little screws fixing the IS element under those circumstances. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArtZ Posted September 25, 2009 Share #4 Posted September 25, 2009 For the last three years I have been using a ZM Biogon 28/2.8 A superb lens, many say as good as the Leica equivalent. Well, not mechanically. Normally the only problem would be that the optical cell would unscrew itself from the mount periodically. No big deal, just tighten it up again. Older Biogons had a little locking screw. It suddenly started misfocussing dramatically. I sent it to Will van Manen and he called me this morning: "Has it ever been focussing at all?" It turns out that the lens elements have worked themselves loose inside the lens without any reason. He has to take the whole optics to pieces and align and fasten all elements. I guess that is where the price difference comes from. Jaap, My Summicron ASPH 28 has been 4 times at Solms to fix the front part which detaches from the rear part... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted September 25, 2009 Author Share #5 Posted September 25, 2009 Ok, not good either, but still better than all elements flapping about.. BTW Typo the Biogon 21/2.8, not the 28. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArtZ Posted September 25, 2009 Share #6 Posted September 25, 2009 Ok, not good either, but still better than all elements flapping about.. BTW Typo the Biogon 21/2.8, not the 28. Oops, I have the Biogon 21/2.8! I'm very happy with it... so I cross my fingers! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted September 25, 2009 Author Share #7 Posted September 25, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) It is actually an excellent lens - hence my disappointment. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
john_newell Posted September 25, 2009 Share #8 Posted September 25, 2009 I guess that's what is meant when we refer to "build quality." However, Leica lenses are not immune...the v4 35mm Summicron comes to mind... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xavier Ray Posted September 25, 2009 Share #9 Posted September 25, 2009 My 35 summicron V4 lens groupings wobbled in the focusing mount and the lens started coming apart. My 50 Summicron focusing mount wore unevenly and would bind and my 50 asph Summilux was not manufactured properly at the factory and would not focus properly on any body. Also my new 90 apo asph had a rough and tight focusing helix. If Leica can have problems then Zeiss can too. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest roey Posted September 26, 2009 Share #10 Posted September 26, 2009 My Summicron ASPH 28 has been 4 times at Solms to fix the front part which detaches from the rear part... And I thought I had gotten a bad copy -- mine went back twice. I now take care to not hold it at the lens hood when I mount or unmount it. So far this has helped. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArtZ Posted September 26, 2009 Share #11 Posted September 26, 2009 And I thought I had gotten a bad copy -- mine went back twice. I now take care to not hold it at the lens hood when I mount or unmount it. So far this has helped. roey, I've always done so, holding the lens at the mount side (bayonet), NEVER at the lens hood. For a wierd reason, after a few weeks using it, the front side dettached from the rear part. I keep my fingers crossed but I think they've found the problem because since October 2008, I have no more problems. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kdemas Posted September 26, 2009 Share #12 Posted September 26, 2009 I love my ZM 25mm but the little retaining ring is coming loose for time number two. A wee bit annoying. Kent Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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